During one of the hearings in a case, the Punjab & Haryana High Court asserted that it was clear that merely a wife&#39s failure to serve tea to her husband&#39s family members and friends or her arguments over petty issues do not qualify as cruelty and serve as grounds for divorce. According to LiveLaw, Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Harsh Bunger said, “The mere fact that the respondent (wife) did not serve tea to the relatives and friends of the appellant-husband or that the respondent-wife used to quarrel with the appellant over trifles cannot be concluded that based on such allegations the marriage between the parties should be solemnized, dissolved on grounds of cruelty. Such general and vague accusations need not be given any weight. At best, the allegations raised by the appellant constitute normal wear and tear of married life.”These remarks were made during the dismissal of an appeal that the husband had filed, claiming cruelty as the reason for the divorce. He alleged that his wife has a habit of fighting over petty matters and she always insults him in front of his friends and family. He also alleged that he is subject to humiliation in front of colleagues and officials, which is spoiling his image and career. During cross-examination, the appellant-husband acknowledged that he was in the photo with (a woman) in which the appellant was striking provocative poses with her, the court said after reviewing the evidence in the file.It further stated that the Trial Court found that the appellant was not sincere towards his wife and that no Hindu woman could bear to see another woman in her husband&#39s arms. The court further observed that the appellant was more interested in strangers than in his own life, as evidenced by several letters that are readily categorized as love letters.Accordingly, the court justified that the appellants behavior does not meet the requirements, therefore granting him a decree of divorce in this situation will make the applicant take advantage of his own mistakes. So, rejecting the plea, the court dismissed the appeal.
