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2. The evidence was recorded and before that, petition for divorce was amended and the same was allowed and some other facts were added.

3. The amendment introduced the additional facts that the wife abused the parents of the husband; that, the wife states that the husband is impotent; that, the husband suffers from T. B. on account of cruelty and bad treatment of wife; and that, the wife has burnt the thesis of the husband. These allegations again, were denied. After recording the evidence, the trial Court has passed a decree of divorce; while granting maintenance, allowed Rs. 200/- per month as maintenance. The wife has filed against the divorce and the husband has filed cross objection against the maintenance.

10. Shri Sharma pointed out that even unjustifiable interference by one spouse in the sphere of life can be termed as cruelty as held by their Lordships of the Supreme Court in Dr. Dastane v. Mrs. Dastane (supra) and Mt. Padma v. Parma Ram, AIR 1959 Him. Pra. 37.

11. After reading the relevant evidence, Shri Sharma pointed out that the cruelty has been proved by the evidence of husband, his father, mother and other witnesses. The burning of the thesis of the husband by the wife is the worst cruelty, more so, when the husband is a lecturer in University and is prosecuting his academic activities. The very shabby treatment given to the friends of the husband and the mental agony on account of the cruelty was so intensive that the husband suffered from T.B.

21. Similarly the allegation of Shanti Devi that the husband is impotent in the form of abuse in the house cannot be lightly ignored as in a matrimonial matter it is serious stigma, on the manhood and is bound to cause great mental agony and pain resulting in cruelty to the husband.

22. Yet, another allegation which has been found to be proved and rightly so, is that on 30th Aug., 1975, in the absence of her husband, she burnt his thesis of doctorate and, when the brother of husband tried to take it, she threatened him with dire consequences and 'burning him. Lalchand (PW 2) has proved it. Mohanlal Mangal (PW 3) deposed that Raghav Prakash told him to type out his thesis and asked him to get thesis collected from his house. When Mohanlal Mangal went to the house of Raghav Prakash, the brother of Raghav Prakash met him and showed the thesis. He further deposed that brother of Raghav Prakash told him that some corrections were to be made in the thesis which would be done by Raghav Prakash in the evening. Thereafter when on 30th Aug; 1975 he went to his house, he was told by Lalchand that the thesis has been burnt by his sister-in-law (Bhabhi) Shanti Devi. Durga Devi (PW 6) has also corroborated it.

23. Though, Shanti Devi has denied it, but, 1 am convinced from the evidence of about three witnesses, this allegation isproved. Letter of Lalchand, (Ex. 4) fully corroborated it as this was the information conveyed by him to Raghav Prakash.

24. It is true that the thesis prepared by a scholar who intended to do Ph. D. is very valuable and important document. The entire study and knowledge is poured in thesis which is prepared after a great research and study for years together. Several books are read and several journals and papers are gone through and the notes are taken by the scholar, for making the thesis comprehensive. The value of the thesis to a student who wants to do Ph. D. is undoubtedly great and any damage done to it is bound to upset him and causes irreparable mental agony and torture. Unfortunately, the burning of thesis by Shanti Devi wife cannot be ignored and it is bound to be treated as an act of great cruelty.