Court upholds divorce given for ‘mental cruelty’

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has upheld the divorce granted to a j udi c i a l o f f i c e r , whose estranged wife had levelled “false allegations” including dowry demand against him, on the ground that he was treated with “mental cruelty” and his life was made “miserable” by the woman.

The high court dismissed the appeal filed by the woman challenging the divorce decree and said the family court’s order deserves to be affirmed on the ground of mental cruelty.

“We are of the view that the appellant/wife has treated the respondent/husband with cruelty and made the life of the husband miserable by levelling false allegations against him. Four consecutive closure reports by four different investigating officers in favour of the husband also point towards the harassment faced by him “The matter was again re-investigated upon the directions of the High Court of Allahabad and yet again a closure report was filed by the Police officials. The conduct of the wife shows rift between the parties,” a bench of Justice G S Sistani and Jyoti Singh said.

The court said after taking into account all the complaints made by the woman and her father against the man, it can be inferred that the husband has been treated with mental cruelty and faced ignominy being a judicial officer.

It noted that the woman and her father had made various complaints in 2001 against the man to the President, Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, concerned District Judges and also to the Bar Associations.

The court said the woman had categorically admitted that she filed all the complaints against her husband to teach him a lesson.