In a recent judgement delivered by Bombay High Court, highlights a key aspect of Indian Wives facing divorce litigations on basis of various aspects of renedering cruelty. One key aspect where husbandas are seeking divorce claiming cruelty by thier spouse as they refuse to do daily house chores like cooking , housekeeping etc.
“Mere failure of wife to do chores such as cooking, cleaning etc does not automatically amount to cruelty, as marriage is a partnership of equals, and not a contract or an appointment to a service, and wives are not deemed maids, ”
While dismissing a plea for divorce filed by a husband, claiming mental cruelty being rendered by his wife by not cooking and doing chores, Justices Manjusha Deshpande and Bharti Deshpande. in a Judgement delivered on May, 2026, set aside a 2010 Bandra Family Court decreee of divorce and order denying her maintenance.
While commenting on the decree which was set aside, the HC said that the District Family Court simply relied on an advertisement published by the woman for enrolling in Arts and Craft Class, but there is no evidence that such ad or business idea ever culminated in a source of income or caused any financial gains. Her husband who is a chartered accountant and possesses professional qualification can easily sustain the maintenance towards her residential accommodation