The Bombay High Court has held that refusal by a wife to conceive a child because of family’s financial instability could not be used as a ground for divorce by her husband. “Also, not knowing how to cook, not being religious, not parting with salary and not folding clothes properly,” could not be treated as grounds for divorce, ruled Justice PB Majmudar and Justice Anoop Mohta.
The bench was, on May 3, hearing an appeal filed by a 30-year-old person against a family court order which dismissed his divorce plea. The judges held that refusing to conceive a child on the ground of financial instability did not amount to cruelty. “She must not have shown willingness to become a mother unless there was financial stability. Perhaps she wanted to give the child a better life,” Justice Majmudar remarked. His brother judge, Justice Mohta, further said, “It is a mutual decision and a husband cannot insist.” The bench was also of the view that “not folding clothes properly or not being religious and knowing how to cook” could not be grounds for divorce.