The Supreme Court of India on Friday held that a wife’s alleged failure to perform household chores such as cooking or managing domestic work cannot, by itself, amount to cruelty in matrimonial disputes.
Emphasising evolving social norms, the Court observed that marriage is a partnership of equals and not a relationship of servitude. It underlined that a husband is equally expected to contribute to day-to-day household responsibilities.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta noted that expectations rooted in traditional gender roles cannot form a valid ground for divorce.
In contemporary society, both spouses are expected to share responsibilities, including cooking, cleaning, and other domestic tasks.
The Court stressed that a spouse cannot be treated as a domestic help and that marital relationships must be founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared duties. “You’re not marrying a maid, you’re marrying a life partner,” the Bench remarked.
The observations came during the hearing of a plea filed by a husband seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty. One of his primary allegations was that his wife did not adequately perform household duties.
The couple, married in 2017 and parents to a young child, have levelled counter-allegations against each other.
The husband, a government school teacher, claimed that his wife’s behaviour became hostile after marriage including alleged use of inappropriate language, refusal to undertake domestic responsibilities, and exclusion from certain family occasions after the birth of their child.
The wife, a lecturer, denied the allegations, stating that she had moved to her parental home around childbirth with the consent of her husband and his family.
She further alleged that they did not participate in post-birth ceremonies and made demands for money and gold, besides pressuring her to share her earnings.
While a Family Court had earlier granted divorce on grounds of cruelty, the High Court set aside the decree, holding that the allegations were insufficient.
The matter is now before the Supreme Court, which noted that mediation efforts have failed and directed both parties to appear in person on the next date of hearing.