On asking for account of expenses, the woman filed a case against her.Image Credit source: AI generated
Is it cruel to ask your wife to give an account of household expenses, to ask her to make a list or excel sheet of expenses? Can a serious criminal case like Section 498A be filed against the husband on this basis? The Supreme Court has given a big and clear decision on this important question. The Supreme Court has said that merely demanding account of expenses, exercising financial control over the wife or asking her to keep records of expenses does not in itself amount to criminal cruelty, unless it is proved that it causes mental or physical harm to the wife.
This decision was given by the bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Armahadevan on 19 December 2025. The court canceled the 498A case registered against a husband. Actually, both husband and wife were software engineers working in America. The marriage took place in 2016 and a son was born in 2019. After a mutual dispute, the wife came to India with the child and did not live with her husband again. In January 2022, the husband sent a legal notice to the wife asking her to live together. A few days later, the wife filed a case of 498A and dowry harassment against the husband and his family.
The wife alleged that
The husband used to demand full account of the expenses. He was asked to write down the expenses in an excel sheet. Used to send money to his parents. Did not provide emotional support during pregnancy. Taunted about weight gain. On the basis of these allegations the wife had filed a case against the husband. However, the Supreme Court clearly said that these allegations are like everyday disputes in marriage and not criminal cruelty. The court said that the husband’s financial dominance or demanding an account of the expenses, without causing any concrete mental or physical harm, cannot be considered cruelty. The court also said that in India, men often control the household money, but criminal prosecution cannot be initiated on this basis.
No evidence, allegations are general
The Supreme Court found that the wife’s allegations were very general and without any concrete incident or evidence. It was claimed that dowry was demanded, but no date, no incident, no evidence was given. The court said that a law like 498A cannot be used for revenge or to settle personal grudges. Husband’s behavior may be wrong, but not a crime. The court acknowledged that the husband’s behavior may be insensitive or wrong, but not every wrong behavior amounts to criminal cruelty. The Supreme Court completely canceled the FIR and case registered against the husband.