Wife is not husband's slave or property, cannot be forced to live together: Supreme Court

- Husband has shown willingness to stay with his wife so that he does not have to pay alimony

New delhi date. Wednesday, March 3, 2021

The apex court during a hearing on Tuesday said the wife could not be forcibly asked to live with her husband as she was not her husband's slave or property. In one case, the husband demanded that his wife be ordered to stay with him, during which the court issued the statement.

During the hearing, Supreme Court Justices Sanjay Kishan and Hemant Gupta said, "What do you think? Is a woman a slave or a property that we order? Is a woman a property that we ask to come with you?"

According to the woman, her husband used to harass her for dowry after marriage. In 2015, a Gorakhpur court had ordered a husband to pay a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000 to his wife. The husband then filed a petition to restore marital rights. The husband had filed an application in the High Court asking why he was given a living allowance if he was willing to live with his wife. The Allahabad High Court had rejected his plea so he knocked on the door of the Supreme Court.