The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, stated that a wife’s unwarranted demand for living apart from her husband’s family members constitutes an act of cruelty and can be emotionally distressing for the husband.
A bench led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, while granting a divorce to a estranged couple, pointed out that unlike Western cultures, in India, it is not a customary practice for a son to detach from his family, and his wife becomes an integral part of it.
The Delhi High Court remarked, “Normally, without any substantial and valid reason, she should not insist on her husband’s separation from the family and urge him to live separately with her.”
The bench of the Delhi High Court also highlighted that most husbands wouldn’t willingly accept or desire separation from their parents. “The consistent efforts of the respondent’s wife to force the appellant into separation from his family can cause immense emotional distress to the husband and would qualify as an act of cruelty,” stated the bench, consisting of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna.
The court referred to a previous Supreme Court decision, which emphasized that it is neither a common practice nor a desirable tradition in Hindu culture for a son in India to sever ties with his parents due to his wife’s request.
Additionally, the court stressed that it is morally and legally the son’s responsibility to care for his parents in their old age. If the wife attempts to deviate from the prevailing societal norms, she should have valid reasons for doing so.
