In "Bipin Chandra v. Prabhavati", AIR 1957 SC 176, the Supreme Court explained:

Bipin Chander Jaisinghbhai Shah v Prabhawati (AIR 1957 SC 176) explains "The concept of desertion": the deserting spouse must have separated with the intention of ending cohabitation permanently, and the deserted spouse must not have consented or given reasonable cause for the separation. Leaving the matrimonial home is not by itself conclusive of desertion. The same test is applied to desertion as a ground of divorce under section 13(1)(ib) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.