The unnamed woman in her 20s was forced to relieve herself in fields for the duration of the five-year marriage.

Up to half of the population of India do not use toilets, Unicef says.

A judge in the state of Rajasthan granted the application for divorce, confirming that forced open defecation is a form of torture.

The Times of India reports the judgment said: “We spend money on buying tobacco, liquor and mobile phones, but are unwilling to construct toilets to protect the dignity of our family.

“In villages, women have to wait until sunset to answer nature’s call. This is not only physical cruelty but also outraging the modesty of a woman.”