Madras High Court Ruling on Spousal Privacy Rights

• The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ruled that evidence obtained by violating a spouse’s right to privacy is inadmissible.

• The court heard a civil revision petition filed by a woman alleging cruelty, adultery, and desertion by her husband.

• The husband had furnished the call detail records of his wife, which she had filed for dissolution of marriage.

• Justice G.R. Swaminathan emphasized the importance of trust in matrimonial relations and the need for mutual faith and confidence.

• The court ruled that obtaining information without consent is not benign and that marital misconduct can be established and proven.

• The court also noted that a person relying on electronic records as evidence must submit a certificate at the time of filing the electronic record