Can I take any legal action against my wife and her parents for filing malicious litigation for divorce? My wife left me and went to London on a student visa. Before leaving, she wanted to obtain a divorce by mutual consent, and we signed an agreement under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act. However, in court, I stated that I did not want a divorce and that my wife and father-in-law had pressured me into signing the agreement. During the final arguments, my wife filed a withdrawal petition, and the case was dismissed.
Subsequently, I filed a suit in the family court seeking a declaration under Section 7 and Specific Relief Act 34 that the agreement was null and void. The judgment was declared ex-parte in my favor. Now, I am seeking advice on what legal action can be taken against my wife and her parents.
The Family Court has dismissed the suit for divorce by mutual consent, as it was found that your consent was not freely given. You have also obtained a declaration that the mutual consent deed filed under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act is void. If you still have a grievance against your wife and her parents, you may consider filing a civil suit seeking compensation for frivolous litigation, cost of litigation, mental agony, and loss of reputation.
Your wife’s case was dismissed by the Family Court because she had to withdraw her petition after you proved in court that your consent was obtained under duress. Dragging an innocent person into malicious proceedings is a civil wrong, and the victim has the right to claim damages. Therefore, you can serve a legal notice to your wife and her parents and file a civil suit seeking compensation for the harm caused to you.
