Although the petition in the HC challenged the family court’s divorce order during the hearing, the wife did not oppose the end of the marriage.
A couple from Gujarat has ended their 23-year marriage due to a prolonged disagreement that originated in the kitchen, revolving around the wife’s decision to avoid eating onion and garlic.
The Gujarat High Court has affirmed the divorce ruling of an Ahmedabad family court, concluding the prolonged dispute between the couple regarding the use of two widely used ingredients, onion and garlic.
A division Bench comprising Justices Sangeeta Vishen and Nisha Thakore rejected the woman’s appeal against the annulment of the marriage after she ceased to contest it, according to a HC ruling from November 27.
The “trigger point” in the relationship was the wife’s refusal to eat onion and garlic. The wife argued in her appeal that the matter centered on her adherence to a specific religion (Swaminarayan sect).
Followers of this group avoid consuming onion and garlic. Ever since the couple from Ahmedabad tied the knot in 2002, the husband’s mother has been preparing separate meals for the wife, excluding onion and garlic, while meals for other family members included these ingredients, as mandated by the court order.
“Adherence to the religion and the use of onion and garlic served as the catalyst for the divisions among the groups,” it remarked.
Although the petition in the HC challenged the family court’s divorce order during the hearing, the wife did not oppose the end of the marriage.
“The spouse was not opposing the divorce, but the issue is the spousal support awarded by the esteemed Judge,” stated the ruling.
The division Bench of Justices Vishen and Thakore supported the divorce ruling of the family court.
Previously, the husband submitted a request to the Mahila Police Station in Ahmedabad, alleging “torture and harassment” by the appellant (wife). Ultimately, the wife departed from their marital residence with their child in 2007 because of conflicts with her husband.
In 2013, the husband submitted a divorce petition to the Ahmedabad family court, claiming he was “subjected to cruelty and that his wife had abandoned him,” according to the ruling.
The family court approved the divorce in May 2024. In the HC hearing, the woman claimed that maintenance has not been paid to her for 18 months, despite an order from the family court.
The wife’s attorney notified the court that the overall pending maintenance amounted to Rs 13,02,000, of which she had obtained Rs 2,72,000 as temporary maintenance. The man had earlier deposited Rs 4,27,000 during the litigation.
The HC ordered that this sum be given to the wife following verification and instructed the husband to place the remaining funds with the family court, which will then transfer the money to the woman’s bank account.
