Supreme Court Rules: Asking Wife for Household Expense Details Is Not Cruelty

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has clarified that a husband asking his wife to maintain an account of household expenses does not amount to cruelty. The apex court’s verdict came while hearing a petition filed by a husband whose wife had lodged an FIR against him, alleging mental harassment and cruelty over financial control.

Bench Observations
A two-judge bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan emphasized that courts must exercise caution in marital disputes and consider the reality of domestic situations. Many such cases arise from everyday disagreements, which cannot automatically be labeled as cruelty.

Case Background
The wife alleged that the husband sent money to his parents, insisted she record daily household expenses in an Excel sheet, and made remarks about her weight after childbirth. The Supreme Court examined all allegations and concluded that none constituted cruelty under the law, leading to the dismissal of the FIR.

Court’s Key Findings

• Sending money to one’s family is not a criminal act.
• Asking the spouse to track household expenses, even if enforced, does not fall under cruelty.
• Alleged remarks regarding weight or attention post-childbirth, while undesirable, do not legally constitute cruelty.

The court noted that such situations reflect Indian societal norms, where men often seek financial oversight in the household. However, misuse of the criminal justice system to settle marital disputes or seek revenge is impermissible.

Outcome
The Supreme Court, after hearing the husband’s counsel, Prabhajeet Johar, quashed the FIR, noting that the wife’s allegations were vague, general in nature, and lacked specific evidence of abuse or harassment. The verdict reinforces the principle that marital disputes should be handled with discernment, and ordinary disagreements cannot be treated as criminal offenses.