Karnataka HC Rejects Man's Divorce Plea, Says He Wanted 'Obedient Maid Over Wife'

The Karnataka High Court rejected a man’s appeal against a Bengaluru court verdict that had rejected his divorce plea against his wife on grounds of cruelty, saying that the husband wanted an “obedient

maid” over a wife and that both spouses have to compromise to lead a normal life.

A division bench of Justices Jayant Banerji and Umesh Adiga responded on September 15 to the man’s plea against the family court in Bengaluru, which rejected his divorce petition by stating that the wife had proved he and his family were dissatisfied after receiving insufficient dowry, according to The Indian Express.

The couple got married in 2015, but lived together for only 10 days. The man said his wife left for her job in Singapore, while he was employed in the United States. His wife reportedly refused to live with him in the US after marriage, after which the man initiated divorce proceedings before the family court in 2016.

However, the woman said before the high court that her husband and his mother were dissatisfied with the dowry and property received, and that the man never made arrangements for her visa so she could join him in the US. She also claimed that her mother-in-law’s constant interference made leading a peaceful marital life impossible.

‘Marriage Is Not Child’s Play’

After listening to both sides, the High Court agreed with the family court’s order that the husband’s expectations were unreasonable and denied any grounds for cruelty. “Marriage is not a child’s play. In the matrimonial life, both husband and wife have to compromise and adjust with each other, so as to lead a normal marital life,” it said.

“It is evident that the petitioner was in need of an obedient and sincere maid rather than a wife. He appears to be expecting too much from his life partner that she should do each and every act according to his whims and fancies,” the bench further said, adding that the husband raised trivial issues that could have been resolved through mutual discussion and understanding.

The High Court said it was the husband’s unwillingness to compromise or resolve minor issues that led to the breakdown of the relationship, adding that such trivial issues cannot be grounds for cruelty warranting divorce.