In a significant judgment, the Delhi High Court has held that making false allegation on the character of a spouse amounts to grave damage to his reputation and health. Marriage is a sacred relationship and its dignity should be maintained in all circumstances. It is very necessary for a healthy and educated society. The court said that the mental pain, agony and suffering caused by such allegations amounted to cruelty. The courts should condemn it. Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced this decision while upholding the decision of a family court.
Both were married in 2014, but very soon the relationship between the two deteriorated and they started living separately. The woman filed a criminal case against her father-in-law on allegations of molestation, after which her husband filed for divorce on the ground of cruelty.
The Family Court, while granting divorce in favor of the husband, termed the allegations of the woman as cruelty. The High Court observed that the Family Court had correctly identified the evidence and found it appropriate that the wife had defamed her husband by making false allegations. The court dismissed the woman’s appeal, which challenged the January 31, 2019 order of the family court.
The Family Court granted divorce under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act in favor of her husband living separately from the woman. The High Court observed that even in appeal, the woman could not bring credible evidence to substantiate the findings of the trial court and her malafide was evident from her confession of making public her allegations against her father-in-law.
The court said that such allegations are made with malicious intent, which not only spoils the relationship, against whom the allegations are made, he also has to face mental torture. This is serious cruelty, which must be stopped at all costs.