Not marrying a maid: Supreme Court says wifes refusal does not amount to cruelty
The top court asserted that times have been changed and the husband must contribute to such affairs.
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Friday observed that a wife not adequately performing household chores cannot amount to cruelty. The top court was hearing a matrimonial case wherein the husband was seeking divorce.
"You're not marrying a maid, you're marrying a life partner", remarked Justice Sandeep Mehta.
The top court asserted that times have been changed and the husband must contribute to such affairs. "You have to contribute in this cooking, washing, etc. Today's times are different," Justice Vikram Nath said.
Earlier, the top court had sent the couple for mediation, but it did not succeed.
The couple got married in 2017 and have an eight-year-old son. The husband, who filed the case, sought a divorce, claiming that his wife’s behaviour changed just a week after their marriage and that she began mistreating him.
He alleged that she used abusive language towards him and his parents, refused to cook for the family, and although she gave birth to their child, she did not invite him to the cradle ceremony.
The wife, however, said that she had gone to her parents’ home for the delivery with the consent of her husband and his family. She claimed that they did not attend the cradle ceremony and instead demanded cash and gold from her parents.
The Family Court granted the husband a divorce on grounds of cruelty. However, the wife challenged this in the High Court, which overturned the divorce order. Unhappy with this decision, the husband then approached the Supreme Court.