New Delhi, March 20 The Supreme Court on Friday said that a husband must equally participate in household chores like cooking, cleaning, and washing, as he is not marrying a maid but a life partner.
The observations came from a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which was hearing a petition filed by a man challenging an order of the Karnataka High Court.
The high court had overturned a trial court order granting divorce to the man on the grounds of cruelty.
During the hearing before the apex court, the counsel appearing for the man said that mediation between the parties had failed.
He said that the marriage between the parties took place in May 2017, and since 2019, the couple has been separated.
"I (the man) want a divorce. The trial court granted a divorce on the grounds of cruelty," the counsel said.
The bench asked what the cruelty was, as alleged in the matter.
The counsel appearing for the man said that the woman had engaged in inappropriate behavior and was not cooking food.
"You have to equally participate in all of these. Cooking, cleaning, washing, everything. Today's times are different," Justice Nath observed, adding that the high court was right that it might not be a ground for cruelty.
"You are not marrying a maid. You are marrying a life partner," Justice Mehta observed.
The bench was told that both of them were working in a government school.
"Call both parties physically. We would like to speak to them," the bench said.
It posted the matter for hearing on April 27 and asked both parties to be present before it.