The Karnataka High Court recently granted a divorce to a couple, ruling that the husband’s treatment of his wife as a “cash cow” constituted mental cruelty. The decision was made by a division bench comprising Justices Alok Aradhe and J.M. Khazi.
Case Background
The couple, married in 1999 in Chikkamagaluru, had a child in 2001. The wife filed for divorce in 2017, citing emotional trauma caused by her husband’s materialistic attitude. A family court had earlier rejected her application in 2020, prompting her to challenge the decision in the High Court.
Evidence Presented
The wife submitted bank transaction records and documents showing that she had transferred ₹60 lakh to her husband over the years. She also revealed that she had taken a job in the UAE to pay off family debts, purchased agricultural land in her husband’s name, and set up a salon for him in 2012. Despite her efforts, the husband returned to India in 2013 and remained financially dependent on her.
Court’s Observations
The High Court criticized the family court for dismissing the wife’s claims without proper consideration. The bench noted that the husband’s behavior caused significant mental anguish to the wife.
“It is evident that the respondent treated the appellant as a cash cow, displaying a materialistic attitude with no emotional ties. This behavior inflicted mental agony and emotional trauma on the appellant, meeting the grounds for mental cruelty,” the court stated.
Decision and Rationale
The High Court overturned the family court’s ruling, granting the wife a divorce. It emphasized that the lower court had failed to appreciate the wife’s testimony and overlooked key evidence.
Broader Implications
This judgment highlights the importance of emotional and financial independence in marital relationships. It also underscores how materialistic attitudes and neglect can constitute mental cruelty, providing a basis for divorce under Indian law.
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