Not a maid, a partner: SC rules husband must share household chores equally

The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a strong message on modern marital responsibilities, asserting that a husband must actively share household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and washing. The court underscored that a spouse is a life partner, not a domestic help .

The observations came from a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta , while hearing a petition filed by a man challenging a Karnataka High Court ruling. The high court had overturned a trial court order that had granted the man a divorce on the ground of cruelty.

During the hearing, the counsel representing the petitioner said the couple, married in May 2017, had been separated since 2019 after failed mediation attempts, and that the man sought a divorce citing cruelty. He claimed the wife had engaged in improper behavior and failed to cook food.

Addressing this, Justice Nath noted, “ You have to equally participate in all these- cooking, cleaning, washing, everything. Today’s times are different. ” Justice Mehta added, “ You are not marrying a maid. You are marrying a life partner. ”

The bench also noted that both parties were employed at a government school. It directed that both spouses appear physically in court for further proceedings and posted the matter for the next hearing on April 27 .

This ruling reinforces a growing recognition of shared domestic responsibilities in marriages, signaling a move away from traditional gender roles where household chores are seen as the sole duty of women.