The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently overturned a divorce ruling, emphasizing that minor differences between a husband and wife cannot be considered cruelty. The court made this observation while hearing an appeal filed by a wife challenging a Family Court’s decision to grant her husband a divorce on the grounds of cruelty.
The husband alleged that his wife, whom he had met through a matrimonial website, provided incorrect details about her age and education on her profile. He further claimed that she was egoistic and suffered from a health issue related to smelly sweat but refused to seek treatment. Additionally, he mentioned that she had falsely claimed to be able to ride a two-wheeler and was unwilling to care for his elderly parents, often threatening to file criminal cases against his family.
Despite these allegations, the wife expressed her willingness to continue the marriage and live with her husband.
The court noted that the couple had an arranged marriage, which was decided after several meetings between their families and relatives. The marriage took place on May 31, 2010, and the husband left her within six months, on October 25, 2010.
In its judgment, the court stated, “Minor differences between a husband and wife cannot be termed cruelty. Both partners need to give each other time to adapt to their new roles in married life. There should not be an expectation of overnight change.”
The court further pointed out that the husband failed to prove most of his allegations and made no effort to reconcile with his wife. It also noted that the husband had deserted her within a year of their marriage, without giving the relationship a second chance.
The bench ruled that the grounds for divorce presented by the husband were insufficient under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, and the law does not permit ruining an innocent woman’s life through divorce based on minor issues.
As a result, the court quashed the Family Court’s divorce decree and directed the husband to pay ₹8,000 per month in interim maintenance to the wife until the restitution of conjugal rights is complied with.
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