Direct Evidence of Sex Not Needed to Prove Adultery: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court held that direct evidence of sexual relations is not necessary to prove adultery in matrimonial disputes.

The Court observed that adultery may be established through circumstantial evidence, including the conduct of the parties and surrounding circumstances.

The ruling came while upholding a divorce decree granted on grounds of adultery and cruelty. The Bench noted that continuous association and the nature of the relationship between the parties concerned were sufficient to infer an extra-marital relationship.

The Court stated that direct proof is rarely available in such cases and courts can rely on reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence on record.

[Maniknandan v. Rekha & Anr.]