MUMBAI: A family court has granted divorce to a doctor couple married for 19 years on grounds of cruelty after he told the court that she had repeatedly insulted him and had denied him food by locking up the refrigerator.

The court accepted the doctor's contentions and passed an order ex parte as the estranged wife did not appear in court. The former couple, were married in January 1994 and had no children.

In the petition filed in September, 2011, among many other complaints, the petitioner said that at the time of the marriage, while he was studying medicine in Mumbai, the woman was pursuing her degree in Karnataka. He alleged that during that time, whenever she was in the city, she would insist on staying with him despite him living in the bachelor quarters. He further alleged that she suspected him of having affairs with his colleagues. This he said, forced him to change his campus and eventually even a take a drop from his final year MD examination .

The doctor also alleged that since 2003, the woman refused to work, cook or cohabit with him. He claimed that he had to shut down his hospital due to her "doubtful nature".

Further, he said she started locking the refrigerator and deprived him of any eatables and water and every time he was forced to ask her for the key. The doctor claimed that he could only drive the car if she accompanied him or was using the car.

The petitioner said that he was taunted for looking older than her and she refused to see movies or visit places with him. He alleged that this caused him tremendous mental pain and agony. Stating that her behaviour affected his work, the doctor claimed that female patients got an impression of insecurity while under his treatment.

After going through his evidence, the court held that it was practically identical to his allegations. “As the petitioner was not cross examined due to consistent absence of the respondent, whatever the petitioner has stated in his petition and affidavit of examination-in-chief has gone unchallenged. Therefore, I have no alternative but to accept the same in toto,” the court said while granting the divorce.

The doctor claimed that he could only drive the car if she accompanied him or was using the car.

The petitioner said that he was taunted for looking older than her and she refused to see movies or visit places with him. He alleged that this caused him tremendous mental pain and agony. Stating that her behaviour affected his work, the doctor claimed that female patients got an impression of insecurity while under his treatment.

After going through his evidence, the court held that it was practically identical to his allegations. "As the petitioner was not cross examined due to consistent absence of the respondent, whatever the petitioner has stated in his petition and affidavit of examination-in-chief has gone unchallenged. Therefore, I have no alternative but to accept the same in toto," the court said while granting the divorce.

