New Delhi: The behaviour of a spouse showing "lack of respect, faith and understanding" and causing pain and disrepute to the other partner amounts to cruelty, the high court said while upholding divorce granted to a
CRPF officer
after 41 years of
marriage
.
"If one spouse's consistent behaviour shows lack of respect, understanding, faith and also reveals acts intended to-and which have caused pain, discomfort or brought disrespect or disrepute to the other spouse, such behaviour would constitute cruelty," a bench of justices S
Ravindra Bhat and
Deepa Sharma
said, adding it would entitle the other spouse for grant of divorce on the ground of cruelty.
The bench termed "trust, mutual respect, understanding and commitment" as key virtues required to sustain a marriage.
It observed that spouses were expected to be supportive and be the pillars of strength in adversities. Couples are expected to "tolerate and accommodate each other's propensities, preferences and habits".
HC's observations came as it dismissed a woman's plea against a trial court decision dissolving her marriage with a
CRPF commandant on the grounds of mental cruelty. They had got married in 1975.
The bench upheld the trial court's finding that the husband was humiliated due to false proceedings initiated by his wife before the executive magistrate, which lowered his reputation.