Filing False Complaints Against Spouse is Cruelty, Rules Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has ruled that making false complaints against a spouse amounts to mental cruelty and can be grounds for divorce. The decision came in response to a plea filed by a woman challenging a family court’s 2020 ruling that granted her husband a divorce.

Background of the Case

The husband filed for divorce, alleging that his wife had a quarrelsome nature, refused to live with him, and was involved in an extramarital affair. He also claimed that she withdrew from mutual divorce settlements multiple times, causing emotional distress.

Although the couple had separated in 2001, the wife filed a complaint against him at the Crime Against Women (CAW) cell in 2009, eight years later. When the complaint was found to be false, she later filed another complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, making several allegations.

The husband also stated that he suffered two heart attacks during their separation, yet his wife only visited him once, further proving her indifference towards him.

Court’s Observations

A bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted that the wife’s conduct caused mental cruelty to the husband. They stated that:

Her false complaints and fabricated allegations created unnecessary legal trouble.
She misled the husband into thinking their disputes would be resolved, only to withdraw from settlements multiple times.
Her lack of care and emotional detachment amounted to conjugal cruelty.

The court emphasized that resorting to false complaints instead of settling issues amicably is an act of harassment and mental cruelty.

Wife’s Defense

The wife argued that she was forced to leave her matrimonial home due to her husband’s cruel behavior. She also claimed that the husband made vague allegations without specific details, making them unreliable grounds for divorce.

Court’s Final Ruling

The court found that the wife’s actions proved mental cruelty. Her behavior included:

Frequent arguments over minor issues
Leaving home without informing her husband
Denying cohabitation
Attempting suicide by jumping from a balcony
Accusing her husband of an illicit relationship
Trying to poison him and his parents

Based on the evidence and legal precedents, the court dismissed her appeal and upheld the Family Court’s divorce decree in favor of the husband.

Conclusion

The ruling reinforces that false allegations and legal harassment in marriage can be grounds for divorce under Indian law. The case highlights the importance of truthful legal proceedings in matrimonial disputes.

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