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Cruel Behaviour and Hindu Marriage Law

Last updated on Apr 8, 2022

Cruel Behavior is a ground of divorce under Hindu Marriage Law. Cruelty is behavior or conduct which causes harassment to you. Cruelty may be in two forms:

Physical

  • If your spouse physically hurts you by causing any bodily harm, then you can go to the Court to ask for a divorce. This kind of behavior amounts to physical cruelty. It is easier to prove this in Court.

Mental

  • If your spouse is causing you mental distress, because of his or her conduct or words, then this kind of behavior amounts to mental cruelty. For example, if your spouse abuses you verbally or your spouse harms your reputation in front of your friends and colleagues etc. Mental cruelty is more difficult to prove in Court as compared to physical cruelty.

The act of cruelty is gender-neutral, meaning, a husband can file the case against the wife for cruelty and vice-versa.

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