Calling wife ‘barren’ not cruelty, rules Allahabad HC

On November 23, 2020, the couple engaged in a heated argument, with the wife calling her husband impotent, which reportedly infuriated him and his brother-in-law. As a result, they attempted to display their masculinity, causing further tension. The wife's mother, Smt. Verma, reported that her daughter had been defamed by her husband for being infertile and retaliated by calling others impotent and eunuchs.

The wife subsequently fled to her mother's home, but upon returning to her marital home, her family assumed she would return later. However, she remained silent upon arriving at her parental residence, fearing social stigma. It wasn't until her father's health improved that she finally disclosed the incident to her family. Despite filing a complaint with the police on July 31, 2021, no action was taken.

She later filed a statement with the court on April 5, 2022, detailing their marital discord, lack of children, and her husband's refusal to undergo a medical examination. The Allahabad High Court ultimately dismissed the criminal cases, ruling that the allegations of cruelty did not meet the required standards for conviction under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code.