Minor Disagreements in Marriage Are Not Cruelty, Says Madhya Pradesh High Court
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently overturned a Family Court’s decision to grant a husband a divorce, stating that minor differences between spouses cannot be considered cruelty. The court emphasized that changes in marital relationships cannot be expected overnight and that time should be given for adjustments.
A division bench comprising Justices Vivek Rusia and Amar Nath heard the wife’s appeal against the Family Court’s ruling, which had allowed the husband to divorce her on the grounds of cruelty.
The husband had alleged that the wife misrepresented her date of birth and educational qualifications on a matrimonial site. He further claimed she was egoistic, suffered from a condition causing smelly sweat but refused treatment, and had not learned to ride a two-wheeler as claimed in her profile. Additionally, he accused her of not wanting to care for his elderly parents and threatening to implicate his family in false criminal cases.
The wife, on the other hand, expressed her willingness to continue the marriage and live with her husband.
The court noted that the couple’s marriage was arranged after several family meetings and took place on May 31, 2010. However, the husband left the wife on October 25, 2010—less than six months after the wedding.
The bench highlighted that the husband failed to substantiate his claims of cruelty and did not attempt reconciliation. It also observed that the husband’s decision to seek divorce was based on a few minor disagreements, which are normal in the early stages of marriage.
“The law does not permit the husband to ruin the life of an innocent woman by seeking divorce on baseless grounds. Minor differences cannot be termed cruelty. Both partners should be given time to adjust to their new roles,” the bench stated.
The court quashed the divorce decree issued by the Family Court and directed the husband to pay ₹8,000 per month as interim maintenance to his wife until the decree of restitution of conjugal rights is complied with.
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