In a landmark decision, the Ahmedabad Rural Court has ruled that a husband’s second marriage without divorcing his first wife is a severe form of emotional and mental domestic violence. This ruling stems from a domestic violence case filed by the wife’s side.
The case took a turn in 2018 when the wife discovered that her husband, who works as a corporate executive earning ₹2,00,000 per month, had secretly wed another woman. The secret marriage was part of what the court described as a pre-planned conspiracy while their existing marriage remained intact.
While the court found no compelling evidence of physical abuse, it didn’t hold back in condemning the husband’s bigamous actions. It pointed out how such betrayal not only breaches marital trust but also causes severe psychological harm to the betrayed spouse.
As part of its ruling, the court mandated that the husband pay ₹50,000 monthly for both his wife and their six-year-old daughter. Out of this amount, ₹15,000 is designated specifically for separate housing for them. Notably, past payments will be deducted from any future arrears owed.
Additionally, legal and physical custody of their daughter has been awarded permanently to her mother. This decision underscores how courts are increasingly recognizing emotional trauma in relationships and taking steps to address it through financial accountability.