Gauhati High Court Grants Judicial Separation to Wife Assaulted By Husband Over Child’s Skin Complexion

The Gauhati High Court has granted judicial separation to a woman who was physically assaulted by her husband, who doubted their child's paternity due to the child's fair complexion. 

The Court observed that the husband’s baseless suspicions that the couple had a dark-skinned complexion but their child was fair-skinned and repeated physical abuse amounted to cruelty, making it impossible for the wife to continue cohabiting with him.

Emphasizing the emotional trauma and social stigma faced by the wife, the Court allowed her plea for separation and maintenance, reaffirming that unfounded accusations and violence within marriage are valid grounds for judicial relief.