Kerala High Court: Husband’s Baseless Suspicion Constitutes Mental Cruelty Warranting Divorce

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a husband’s persistent and baseless suspicion of his wife’s fidelity amounts to grave mental cruelty, thereby entitling her to a decree of divorce.

The Court observed that such unwarranted mistrust erodes the very foundation of marriage, which rests on confidence and respect, and inflicts emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of dignity upon the wife.

The Court further noted that the wife’s continuous subjection to restrictions, surveillance, and curtailment of personal liberty made it unreasonable to expect her to continue in the marital relationship. 

The Court dissolved the marriage and overturned the contrary order of the Family Court.