A woman's 21-year legal quest to prove that she was married bore fruitwith a Madras High Court Bench here upholding the validity of her weddingsaying it was not mandatory for the groom to tie a 'mangalsutra' around thebride's neck to prove a marriage between Hindus.

"It is not mandatory for the groom to tie mangalsutra around the bride'sneck to prove a marriage between Hindus. It was sufficient to provesolemnisation of marriage in any recognised form as per the Hindu Marriage Actsection 7," Justice M. M. Sundresh said, dismissing an appeal challenginga lower court order upholding the marriage validity.

According to the woman, her marriage with Kaladhar was solemnised on December13, 1987 at a local temple after she became pregnant. The couple exchangedgarlands in the presence of a priest.

She alleged that her husband harassed her for dowry and deserted her fivemonths later. Her baby also died during delivery on July 6, 1988, she claimed. Thewoman then filed a case seeking a declaration that that she was legally weddedwife of the appellant. The lower court decree upheld the validity of themarriage in 1998.

Challenging the order, Kaladhar filed an appeal in the Madras High Court in1999 which transferred the case to the Madurai Bench in 2004. Kaladharcontended that the woman had failed to prove that he tied mangalsutra aroundher neck. He initially denied that the wedding took place. The appeal wasdismissed on Thursday.