The Allahabad High Court has delivered a strong message, refusing to quash criminal proceedings against a man accused of uploading an intimate video of himself and his wife on Facebook. The court asserted that marriage does not grant a husband ownership or control over his wife’s privacy and autonomy. Justice Vinod Diwakar, dismissing the plea to quash the charge sheet, remarked that the act of sharing intimate content without consent is a severe breach of marital sanctity and trust.
The judge stated that such actions violate the core confidentiality between husband and wife, undermining the foundation of their relationship. “A wife is not an extension of her husband but an individual with her own rights, desires, and agency. Respecting her bodily autonomy and privacy is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative,” the court said.
The case was filed by the man’s wife in Mirzapur district under Section 67 of the IT Act, alleging that her husband, Pradumn Yadav, recorded an intimate act without her consent and uploaded the video on Facebook before sharing it with her cousin and others in their village.
The defense argued that the complainant was his legally wedded wife and hinted at a possible compromise. However, the Additional Government Advocate rejected this defense, stating that being married does not entitle a husband to record and distribute such content. The court’s firm stance reinforces the message that marital relationships are built on mutual respect and trust, and violations of privacy, even within marriage, are punishable by law.
