In a landmark ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has declared that forcing a wife to abandon her education constitutes mental cruelty, paving the way for divorce.
A woman seeking to continue her studies after Class XII found her aspirations crushed by her husband and in-laws, who barred her from further education. The court, recognizing education as a fundamental aspect of dignity and life under Article 21 of the Constitution, ruled in her favor.
“Compelling a wife to discontinue her studies or creating an atmosphere where she cannot pursue her education is akin to destroying her dreams at the outset of marriage,” the bench observed. It further held that subjecting a woman to such restrictions while living with an uneducated spouse unwilling to improve himself amounts to mental cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act.
Married in 2015, the woman was allegedly subjected to harassment over dowry and denied the right to study. While the husband claimed he had no objections and had even contributed to her education, the court noted contradictions in his statements. A witness also testified to his indifferent behavior, including incidents where he disregarded his wife’s privacy during a trip.
The Family Court had earlier ruled in the husband’s favor, dismissing the wife’s plea for divorce and granting him restitution of conjugal rights. However, the High Court overturned this decision, highlighting that the couple had lived together for merely three days in 2016 before permanently separating. The judges concluded that the wife had endured significant mental cruelty and was justified in seeking divorce.
Citing the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, the court dissolved the union and set aside the lower court’s ruling, affirming that a woman’s right to education cannot be sacrificed at the altar of marital expectations.
