Short Note : 1. It was an appeal against the judgment and decree, passed by the District Judge, Bhopal, whereby the petition for annulling the marriage by a decree of nullity under section 12 (1) (d) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, as also for judicial separation under section 10 (1) (a) of the Act, filed by the petitioner appellant was dismissed. Held : The question is what constitutes 'desertion'. In its essence desertion means the intentional permanent forsaking and abandonment of one spouse by the other without that other's consent, and without reasonable cause. It is a total repudiation of the obligations of marriage. In view of the large variety of circumstances and of mode of social life involved the Court has discouraged a tempts at defining desertion, there being no general principle applicable to all cases. Bipin Chandra v. Prabhavati, AIR 1957 SC 176 , Halsbury's laws of England (Third Edition) Vol. 12, Lachman v. Meena, AIR 1964 SC 40 , relied on. After discussing facts a decree for judicial separation passed. Appeal partly allowed.