F.A. No. 167 of 2023, High Court of Jharkhand at Ranchi (reserved 03.02.2026, pronounced 10.02.2026; Per Sujit Narayan Prasad, J.; Arun Kumar Rai, J. concurring "I agree") — First appeal under Section 19(1) of the Family Courts Act, 1984 by the husband against the order/judgment dated 29.05.2023 (decree signed 08.06.2023) of the Principal Judge, Family Court, Seraikella-Kharsawan dismissing his suit (Original Suit No. 18 of 2021) under Section 13(1)(i-a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty. Married 09.11.2008; three children. Appellant pleaded discord, complaint in Mahila P.S. Seraikella (2018) ending in a compromise that the respondent would go to her parents' house at Chandigarh and return after 20 days; she left with younger son Yash Kumar on 18.06.2018 and did not return, and filed complaints in Mahila P.S. Sector No.17, Chandigarh; FIR No. 160 dated 27.11.2019 u/s 498A and Case No. 125 of 2019 under Domestic Violence Act pending before Solani Gupta, J.M. 1st Class, Chandigarh with the petitioner and family on bail; earlier restitution suit O.S. No. 86/2018 (Section 9 H.M.A.) decreed ex-parte on 29.07.2019 and O.S. (Guardianship) Case No.18 of 2020 allowed ex-parte. Respondent never appeared before trial court or this Court despite nazarat, registered post, paper publication (Amar Ujala, Chandigarh edition) and notices received by her sister and brother (deemed validly served); ex-parte hearing fixed 22.08.2022. Appellant contended the impugned judgment was perverse. This Court adopted the Apex Court's exposition of "perverse" (Arulvelu, (2009) 10 SCC 206) and surveyed cruelty jurisprudence (Dastane (1975) 2 SCC 326; Shobha Rani (1988) 1 SCC 105; V. Bhagat (1994) 1 SCC 337; Bhate (2003) 6 SCC 334; Vishwanath Agrawal (2012) 7 SCC 288; Samar Ghosh (2007) 4 SCC 511; Joydeep Majumdar (2021) 3 SCC 742), concluded the Family Court meticulously appreciated the evidence with complete absence of perversity, that cruelty requires conduct grave and weighty beyond ordinary wear and tear and temperamental disharmony, held the appellant failed to establish perversity, and DISMISSED the appeal; pending interlocutory application(s) disposed.