In a significant ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that forcing a wife to discontinue her education amounts to mental cruelty and is a valid ground for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
A Bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Gajendra Singh granted divorce to a woman whose husband and in-laws had prevented her from continuing her education after Class XII. The Court emphasized that the right to education is integral to living a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
“Compelling the wife to discontinue her studies or creating such an atmosphere that she is put in a position not to continue her studies is equivalent to destroying her dreams at the beginning of their marital life,” the Court observed. “Forcing her to live with a person who is neither educated nor eager to improve himself certainly amounts to mental cruelty.”
The case stemmed from a marriage solemnized in 2015, after which the wife was allegedly barred from pursuing further studies and subjected to harassment over dowry. The husband, however, denied these allegations, asserting that he had supported her education.
In 2020, a Family Court ruled in favor of the husband, finding that the wife had left without a reasonable excuse. However, upon appeal, the High Court overturned the decision, noting that the husband himself admitted he had not borne her educational expenses.
The Court also took note of evidence revealing that the wife had faced unwelcoming behavior from her husband and a distressing experience during their brief time together.
“During the period of 10 years from the solemnization of marriage on 01.05.2015, the petitioner and respondent were together only for a period of three days in July 2016, and that experience for the wife was a nightmare,” the Court stated.
Finding that the wife had suffered mental cruelty and had a valid reason to live separately, the Court set aside the decree for restitution of conjugal rights. It also noted that the marriage had irretrievably broken down, as the couple had been living apart since 2016 with no chance of reconciliation.
“This is not a case where she was taking advantage of her own fault, but a case where the wife was forced to sacrifice her dreams and career in the name of marital obligations,” the Court remarked.
With this, the High Court dissolved the marriage, reaffirming the right of women to pursue education as an essential part of their dignity and personal development.
