Jharkhand High Court Rules Accusations of Adultery as Cruelty

The Jharkhand High Court ruled that accusing a wife of adultery for speaking to a male friend constitutes mental cruelty. This decision came while dismissing a man's plea for divorce, where he claimed his wife was in an extramarital relationship due to her phone conversations with a male friend. The court highlighted that such allegations reflect gender-based stereotypes and are unjustified. The couple, married since 2005 and parents of two, faced marital issues, with the husband alleging his wife's lack of interest in their relationship. The wife countered that she experienced dowry-related torture and that her husband made no effort to restore their marriage. In 2023, a trial court sided with the wife, stating the husband's claims of cruelty were unfounded.