The rising cost of living coupled with congestion in the Capital has begun to break marriages, especially among the economically weaker sections, the Delhi high court has observed.

The court was considering the recent trend of cases coming before it. The judges said unregularised mushrooming of unauthorised colonies, over-stretched civic amenities and unhygienic conditions were additional factors.

The court asked the government to take steps to augment public housing in the Capital.

“The city of Delhi is a costly place to live. Family budgeting and especially when a child is born is becoming a herculean task even for the financially well-off and even they come under financial stress it puts stress on the matrimonial bond,” a bench headed by justice Pradeep Nandrajog said.

The remarks came while the court dismissed an appeal filed by a man challenging an order of the family court, which rejected his plea for divorce from his wife.

The court termed instances of “cruelty” cited by the husband as frivolous.