The Karnataka High Court has asserted that a wife's decision to separate from her husband due to his alleged extramarital affair constitutes 'justified withdrawal' rather than desertion. In a ruling dated April 28, the bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj and Justice Dr. Chillakur Sumalatha stated that if a spouse's conduct makes cohabitation unreasonable, the other partner cannot be compelled to stay. This ruling came in response to a wife's appeal against a 2016 family court decision that granted her husband a divorce on grounds of cruelty and desertion. The family court had accepted the husband's claims while dismissing the wife's defense due to lack of documentary evidence. However, the High Court found that the wife had been compelled to leave due to her husband's alleged ill-treatment and affair, which included the birth of a child from that relationship. The court emphasized that a claim for divorce based on desertion cannot be upheld if the claiming spouse is in breach of matrimonial obligations. The ruling also highlighted the necessity for corroborative evidence in allegations of cruelty and infidelity, stating that uncorroborated testimony is insufficient for legal determinations. The High Court has remanded the case for reconsideration, ensuring both parties have the opportunity to present their evidence appropriately.