The Delhi High Court upheld a Family Court’s decision granting a divorce to a husband after dismissing the wife’s appeal. The Court emphasized that baseless accusations of unfaithfulness or extra-marital relationships are a severe assault on the spouse’s character and mental health.
The appeal was filed by the wife against a judgment dated January 31, 2019, where the Family Court granted a divorce under Section 13(1)(a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma ruled that false allegations causing mental agony and suffering amount to cruelty. The Court condemned the trend of making unfounded claims and upheld the Family Court’s conclusion that the wife’s allegations against her husband and his father amounted to character assassination and inflicted mental cruelty.
Case Details
The couple married on June 29, 2014. However, their relationship deteriorated shortly after, and they began living separately in June 2016. The wife filed an FIR under multiple sections of the IPC against her father-in-law, including allegations of inappropriate behavior.
Subsequently, the husband filed for divorce on March 8, 2017, citing cruelty. The Family Court, after examining the evidence, granted the divorce decree.
Key Court Observations
- Lack of Evidence: The wife failed to present credible evidence supporting her allegations against the husband and his father during the trial.
- Acquittal of Father-in-Law: The police case filed against the husband’s father resulted in acquittal due to insufficient evidence.
- Mental Cruelty: The Court found that making unsubstantiated and serious allegations against a spouse and their family constitutes cruelty.
The High Court noted that the sanctity of marriage must be preserved, as it forms the foundation of a healthy society. Concluding that the wife’s actions caused irreparable damage to the marriage, the Court dismissed her appeal.
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