# Matrimonial discord alone is not cruelty, says Karnataka high court 2026-08-09T18:00:55+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Karnataka high court has quashed criminal proceedings against a Mysuru police officer, ruling that non-consummation of marriage and marital discord do not amount to cruelty under Section 498A of the IPC. Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that the wife's additional allegations of assault under Sections 504 and 506 appeared "ingeniously woven into the narrative" to fit the cruelty charge. The couple married in November 2023 but the relationship soured over the husband's refusal to consummate the marriage, with the wife alleging he repeatedly said, "let us be friends only." The court noted the consequences for the petitioner: the criminal case triggered a departmental inquiry, affecting his service career and professional reputation. "The consequences of an untenable prosecution go beyond the criminal court," the judge said, describing it as a "two-pronged assault" from the criminal case and the stigma attached to it. The Times of India reports the ruling was delivered on a petition by the husband challenging the chargesheet filed in March 2024. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Karnataka High Court, legal interpretation, marital discord, matrimonial cruelty, police officer, Section 498A Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/matrimonial-discord-alone-is-not-cruelty-says-karnataka-high-court/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/matrimonial-discord-alone-is-not-cruelty-says-karnataka-high-court/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.