SC rejects man's plea to abandon ill wife

Playing the role of saviour, the Supreme Court has debunked a man’s bid to abandon his wife on the grounds of illness and asked the doctor couple to reconcile and live together for the sake of their 15-year-old daughter.

The apex court reminded the doctor duo that bad times could bring some disease which could not be regarded as ground for divorce.

“The partners in a marriage must weather these storms and embrace the sunshine with equanimity. Any person may have bad health, this is not their fault and most times, it is not within their control,” a bench of Justices G S Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda said.

The court noted that in the present case, the respondent (wife) was unwell and was undergoing treatment for it. The illness had its fair share of problems. “Can this be a reason for the appellant to abandon her and seek dissolution of marriage after the child is born out of their union? Since the child is now a grown up girl, her welfare must be the prime consideration for both parties,” the court said.

“Marriage is highly revered in India and we are a nation that prides itself on the strong foundation of our marriages, come hell or high water, rain or sunshine. Life is made up of good times and bad, and the bad times can bring with it terrible illnesses and extreme hardships,” Justice Gowda, said.