Gujarat High Court to decide on a husband’s divorce plea alleging mental cruelty over wife’s obsession with stray dogs.

Discover powerful Latin Maxims and simplify complex legal terms in seconds.

Case Overview

Case Name: Unnamed Appellant vs. State of Gujarat & Anr.

The Gujarat High Court is set to hear on December 1 a husband’s Divorce Petition alleging mental cruelty by his wife, who allegedly forced him to live with stray dogs inside their home . The Division Bench of Justice Sangeeta K. Vishen and Justice Nisha M. Thakore directed both sides to explore a possible settlement . The Family Court in Ahmedabad had earlier dismissed his divorce plea in February 2024 ruling there was no proof of intentional harassment .

Step into the world of justice with Courtroom Chronicles

Key Aspects

This case highlights an unusual instance where a marital dispute centers around the wife’s treatment of stray dogs, raising questions about emotional distress and cruelty in marriage . The husband’s appeal presents factual and circumstantial issues for the High Court to re-examine .

• The couple, married in 2006, began facing disputes when the wife brought home stray dogs against the husband’s wishes .
• He alleged that the dogs bit other residents creating unhygienic conditions and social isolation .
• The husband claimed he faced humiliation due to a public prank organized by his wife on a radio show .
• He alleged that these actions led to severe emotional trauma and health issues, amounting to mental cruelty .
• The wife denied all allegations, stating the husband himself worked for a trust that cared for stray animals .

Legal Insights

This case revolves around the legal interpretation of cruelty as a ground for divorce . The Court will examine whether the wife’s behavior amounts to mental cruelty under law .

• Section 10(1)(x) of the Divorce Act, 1869, cruelty-whether physical or mental is a valid ground for divorce among Christians .
• The Supreme Court in Samar Ghosh vs. Jaya Ghosh (2007) 4 SCC 511 elaborated that mental cruelty includes sustained emotional distress and humiliation impacting marital life .
• Section 23 of the Divorce Act, 1869, the Court may also consider Section 23 of the Divorce Act which empowers courts to deny divorce if cruelty is unproven or self-created .
• The case may set a precedent in Divorce Cases involving emotional distress caused by unconventional domestic issues like animal welfare disputes .

Court’s Verdict

The Gujarat High Court has adjourned the matter to December 1, 2025 directing both parties to attempt a settlement. The final verdict on the husband’s Divorce Petition alleging mental cruelty over stray dogs is still pending .

Read also– Legal Glossary- Petition 

Source – Gujarat High Court

The LawGist ensures exam success with quality notes—TPL, Current Affairs, Recent Judgments, and more. Backed by trusted resources and videos, The LawGist is every aspirant’s first choice.