India, Nov. 4 -- The Madras high court has restored the conviction of an octogenarian husband for subjecting his wife, who is now in her 80s, to prolonged mental and economic cruelty, saying that old age "cannot sanctify cruelty".

Justice L Victoria Gowri of the Madurai bench restored the conviction of the husband under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, and his imprisonment for six months.

In an order passed on October 31, justice Gowri held that acts such as isolating the wife, denying her food, obstructing her religious practices, and coercing her to bring money from her relatives amounted to "grave mental cruelty".

The judge set aside the earlier acquittal of the man by an appellate court, and reinstated the trial court's sent...