Unchastity, adultery accusations serious assault on spouse: HC

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court said accusing unchastity, or extramarital relationship, is a serious assault on the character, reputation and health of one's spouse. The court noted that marriage is a solemn relation and its purity must be maintained for a healthy society, PTI reported.

The court said accusations in similar lines had caused pain and agony, amounting to cruelty. Therefore the courts have to deplore the tendency of making such false allegations, it said.

The court pronounced the ruling upholding a family court's judgement granting divorce to a husband over his wife's cruelty. It was hearing the wife's plea challenging the family court's order. The HC said that the family court has rightly found that the wife has been character-assassinating the husband while her father inflicted mental torture upon his son-in-law.

The court said that the woman failed to submit credible evidence to suggest that the family court's findings were incorrect. She also made false allegations against her father-in-law, which proves her mal-intend, the court said.

"In the present case, the appellant (wife) has made serious allegations, but the same were not substantiated during the trial. The appellant also filed a serious complaint against the husband's father, which also resulted in acquittal. We consider that these two aspects simply can be taken as acts of cruelty by the appellant, upon the respondent (husband). Marriage is a solemn relation, and its purity must be maintained for a healthy society. Thus, we see no reason to interfere with the impugned judgment and decree. Dismissed," the high court said.

The couple married in 2014 but stated leaving separately. The wife filed a complaint against the husband's father, accusing him of molestation, and the husband filed a divorce petition against her on the grounds of cruelty.