Divorcing a Christian wife, who mocks her Hindu husband’s religion, is justified

Chhattisgarh High Court Decision !

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) – The Chhattisgarh High Court upheld a family court’s decision to grant divorce to a Hindu husband whose Christian wife had ridiculed his religious beliefs. The wife’s appeal against the family court’s verdict was rejected by the High Court, which stated that a husband has the right to divorce if his religious beliefs are mocked by his spouse.

During the hearing, the High Court noted that the wife admitted to not participating in any Hindu rituals for the last 10 years and had instead been attending church. The court stated that this is not simply a case of a marriage between two individuals of different religions; mutual respect for religious practices is expected. The husband had mentioned that his wife repeatedly disrespected his religious beliefs, even insulting his Deities multiple times. The court stated that a wife is expected to behave as a ‘sahadharmacharini’ (a spiritual partner), and her failure to do so constitutes mental cruelty to a devout husband. Therefore, the husband has the right to seek divorce under such circumstances. Citing the importance of a wife’s partnership in religious rites, the court referenced Hindu scriptures, noting that even in texts like the Mahabharat, Ramayan, and Manusmriti, a wife is considered a vital partner in religious ceremonies.

Case Background

Neha, a resident of Karanjia in Dindori district, Madhya Pradesh, married Vikas Chandra from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, on 7 February 2016, following Hindu rituals. Vikas worked in Delhi, where Neha lived with him for a short period before returning to Bilaspur. During this time, Neha converted to Christianity and began attending church. After her conversion, she started mocking Hindu religious beliefs and Deities. Despite Vikas’s efforts to reason with her, she refused to stop. Finally, upset by her behaviour, Vikas filed for divorce in the family court, which ruled in his favour. Neha then challenged the decision in the High Court.

Editorial Perspective

Hindus rarely ridicule the beliefs of other religions, but certain religious communities, particularly Christian missionaries, are often seen mocking Hindu beliefs. Since there’s little accountability, they become emboldened. To ensure appropriate action against such cases, Hindus must pressurise both Union and State governments to take necessary steps.