In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court stated that a wife's failure to perform household chores does not equate to cruelty under the law, reinforcing the notion that marriage is a partnership of equals. The court overturned a 2010 divorce decree granted by a family court in Bandra, which had ruled in favor of a husband who cited his wife's refusal to cook and perform household duties as grounds for divorce. The high court clarified that ordinary disagreements in a marriage do not meet the legal definition of cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The judges noted that such allegations are part of the normal dynamics of married life and do not warrant the dissolution of a marriage. The couple, married in February 2002, had lived together for only about four months before disputes arose, leading to the wife's departure to live with her parents. The court also mandated that the husband, a chartered accountant, pay ₹20,000 (approximately $240 USD) monthly for maintenance, recognizing the wife's rights under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.