“cruelty”

The expression “cruelty” as envisaged under S.13 clearly admits in its ambit and scope such acts which may even cause mental agony to aggrieved party. Cruelty may result where the complaining spouse establishes his being treated with cruelty whether physical, mental, social or otherwise but the acts complained of must be more serious than ordinary wear and tear of marriage falling in the category of conscious acts cruel in nature as that is the underlying requirement of the provision: Neelu Kohli v. Naveen Kohli A.I.R.2004 All.1