Bombay HC junks plea by husband seeking divorce, claiming wife did not offer glass of water

Husbands beware! Not offering a glass of water when he arrives home, or not cooking tasty and sufficient food for the family does not amount to cruelty, the Bombay High Court ruled while rejecting a divorce petition filed by a Vakola resident challenging the family court's refusal to grant it.

A division bench of Justices KK Tated and Sarang Kotwal said the family court's conclusions that the allegations did not amount to cruelty was correct in law and must not be interfered with.

The couple, married in 2005, started living together along with the husband's parents. The husband later sought divorce claiming the woman — a teacher — used to wake up late and when his parents tried to wake her up she would abuse and insult them. She would also return home late after work and sleep for a couple hours before cooking food. Further, the food cooked by her was neither tasty nor sufficient. On her part, the woman denied the allegations leveled against her and examined three witnesses, including her husband's cousin, to prove the same.

Rejecting the claims of the husband, the bench said, "One can't lose sight of the fact that the respondent herself was a working woman who, in addition to her job, had the additional task of cooking each morning and evening, of buying vegetables, and groceries on her way home from work. Thus, the claim cannot amount to cruelty."