Compelling Wife to Discontinue Studies Amounts to Mental Cruelty, Ground for Divorce : MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that compelling a wife to discontinue her education amounts to mental cruelty and is a valid ground for divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act.

A woman appealed after a Family Court denied her divorce and instead granted restitution of conjugal rights to her husband. She alleged that her in-laws prevented her from studying after marriage in 2015.

The High Court found her claims valid, noting the couple had lived together for only three days in 2016.

Citing the right to education under Article 21 and the irretrievable breakdown of marriage, the court granted her divorce and overturned the lower court’s decision.