Ahmedabad : In a landmark judgement, the Gujarat High Court granted divorce to a young doctor whose wife, allegedly influenced by a spiritual cult, refused physical relations for a decade citing her desire for celibacy. The decision overturned the earlier judgement by the family court, highlighting the complexity of marital obligations and the impact of mental health concerns.
The couple, married in 2009, faced discord from the outset. The wife, an Ayurveda practitioner, reportedly refused intimacy from the wedding night itself, attributing it to various reasons like inappropriate days or inauspicious timings. However, the husband, an MD, later discovered she adhered to strict celibacy due to involvement with a religious sect. This, coupled with her diagnosed schizophrenia and threats of self-harm if intimacy was forced, caused significant strain on the marriage.
Feeling deceived about his wife's mental health before marriage, the husband filed for divorce in 2012, citing cruelty. The family court initially rejected his claim, accepting the wife's counter-argument about fabricated evidence. Undeterred, the husband appealed to the High Court, presenting additional witness testimonies, including those from his wife's doctors confirming her schizophrenia and separation from her in-laws since 2011.
The High Court, considering the wife's medical condition, the prolonged absence of physical intimacy, and the separation, concluded that these factors cumulatively constituted an irreparable breakdown of the marriage. This judgement underscores the sensitive nature of marital obligations and the crucial role of transparency and informed consent, while acknowledging the impact of mental health challenges on marital dynamics.
