Delhi High Court: Forcing Wife To Do Household Chores Is Cruel

The Delhi High Court stated on Tuesday that forcing a wife to do household chores when her health does not permit it is cruel. When a wife performs such tasks voluntarily, she does them out of affection and love for her family.

In our opinion, When a wife chooses to do household chores, she does it with affection and love for her family… if her health or other circumstances do not permit her, forcefully asking her to do household chores would certainly be cruelty,

Stated a bench consisting of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna during a divorce trial.

The high court observed that the court held that the husband had not committed cruelty, as he did not force the lady to do household chores. Instead, he ensured that home help was available to handle them, the court also clarified broader legal principles regarding marital cruelty.

However, the High Court stated that the facts of the case showed the woman was at fault, as she had filed criminal complaints against her husband and his family members and falsely accused him of having extramarital affairs. Eventually, the court accepted the man’s appeal and granted him a divorce.

In his high court appeal, the husband claimed that his wife’s disrespect for him and his family was the reason for the strain in their marriage from the beginning. He also said she did not help with daily household work or make financial contributions to cover costs.

The court stated that

such allegations that assassinate the spouse’s character amount to the highest cruelty, which shall shake the foundation of marriage. In the present case, the respondent, by leveling allegations of extramarital affair, has committed immense cruelty on him.”

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