Jharkhand High Court Rejects Divorce Petition Over Wife’s Makeup Claims

The Jharkhand High Court dismissed a husband’s petition for divorce that was based on the allegation that his wife was mentally ill because she applied kohl and lipstick late at night. The court held that personal grooming is normal behaviour and cannot be used as evidence of mental illness without medical proof. It emphasized that a mental‑illness claim must be supported by an accredited psychiatrist’s report, which was absent in this case.

During the proceedings, the court also considered allegations of dowry‑related harassment that had been raised by the wife. It found no substantive evidence linking the makeup habit to any mental disorder and therefore denied the divorce request, setting a precedent for similar marital disputes.