False Complaints Against Spouse Amount to Cruelty: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has ruled that filing false complaints against a spouse is an act of cruelty, affirming a family court’s decision to grant divorce. The case involved a woman who had filed fabricated complaints against her husband, leading the court to conclude that her actions caused significant mental cruelty.
The case arose from a plea filed by a woman challenging a December 2020 family court order that granted her husband’s divorce petition. The family court had found that the wife made false allegations, including claims that her husband beat their son, and ruled that her behavior indicated an intention to abandon the marriage.
In his divorce petition, the husband stated that his wife was quarrelsome, refused to live with him, and had an extramarital affair. He also noted that despite agreeing to a mutual divorce, the wife backed out of the agreement twice. Although the couple had separated in 2001, the wife waited until 2009 to file a complaint with the Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell, which was found to be fabricated. She then filed another complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, with multiple unfounded allegations.
The husband also claimed that he suffered two heart attacks during their separation, but his wife visited him only once, showing indifference to his well-being.
The bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that the wife’s indifferent attitude and lack of conjugal affection amounted to cruelty. The court stated, “The wife’s behavior of leading the husband to believe their disputes would be resolved and then backing out caused uncertainty and mental cruelty. Her repeated false complaints to the CAW Cell only added to this cruelty.”
The wife argued that she had to leave the matrimonial home due to her husband’s cruelty and denied deserting him. She also claimed that the husband’s accusations lacked specific details. However, the court disagreed, pointing to her consistent quarrelling, abandonment of the home without notice, refusal of cohabitation, and even an attempted suicide as acts of cruelty.
Additionally, the court noted her attempts to poison her husband and his parents, as well as her false accusation of an illicit relationship, as clear indicators of mental cruelty. The court referenced legal precedent to support its conclusion that such behavior constitutes severe cruelty in a marriage.
Ultimately, the Delhi High Court upheld the family court’s judgment, dismissing the wife’s appeal and maintaining the divorce decree.
Case Title: Lata Kumari v. Om Prakash Mandal
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