Delhi High Court: False Complaints Against Spouse Amount to Mental Cruelty
The Delhi High Court has ruled that filing false and fabricated complaints against a spouse amounts to mental cruelty and is a valid reason for granting divorce. The decision came while hearing an appeal by a woman against a Family Court’s December 2020 order, which had granted divorce to her husband.
The Family Court had earlier observed that the wife filed false complaints with the Crime Against Women (CAW) cell, including fake allegations that her husband beat their son. The court believed that her actions showed a clear intention to leave her husband permanently.
Husband’s Claims of Cruelty
In his divorce petition, the husband stated that his wife had a quarrelsome nature, refused to live with him, and even had an affair with another man. He also claimed that although they had agreed to a mutual divorce twice, she later backed out both times.
He pointed out that they had been separated since 2001, but in 2009, she made a false complaint to the CAW cell. When that complaint was rejected as fabricated, she filed another one under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, with several baseless allegations.
He added that even after suffering two heart attacks during their separation, his wife visited him only once, showing a complete lack of concern.
Court’s Observations
The bench, comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, noted that the wife’s indifferent attitude and refusal to show basic marital kindness amounted to mental cruelty.
The court remarked:
“Her conduct—giving hope for reconciliation and then repeatedly withdrawing—caused distress and mental cruelty. Instead of resolving the issues maturely, she chose to file false complaints.”
The judges also said that such behavior creates emotional instability and suffering for the spouse.
Wife’s Defense Rejected
The wife argued that she left the house due to her husband’s cruel behavior and that he made vague accusations without details. She claimed that the incidents mentioned could not legally justify a divorce.
However, the High Court disagreed. It held that her behavior—constant fighting, leaving home without informing, denying intimacy, and even jumping from a balcony in a suicide attempt—amounted to serious mental cruelty.
She also tried to poison her husband and his parents and made false accusations of an affair, which showed her unwillingness to fulfill marital duties.
Court Upholds Divorce
The Court found enough evidence to support the husband’s claims of mental cruelty. As a result, the wife’s appeal was dismissed, and the divorce decree remained valid.
Case Title:
Lata Kumari vs. Om Prakash Mandal
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