New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday
dismissed the divorce plea of a school teacher who had
reportedly eloped with his student and sought separation from
his legally wedded wife after accusing her of "cruelty" and
"desertion."
A bench of Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi
snubbed the school teacher Philip Thomas Palamoottil for
violating the sacred teacher-student relationship and seeking
to divorce his own wife who incidentally was looking after
his aged mother also.
"The finding of the trial court is clear that you
have eloped with your student and both of you are staying
together. You have filed a suit for divorce against your wife
who is looking after your aged mother.
"You are a school teacher. What is the standard you
are setting for the society by eloping with your student?" the
bench said while dismissing the husband`s plea.
The husband working as a school teacher in Kerala`s
Pathanamthitta district had reportedly eloped with a girl
student and subsequently filed a suit for divorce with his
wife accusing her of inflicting "cruelty" and deserting him.
The trial court rejected his suit and the Kerala High
Court concurred with the findings of the lower court, after
which the teacher appealed in the apex court.
Bureau Report
