Yes, abandonment of a child by a spouse can be raised in Chennai divorce proceedings, since Indian courts, following well-established Supreme Court precedent, have consistently treated the neglect or abandonment of children as strong evidence of cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act, even though it is not listed as an independent statutory ground.

Courts view such abandonment as reflecting on the abandoning spouse's character and commitment to family responsibilities, and it can be combined with other instances of matrimonial misconduct to build a comprehensive cruelty-based petition, while also strongly influencing the custody determination in the petitioner's favour.

Chennai Family Courts require clear evidence of the abandonment — such as the date and circumstances of leaving, absence of contact or support, and its impact on the child's wellbeing — through witness testimony, communication records, or school and medical records showing the abandoning parent's non-involvement.

Given that abandonment allegations affect both the divorce ground and custody outcome simultaneously, it is important to document this carefully and present it as part of a cohesive case. Reaching out via Aapka Legal Advice can help you build this evidence effectively.

Because abandonment-based cruelty claims benefit significantly from strong corroborating evidence, obtaining a second opinion from a retired judge on your documentation can strengthen your overall petition. Experienced divorce lawyers and retired judges are available through Aapka Legal Advice's Chennai divorce lawyer directory.

In conclusion, you can indeed seek divorce in Chennai citing your spouse's abandonment of your child, generally framed as cruelty, provided the abandonment and its impact are clearly evidenced before the Family Court.