Section 13(1)(ia) of Hindu Marriage Act: A Misconceived Safeguard

Okay so let's talk about this - many coaching institutes still teach that a man can get a divorce under Section 13(1)(ia) of the Hindu Marriage Act just because his wife is suffering from 'unsoundness of mind'. But this is NOT a standalone ground for divorce. It actually works in conjunction with Section 13(1)(i) which talks about 'mental cruelty'. The key is - it has to be a 'continuous' period of mental cruelty, and the court will only consider this ground if the wife's condition is such that it prevents her from living with the husband. If her condition is temporary or the husband can take care of her, then this won't work.