#domestic cruelty

The Allahabad High Court affirmed that a wife’s separation due to dowry-related cruelty qualifies as 'sufficient cause' under Section 125 CrPC, negating the husband’s defense of unjustified desertion. This reinforces that judicial scrutiny of marital conduct must prioritize lived reality over technical compliance, protecting vulnerable spouses from being penalized for fleeing abuse.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that a Family Court's dismissal of a Section 144 BNSS maintenance application is illegal when the respondent fails to cross-examine witnesses or present rebuttal evidence. The court emphasized that unrebutted testimony must be accepted as proof, remanding the case for fresh consideration without requiring prior police complaints.