In a major decision, the Delhi High Court has said that secretly recorded conversations between a husband and wife can be used as evidence in divorce cases. The court ruled that if one spouse records a conversation to prove cruelty or mistreatment, it does not break privacy laws.
The case involved a husband who recorded private conversations with his wife without telling her. He wanted to use those recordings in court to show that she was mentally cruel to him. The wife argued that the recordings were illegal because she didn’t give permission.
The court had to decide whether these secret recordings violated the woman’s right to privacy.
Justice Suresh Kumar Kait ruled in favor of the husband. He said that when someone records their own conversation with another person, it is not a privacy violation. The recordings were not made using hidden cameras or spying devices the husband himself was part of the conversation.
The judge said, “Privacy is important, but the truth is also important, especially in divorce cases.”
The court warned that this does not mean people can record others all the time. Secret recordings should only be used in court to prove serious issues like cruelty or abuse not for spying or personal revenge.
If a recording helps prove the truth in a legal case, it may be allowed. But people must use this right carefully.
Some lawyers welcomed the decision. Family lawyer Nisha Verma said, “This helps victims who have no other way to show what happened at home.”
However, privacy expert Arvind Menon warned that this could be misused. “We must make sure recordings are not used to hurt others,” he said.
The court’s decision is important for future divorce cases. It shows that while privacy matters, truth and justice are also very important especially in family matters where the truth is often hidden.
