Marriages in Kerala influenced by 'use & throw' culture: HC's stern words

Marriages in Kerala appear to have been influenced by the consumer culture of 'use and throw', the state High Court has said.

It is evident from rise in live-in relationships and the tendency to opt for divorce on flimsy or selfish grounds, the court said in a recent judgement.


A bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Sophy Thomas said that the younger generation apparently views marriage as an evil to be avoided for enjoying a free life, PTI reported.

"They would expand the word 'WIFE' as 'Worry Invited For Ever' substituting the old concept of 'Wise Investment For Ever.' The consumer culture of 'use and throw' seems to have influenced our matrimonial relationships also, ' the bench said.

The court remarked that Kerala was once known for its well-knit family relationships.

The High Court made the observations while turning down the divorce plea of a man who left his wife and three daughters, allegedly to live with another woman.

The court said marriage is not a mere ritual for licensing the sexual urge of the parties, and that there is sanctity attached to it.

"When warring couples, deserted children and desperate divorcees occupy the majority of our population, no doubt it will adversely affect the tranquility of our social life, and our society will have a stunted growth," the report quoted the court as saying.

The husband had approached the HC complaining that his wife had developed behavioural abnormalities and that she quarreled with him alleging he was having an affair.

The court said there was nothing abnormal in it, and that it was the normal reaction of any human being. It also noted that the woman was willing to take him back.

"Law and religion consider marriage as an institution by itself and parties to the marriage are not permitted to walk away from that relationship unilaterally, unless and until they satisfy the legal requirements to dissolve their marriage through a court of law or in accordance with the personal law which governs them," the court ruled.