Cruelty in Marriage| Supreme Court| Vijay Kumar Ramchandra Bhate v. Neela Vijay Kumar Bhate (2003)

In this case, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of character assassination and its impact on the marital relationship. The Court held that disgusting and unsubstantiated allegations regarding a spouse’s chastity and extra-marital relationships are a grave assault on the spouse’s honor and dignity. Such defamatory accusations, when made in the course of legal proceedings or cross-examinations, can amount to mental cruelty.

The judgement underscored that the quality and magnitude of these allegations are such that they cause profound mental agony and disrupt the sanctity of the marital home.