What Is Not Cruelty?

Courts have clarified that not every disagreement or quarrel amounts to cruelty. Ordinary wear and tear of marriage, differences in opinion, minor conflicts, or emotional distance do not constitute legal cruelty. Cruelty must cause real mental pain or distress, making cohabitation unreasonable.

What is not Cruelty?

Cruelty is not defined by petty arguments, simple irritations, minor quarrels or issues, but by grave and severe conduct that causes lasting mental pain or injury. While any behaviour depends on the specific circumstances, courts have consistently held that everyday quarrels are not cruelty, as seen in the landmark case of Dastane v. Dastane, which emphasized the foundation of marriage as tolerance and adjustment, not hypersensitivity. Examples of conduct considered not cruel