Divorce Because Of Onion and Garlic – MSN / TOI : Need For Contract Marriage In India With Free Separation On Violation : Men Not Responsible For Maintaining Wife Violating Contract.
Rajiv Upadhyay 
There is an interesting story on MSN about a man in Ahemdabad winning a divorce after 22 years from a wife who refused to eat onion and garlic after marriage based on her religious beliefs . Although the most famous case is of Mira Bai refusing to eat or cook meat.
Time has come that boy and girl should enter into a contract marriage in which detailed duties , rights and expectations of both parties are part of the contract not open to interpretation of some Mantras by court. The dissolution terms should be clearly specified as in muslim marriages including custody of children alimony if any .
Men cannot be assumed to pay for alimony just because he is a man . Wife , like female in any other specie should earn her living by her efforts . No alimony should be payable if she remarries or joins any job etc . Only the non working house wives fully adhering to contract conditions should be entitled for alimony as specified in contract . A model marriage contract should be available with compulsory counselling and arbitration clause .
This is a new age marriage for liberated man and women that does not lead to surprises after marriage for husband or her.
In a country where kitchens often echo with shared routines, family recipes and everyday negotiations, one Ahmedabad household saw its marriage slowly unravel over two of India’s most common cooking ingredients: onion and garlic. What began as a simple difference in food habits eventually grew into a decade-long legal battle, years of separation and, finally, a divorce upheld by the Gujarat High Court.
A Times of India report detailed how a domestic disagreement rooted in faith, food and expectations simmered over until it reached the highest judicial kitchens of the state.
A Marriage Divided by Faith and Food
The couple married in 2002. The wife followed a religious sect that prohibits the consumption of onion and garlic. The husband and his mother continued their regular diet, but to coexist, two separate meals started being prepared every day — one with the ingredients, one without.
What initially appeared to be a manageable adjustment soon hardened into daily conflict. The husband claimed that her unwavering adherence to onion-garlic restrictions permeated every aspect of their domestic life, leaving no space for flexibility or compromise.
Meanwhile, the wife maintained her religious routines and dietary discipline, insisting she never forced her beliefs on others. But the emotional divide deepened even as the meals split.
From Kitchen Tensions to Court Complaints
By 2013, the marriage had reached a breaking point.
The wife moved out with their child, and the husband filed for divorce in the Ahmedabad family court, alleging cruelty and desertion.
He told the court that disagreements over onion and garlic were the “trigger point” for the collapse of the relationship. He also approached the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority, claiming he faced “rigidity,” and filed a complaint at the Mahila Police Station alleging “torture and harassment.”
The family court dissolved the marriage on May 8, 2024, and ordered the husband to pay maintenance to his wife.
The Battle Moves to the Gujarat High Court
Both spouses appealed.
The wife challenged the divorce and argued that her food habits — guided by faith — were unfairly labeled cruelty. Her lawyer said the family court wrongly accepted the husband’s claim that she was inflexible.
The husband, on the other hand, contested the maintenance order. His counsel emphasized that he and his mother even prepared onion-free and garlic-free meals for her, trying to accommodate her beliefs.
Despite years of conflict, the dispute reached a turning point during the High Court hearings.
“No Objection to Divorce” — A Dramatic Shift
During the proceedings, the wife made a crucial statement:
She said she had no objection to dissolving the marriage.
This changed everything.
Taking note of her stand, the bench of Justice Sangeeta Vishen and Justice Nisha Thakore held that there was no need to further examine the issue of divorce. The only matter left to settle was the pending maintenance.
Maintenance to Be Paid in Instalments
The wife informed the court that the maintenance ordered earlier had not been fully paid.
The husband agreed to deposit the remaining dues with the court registry in instalments, effectively concluding the long-running dispute.
Thus ended a 22-year marriage that survived many things — but not a disagreement over two ingredients found in nearly every Indian kitchen.
Beyond the Case: What This Story Reveals
This unusual divorce highlights something deeper than a culinary conflict.
Many Indian marriages quietly grapple with mismatched expectations around lifestyle, faith, household roles and emotional flexibility. What seems small at first — whether a food choice, ritual or routine — can become symbolic of larger battles about personal space, identity and respect.
In this case, onion and garlic simply became the spark that revealed years of incompatibility. The High Court’s conclusion reflects what both partners ultimately recognized: sometimes the most peaceful path forward is to let go.
