'Forcing a sick wife to do domestic chores is like cruelty,' the Delhi High Court observed. The couple has divorced, but the woman had leveled grave allegations against her husband, which were proven false. The court declared, 'Allegations that tarnish a spouse's character amount to extreme cruelty.'
Justices Suresh Kait and Neena Bansal were hearing the case when they mentioned, 'In our opinion, when a wife engages in domestic work, it's an act of affection and care for her family. It's definitely cruel to force her to do so irrespective of her health or other circumstances.'
The High Court also recognized the man's innocence, asserting that the wife wasn't compelled to perform household duties. The facts of the case showed she was in the wrong.
She not only falsely accused her husband, but also lodged complaints against him and his family. The court stressed, 'Defamation of a spouse's character represents the utmost cruelty that can shake the foundation of marriage.'
The husband had filed a petition in the High Court, claiming his wife had consistently disrespected him and his parents, resulting in a tense marriage from the start. She neither did housework nor contributed financially.
The bench remarked, 'Tarnishing the appellant and his family's image in their workplace and among relatives, damaging their honor... This clearly shows a loss of trust and respect between the affected husband or wife.'
