NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

A 24-year-old woman in Ajmer, India just won a divorce from her husband for a seemingly unconventional reason: He refused to build her a toilet. But despite its uncommon premise, this divorce is actually huge for women’s rights in the country.

According to The Times of India, the woman’s husband found the demand for a toilet “unusual,” because most women relieved themselves outside at night. The family court hearing this woman’s case found the lack of a toilet cruel because it meant “outraging the modesty of a woman.” The court added, “We spend money on buying tobacco, liquor, and mobile phones, but are unwilling to construct toilets to protect the dignity of our family.”