Bombay High Court Recognizes Spousal Suicide Threats as Cruelty Justifying Divorce

The Bombay High Court has ruled that a spouse threatening or attempting suicide is considered 'cruelty' and can justify divorce. The decision came after a man claimed his wife threatened to send him to jail via suicide attempts. The court upheld a family court's divorce decree in this case.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that threatening or attempting suicide by a spouse constitutes 'cruelty', providing grounds for divorce. This decision arises from a case where a man argued that his wife's threats to commit suicide aimed at sending him and his family to jail amounted to cruelty.

Justice R M Joshi, from the Aurangabad bench, upheld a family court's decision to dissolve the couple's marriage, citing substantial evidence presented by the husband and witnesses. The court acknowledged that such acts meet the criteria for declaring cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act.

The husband detailed a troubled marriage that included interference from in-laws and threats of false accusations from his wife. The woman refuted these claims, attributing her departure from the marital home to abuse. Despite this, the bench found no reason to overturn the family court's ruling.

(With inputs from agencies.)