Bengaluru: An Indian court has ruled that a wife’s consumption of pornography is not valid grounds for divorce, affirming that women retain the right to masturbate and do not forfeit their sexual autonomy upon marriage.

Discussions around female sexuality remain taboo in India, particularly for married women, who are traditionally expected to prioritise their husbands and children above their own needs.

The ruling by the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu came after a man appealed against a lower court’s decision, which had denied his request for a divorce.

The man’s case cited several instances of alleged cruelty by his wife, including claims that she was addicted to masturbating while watching pornography.

In dismissing the appeal, the court stated, "Self-pleasure is not forbidden fruit."

The court elaborated, "When masturbation among men is acknowledged to be universal, masturbation by women cannot be stigmatised."

Further emphasising the woman’s autonomy, the court noted that she "retains her individuality" even after marriage and that her "fundamental identity as an individual, as a woman, is not subsumed by her spousal status."

While the court acknowledged that an addiction to pornography is "bad" and cannot be "morally justified," it concluded that it does not constitute legal grounds for divorce.

Divorce continues to be a taboo subject across much of India, with only one in every 100 marriages ending in dissolution. Social and familial pressures often compel couples to maintain unhappy marriages.

Additionally, chronic backlogs in India’s criminal justice system mean some divorce petitions take years to be resolved.

AFP