Court rejects divorce over wife watching porn

An Indian court has ruled that a wife watching pornography is not a valid reason for divorce, emphasizing that women retain their right to self-pleasure and do not forfeit their sexual autonomy in marriage.

Discussions on female sexuality remain largely taboo in India, particularly for married women, who are often expected to prioritize their husbands and families over their desires.

The landmark ruling by the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu came on Wednesday after a man appealed a lower court’s decision denying his request for divorce. He had accused his wife of cruelty, claiming she was addicted to masturbation while watching pornography.

In its verdict, the court rejected the argument, stating, “Self-pleasure is not forbidden fruit.” It further noted that if male masturbation is universally acknowledged, female masturbation should not be stigmatized.

The judges stressed that marriage does not strip a woman of her individuality, adding that a wife’s fundamental identity is not overshadowed by her marital status.

While the court acknowledged that pornography addiction was “bad” and could not be morally justified, it ruled that it did not constitute legal grounds for divorce.

Divorce remains a sensitive issue in India, with only one in every 100 marriages ending in dissolution, largely due to societal and family pressures. Additionally, chronic delays in the legal system mean many divorce cases take years to be resolved.