A woman not doing household chores, like cooking, does not equal cruelty, the Supreme Court said on Friday during a divorce case hearing. “You’re not marrying a maid, you’re marrying a life partner,” Justice Sandeep Mehta remarked.
The court stressed that times have changed, and husbands must also help out with household tasks. “You have to contribute to cooking, washing, and so on. Today’s times are different,” Justice Vikram Nath said.
Supreme Court Remarks: “You’re Not Marrying a Maid”
Earlier, the court had sent the couple to mediation, but that attempt failed. They married in 2017 and have an eight-year-old son. The husband, who initiated the divorce, claimed that just a week after the wedding, his wife’s attitude changed, and she began mistreating him.
He alleged that she used foul language towards him and his parents, refused to cook for them, and gave birth to their child without inviting him to the cradle ceremony.
Changing Times and Shared Responsibilities
The wife claimed she went to her parents’ home for the birth of their child with the consent of the husband and his family. She said they did not attend the cradle ceremony and demanded cash and gold from her parents.
The Family Court granted the husband’s request for a divorce based on cruelty. The wife appealed to the High Court, which overturned the divorce decree. Upset by this decision, the husband went to the Supreme Court. The parties have been asked to appear in person on the next date.
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