Scared of her guards, PM Narendra Modi’s wife Jashodaben files RTI
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Jashodaben, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife. (TOI file photo)
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PALANPUR
(Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben on Monday
sought details through an Right to Information application about the
security arrangements that she and other family members of the PM are
entitled to as per protocol.
Jashodaben Modi, who lives in Brahmanwada village near Unjha, sprung a surprise when she turned up at the office of Mehsana district superintendent of police and submitted a RTI application. Of late, she has become active in social life and has been seen attending events, while expressing her desire to stay with the PM in Delhi.
Citing Indira Gandhi's assassination, Jashodaben demanded all the details of her personal bodyguards saying that she and her family members are "very scared" of them. In her three-page letter, where she calls herself Modi's wife five times, she has also asked for certified copies of all the orders pertaining to the security provided to her as per the protocol.
Jashodaben shows a copy of the RTI application filed by her, outside the office of the deputy superintendent of police in Mehsana, some 70km from Ahmedabad, on November 24, 2014. (AFP photo)
Talking to TOI, Jashodaben alleged that her security guards were demanding that they be treated like "guests". "When I ask them to show the orders under which they are deployed, they don't have any answers," she said. At present, the 62-year-old retired teacher has six special protection guards (SPG) who have been provided with a vehicle so that they can follow her wherever she goes. But Jashodaben herself has no car of her own and neither does her brother Ashok Modi, with whom she lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in New Delhi, on August 15, 2014.
She also stated in her application that the information sought should be provided to her within 48 hours as it pertains to "life and death."
Gujarat's junior home minister Rajnikant Patel, when contacted, said, "I'll ask for a report on the matter and act as per the merit of the application."
Jashodaben Modi, who lives in Brahmanwada village near Unjha, sprung a surprise when she turned up at the office of Mehsana district superintendent of police and submitted a RTI application. Of late, she has become active in social life and has been seen attending events, while expressing her desire to stay with the PM in Delhi.
Citing Indira Gandhi's assassination, Jashodaben demanded all the details of her personal bodyguards saying that she and her family members are "very scared" of them. In her three-page letter, where she calls herself Modi's wife five times, she has also asked for certified copies of all the orders pertaining to the security provided to her as per the protocol.
Jashodaben shows a copy of the RTI application filed by her, outside the office of the deputy superintendent of police in Mehsana, some 70km from Ahmedabad, on November 24, 2014. (AFP photo)
Talking to TOI, Jashodaben alleged that her security guards were demanding that they be treated like "guests". "When I ask them to show the orders under which they are deployed, they don't have any answers," she said. At present, the 62-year-old retired teacher has six special protection guards (SPG) who have been provided with a vehicle so that they can follow her wherever she goes. But Jashodaben herself has no car of her own and neither does her brother Ashok Modi, with whom she lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in New Delhi, on August 15, 2014.
She also stated in her application that the information sought should be provided to her within 48 hours as it pertains to "life and death."
Gujarat's junior home minister Rajnikant Patel, when contacted, said, "I'll ask for a report on the matter and act as per the merit of the application."
Source: TOI
“Divorce under Hindu law”
Whether an amendment of Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 is required in order to include irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce?Abstract
This paper discusses the origin, current usage and future prospects of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce under Hindu Law .It is interesting to note that the leading scholars of Family Law and distinguished Jurists of the Supreme Court have always been in support of the non-inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce. The opinions of the Supreme Court have been changing time and again. This paper attempts to analyze the reasons for these changes and transitions. In this paper, the author rewinds a bit and goes back to the very idea of marriage, the origin, changes owing to the influence of English Law on the divorce laws, finally reaching the much debated topic of irretrievable breakdown of marriage. . The author in the course of this paper has extensively argued that there is no reason for the non inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce under Hindu Law. Thus, supporting the idea of the amendment of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce.Also, suggesting to do away with the Act in the long run by the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code.
“While the stream of life, lived in marital mutality, may wash away smaller pebbles, what is to happen if instrangient compatability of minds break up the flow of stream itself. Thus, its crystal clear that when the relationship is not going good unnecessary maintained on papers where the feelings of trust, love doesnot exist and no scope of recovery of relationship is there it is better to end the relationship, incompatability is often a major reason for unhappiness . When friends can end their relationship then why not couples”. [1] This was elucidated by Justice Krishna Iyer in his Judgment in Aboobacker v. Manu.
The debate regarding the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce has been going on for many years in India. Many scholars, Law commission and the Supreme Court judgments have time and again suggested it’s inclusion as a ground for divorce.Untill recently no concrete steps were taken in this direction. However, lately the Indian Government has taken a major leap in this direction. The suggestion for the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce (The Marriage Laws (amendment) Bill,2010.) has been approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by P.M Manmohan Singh , it is currently with the Parliament for further approval. [2] If the parliament passes it, this will be no less than a revolution affecting a large population of India as in India 80 per cent of the people living are Hindus.
To understand the concept of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce and its effects on the family life in India one has to have a good sense of the importance and the value attached to the institution of marriage in India. This has to be followed up by a discussion about the changes in divorce laws in India. As how a state legal system handles one of these areas of law leaves the other area highly influenced and affected. [3] On the onset of our discussion on Hindu marriage laws in India it is important to note that reformers were always reluctant to bring about change in the area as Marriage Hindu Law as it remains an uneasy coexistence of reformist rhetoric and sociocultural realism. [4] According to J.D.M Derrett marriage is a status fulfilling a contract. [5] He further makes it clear that the intention of this sacrament is to make the husband and wife one, physically for secular and spiritual purposes, for this life and for after lives. [6] Hindu civilization being a Vedic civilization dates back to 4000 B.C. Thus one of the oldest civilizations known to mankind. The Vedas refer to marriage as a samskara [7] under Hindu Law. [8] The Vedas glorify marriage. [9] This establishes two things. First that the bond of marriage has existed from time immemorial .Second, over the centuries changes have occurred in this concept of marriage. Manu [10] in the Manusmriti [11] regards the bond of marriage as “Let mutual fidelity continue until death, this may be considered as the summary of the highest law for husband and wife”. [12] Several words were employed in Ancient India to denote the idea of marriage.The essence of marriage can be captured from the following description. Words like the udvaha, i.e., taking the girl out of her paternal home, vivaha, i.e., taking the girl for a special pupose,i.e.,for making her one’s wife ,parinayair parinayana,i.e., going round or making a pradaksina to fire,upayama,i.e.,to bring near and make one’s own ,and panigrahana,i.e.,taking the hand of the girl,are employed to convey the sense of marriage. [13] The studies confirm that marriage is the most important of all the Hindu Samskaras or life cycle rituals. [14] There was a consensus between the legal scholars and that marriage is an indissoluble union in Ancient Hindu Law. [15] With the advent of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (hereinafter the HMA) all the eight forms of marriages were dissolved and it gave marriage a status of a contract along with it being regarded as a sacrament.It provides for the nullity of marriage,judicial separation and divorce. This has been taken from the English Law. [16] The fair trial rule has also been incporporated from the English Law. [17] However, there has been a funadamental departure from the alimony law as in English Law. [18] This was considered necessary in changing times with changing conditions. The HMA solved two major problems of marriage laws. [19] “It played a role in solving the problem of bigamy and changing the status of marriage from it being regarded as an indissoluble union in the Vedas to becoming legally dissoluble in the 20th century. [20] Sadly, the HMA is regarded as an odd compostion of the old and the new, leaving the courts and the scholars all the more confused with regard to the essential “sastric” ceremonies which need to be performed and the definition of marriage. Different Hindus in different parts of India perform various ceremonies. Most importantly, this act made Indians familiar with the concept of divorce”. [21]
Our ancient Hindu scriptures have no mention of the word divorce whatsoever. Divorce is a word of Roman origin from dis-apart and verter-to turn but this word gives a meaning full of suspense as to whether it signifies the separation between a man and a woman permanently or temporarily. [22] Divorce is regarded as the formal separation between a man and a wife by act of one party or by consent according to established custom. [23] It is a judicial act by which the marriage relation is either dissolved or partially suspended. [24]
The changes in divorce laws governing the Hindus can be broadly divided into three phases. The first phase is the one in which divorce was granted only under compelling circumstances, graduating to the second phase where divorce was available on demand and finally coming to the third and present phase where divorce is granted under an additional and a more popular ground of divorce, the ground being irretrievable breakdown of marriage or a point of no return for the spouses which were intending at one point of time during the solemnization of their marriage. [25] Divorce under Sastric law coupled with the recognition of divorce under customary law constitute the first phase of divorce laws under Hindu Law. The phase where divorce was only given under compelling circumstances.
For the purposes of this phase let’s categorize divorce laws concerning the Hindus under three separate headings; Divorce and sastric Law, Divorce and Customary Law, Divorce and Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.Though Words such as ‘abandonment’, ‘supersession’ and ‘remarriage’ were used in various Hindu scriptures like the Smritis by the divine sages, learned and versatile scholars. [26] Abandoment or tyaga denotes separation from conjugal intercourse whereas supersession means termination of marriage itself. [27] There is absolutely no refrence to divorce [28] in Vedic text or post-vedic literature. [29] This has been stressed judicially in the cases of Kudomee v. Joteeram.The reason for no mention of divorce was that the Ancient Hindu Law derived its legal inspiration from the Manu-Smrti (the code introduced by Manu.) .Manu’s (it has been said that whatever Manu says is medicine, there have been mentions of Manu even in Vedas.) view on marriage can be inferred from one of his verses which is “Let mutual fidelity continue until death, this may be considered as the summary of the highest law by husband and wife”. [30] Also, Hindu Marriage is a sacrament and its object is progeny and performance of religious duty. [31] In the case of Govt of Bombay v. Ganga [32] it was decided by the Indian courts that mere change of faith by a Hindu wife or Husband doesn’t ipso facto dissolve the marriage. Although there is a provision of a second wife under compelling circumstances but there is no provision of divorce whatsoever contrary to the provisions of Modern Law. [33] All in all, when we talk about divorce and sastric law there seems to be unanimity between the Law-givers and the Scholars that Divorce was not known in ancient times. [34]
Having said all the above the ancient Hindu Law did recognize Customary divorce. A custom is a particular rule that has existed either actually or presumptively from time immemorial, and has obtained the force of law in a particular locality although contrary or not consistent with the general common law of the realm. [35] Whatever prevails amongst a set of people as a result of their consensus of opinion and approval is custom. [36] It grows by conduct from practices adopted for the convenience of the society and the individual. [37] In Hupurshad v. Sheo Dyal custom was defined as a rule in a particular family or a particular district which from a long usage obtained the force of law. [38] In Neelkisto Deb v. Beerchunder [39] it was said that wherever custom is in derogation of smriti law the former will supersede the latter.The prevalence of customary divorce under Hindu Law can be dated back to a decision as early as 1873. In the case of Khemkhor v.Umiashankar [40] the question at hand was that whether a sompura brahmana woman who has contracted a marriage with a man of that caste, during the lifetime of her husband and without his consent is entitled to maintenance? It was held that though remarriages or natras are allowed among them in the absence of the consent of her husband second marriage is not valid as per the customs of her caste. [41] In the case of Sundor v. Nihala [42] it was held that a woman belonging to the Jats of the district of Sialkot was free to contract second marriage on receiving a written divorce from her husband. [43] This was a valid custom amongst the Jats of Sialkot and thus had prominence over law.Though the British remained largely away from making any amendments in marriage laws governing the Hindus It did pass some legislations to empower women an example being the Sati Regulation Act of 1829.However, it was later found out that these were largely biased in the favour of upper class men and most of the customs which were crushed were actually in the favour of women. [44] Making it clear that the British weren’t interested in actual welfare but were concerned with increasing their power and position in India, this being the ulterior motive of such reforms. [45]
With the introduction of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 which is based on archaic English principles [46] , we entered the second phase of changes in divorce laws in India.This act was passed after the Hindu Married women Right to Separate Maintenance and Residence Act, 1946 which allowed a Hindu wife to separate from her husband on the ground of his marrying again. [47] This act formed the ground for HMA.This was one of the few reforms introduced by the British in divorce laws in India , during the latter part of the British Rule. With regard to HMA the Introduction of section 13 is not less than a revolution in Hindu Law. “The object of this act is to protect and preserve a Hindu marriage, rather than allow it to disintegrate .Severence of marriage is allowed only on substantial grounds. Right to divorce is a statutory right subject to any right recognized by custom”. [48] On a careful analysis of Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 one can easily figure out that there are fifteen grounds on which a divorce can be obtained. Nine of these grounds are based on the ‘fault liability theory’, two grounds are based on breakdown theory and four grounds which are special and can be availed off by a wife only. [49] Cruelty comes under guilt or offense theory. The HMA,1955, divorce was based only on fault theory. [50] However with subsequent amendments the breakdown theory and the consent theory were incorporated as grounds for divorce.The breakdown theory was added in 1970, whereas the consent theory was added by an amendment made in 1976 by the Marriage Laws (amendment) Act of 1976.These amendments were made to include more grounds for divorce , to free Hindu women in particular from the yoke of unwanted marriages. [51] This second phase can be divided into two parts depending on the attitude of the Supreme Court in granting divorces during this time. The period where divorce was almost available on demand(1970’s and early 1980’s) and the period where getting a divorce wasn’t easy.The courts were quite liberal in granting a divorce during the 1970’s and the 1980’s. [52] This however proved to be detrimental to the woman and children. As more men divorced women during this time as compared to the women wanting a divorce. [53] This was predicted by Derrett in the 1970’s.However, since 1976 the courts have become stricter while granting divorce as they realized that liberalization of divorce was ruining the Indian society. This change in attitude is evident from the fact that the Marriage Law Bills of 1981 was a complete failure. [54] Britishers stayed away from reforming divorce laws regarding Hindus as after the case of Rukmanibhai they realized the sensitiveness of this issue and took a stand to stay away from engaging in such reforms regarding personal laws in general and personal laws concerning the Hindus more specifically. [55] Thus no divorce reforms were made under the British leadership.
What is irretrievable breakdown of marriage? How did it come into existence in Hindu Law? What role did English Law play? “A marriage is a union of husband and wife for the whole of life, but it may so happen that that their relations might be strained and they would like to live away from each other. It is to be remembered owing to their sexual relations, interdependence and social censure it is difficult for them to live without each other for a long time. Therefore, there must be some stronger reason for them to live apart and get divorced. There should be complete absence of emotional attachment between them and they must develop intense hatred and acrimony against each other, so much so that there is only in name, a dead one or only a shell sans substance. It is now beyond the hope of salvage. It is therefore an irretrievable breakdown of marriage. Where a marriage has ceased to exist both in substance and in reality, divorce should be seen as a solution and an escape route out of a difficult situation.” [56] This ground for divorce originated in New Zealand under the Divorce and Matrimonial amendment Act, 1920.Prior to this divorce was granted by Ecclesiastical Courts granted divorce based on the ground of adultery and permitted the parties to marry again. [57] In England, divorce wasn’t accepted very easily in the 1950’s. [58] Then came the Divorce Act of 1969 which recognized irretrievable breakdown of marriage being the only ground for divorce. [59] It was stated in Santos v. Santos [60] that this legislation actually made the getting of divorce difficult rather than eaiser.This was preceeded by a decision Blunt v. Blunt were the four essentials of a matrimony were recognized by the English courts. [61] In England, irretrievable breakdown of marriage was made a ground for divorce in the year 1973, by the amendment of the Divorce Law Reforms Act, 1973 The leading case in this matter is Masarati v. Masarati [62] . In this case both the parties committed adultery and the court of appeals granted divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of marriage on the wife’s petition [63] .This also indicates that the English courts didn’t stress on reconciliation. . [64] Today, in England you can divorce someone if you have been married for atleat a year. [65] There is only one basic ground for divorce, irretrievable breakdown of marriage. [66] You can establish that the marriage has broken irretrievably by proving any of the following grounds,the grounds being adultery, unreasonable behaviour,desertion,three years separation with consent, five years separation with consent. [67] Contrary , to the English courts, the Indian Courts generally were keen and continue to be so to save a marriage at all costs and only when all options were exhausted , divorce was granted under this ground. [68] The Indian legislation moved very cautiously when it came to reforms under divorce based on the fact that during the 1950’s divorce wasn’t accepted easily in England as well which was the guiding model for reformers that time. [69] The Jordens case [70] was the first case in India where the SC advocated that irretrievable breakdown of marriage must be added as a ground for divorce, but no serious steps were taken [71] . In the case of Kalidas (Ghosh) v. Ashish Kumar Das case [72] , the court noted the ingredients of such a marriage (1) both the parties equally induldge in cruel behaviour, physical or mental against each other. (2) It is impossible for the court to come to any definite conclusion about the role of responsibility of one particular spouse in creating and sustaining the bitterness. (3) Marital relationship is emotionally dead and neither of the spouses genuinely want to live with the other spouse. [73] Some theorists are in support of this theory. However another revisor of the Moden Hindu law points out first two grounds are not conclusive, the third ground must be present, which is that matrimony must be dead. [74]
This theory is suggested by the SC and the Law Commision. “The 71st Law Commission Report released on April 7th , 1978 strongly suggested the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce. “The essence of the report was that what can’t be repaired should not be attempted to be repaired. As this would result only in greater misery and would certainly not be in the interest of justice. Keeping in mind that adequate financial arrangements are made for the woman and children. Decisions were given hiding behind the ground of cruelty when actually it was irretrievable breakdown of marriage.” [75]
Crulety has often been used as a proxy for irretrievable breakdown of marriage in the Indian Courts.Cruelty is a ground for divorce [76] under section 13-1(I -a) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The meaning of this word is not explained in the act. The meaning of cruelty was explained in the Shoba Rani case [77] .It was said that cruelty is a course of conduct of one which is adversely affecting the other. It may be mental or physical, intentional or unintentional.If it’s physical then it is question of fact and degree. To the contrary if it’s mental then the inquiry must begin as to the nature of the cruel treatment and then the impact of such treatment on the mind of the spouse.It was also stated that intention is not a necessary element in cruelty and relief can’t be be denied to the party on this ground. [78] In the case of Dastane v. Dastane [79] it was said that danger to life limb or health or a reasonable apprehension of it is a higher reqirement than reasonable apprehension that it is harmful for one spouse to live with the other.Five tests for cruelty were also enumerated in this case by Justice Vadiya. [80] Some of the instances of cruelty against the husband are; insulting and mentally torturing the husband, refusing to cohabit with hm, lodging complaints against him. [81] , becoming pregnant through some person other than the husband. [82] Some of the instances of cruelty against wife are continuous demand of dowry [83] , illtreating her to such an extent so as to force her to commit suicide. [84] However, it is important to note that demand for dowry itself doesn’t amount to cruelty, there should be persistent demand for dowry for it to amount to cruelty. [85] In Vinita Saxena v. Pankaj Pandey, the husband and wife were living separately for a period of 13 years.There marriage lasted only for 5 months. The trial court rejected the decree of divorce made by Vinita Saxena who filed a petition on the grounds of cruelty. The supreme court later granted divorce on the grounds of mental cruelty saying that “As to what constitute the required mental cruelty for purposes of the said provision, will not depend upon the numerical count of such incidents or only on the continuous course of such conduct but really go by the intensity, gravity and stigmatic impact of it when meted out even once and the deleterious effect of it on the mental attitude, necessary for maintaining a conducive matrimonial home”. [86]
It was also argued by many that divorce by mutual consent was a step forward and it remedied the problem to a large extent, thus having no need for irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce. Mutual consent was included as an additional ground for divorce under section 13-B, by an amendment made in 1976. Here both the parties make a joint petition to the court to divorce each other.They genuinely desire to part ways with each other and agree to do this amicably.if divorce is given they can live a good life, if not then they will wash their dirty linen in public.There were unfounded objections against this type of divorce that consent of the unwilling party would be obtained by force or through some other contrivance , and this is a divorce by collusion.But both these arguments and doubts are unfounded . Every collusion is no doubt by consent but every consent does not mean collusion. Collusion is a secret agreement for a fraudulent purpose ; it is a secret agreement by two or more persons to obtain an unlawful object. [87] Collusion is different from compulsion.Compulsion occurs when one party can dominate the will of other. [88] One may well say that from an unbreakable bondage under the smritis , a Hindu marriage has been transferred under the HMA into a consensual union between one man and one woman . Everythin static must droop and die and idea of marriage and divorce are no exception. [89] The non-supporters of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce argue that it has handled the situation to some extent. However this is not true at all. In mutual consent as one can see you need both the parties to agree on getting a divorce. Even If one party agrees to work on the marriage the aggrieved party has no solution in Law .The courts have no way to check that the willing party is actually willing to work on the broken bond or is doing so just to take revenge or to torture their spouse by forcing him or her to stay in matrimony. This not only fails to maintain the reputation and sanctity of marriage as an institution but also is not in the interest of justice and society.The very purpose for which the courts have become stringent in granting divorces lately. From Jordens case upto Naveen Kohlis case [90] a number of recommendations were made for the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce. Briefly the facts of the Naveen Kohli [91] case is that, the petitioner, Naveen Kohli, a reputed businessman of Uttar Pradesh, who was married to Neelu Kohli in 1975 and had three sons from their wedlock, had alleged that his wife constantly harassing him by filing false cases against him and she had relationship outside the marriage. The wife also alleged that the husband had kept a concubine with him. The trial court (Family Court) had allowed the divorce plea of the husband directing him to deposit Rs.5 lakh towards permanent maintenance of the wife. It, however said that both of them failed to prove the allegation of character assassination. Thereafter the wife appealed in the Allahabad High Court for granting divorce, the High Court held that, the trial court had not properly evaluated the evidence. It held that the husband was living with another woman. The wife’s appeal was allowed and the suit for divorce by the husband dismissed. On appeal by the husband, the apex court after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and 17 cases filed by the wife against her husband, set aside the High Court judgment.The Supreme Court held that, In our considered view, looking to the peculiar facts of the case, the High Court was not justified in setting aside the order of the trial court.The apex court further observed, In our considered opinion, wisdom lies in accepting the pragmatic reality of life and take a decision which would ultimately be conducive in the interest of both the parties’’.The Court observed that public interest demands that the married status should, as far as possible, as long as possible and whenever possible, be maintained. However, where a marriage has been wrecked beyond any hope of being repaired, public interest requires the recognition of the fact. The judgment notes that there is no acceptable way in which a spouse can be compelled to resume life with the consort and that situations causing misery should not be allowed to continue indefinitely and that law has a responsibility to adequately respond to the needs of the society.The profound reasoning is that in situation when there is absolutely no chance to live again jointly or when it is beyond repair, in such a case it would be futile to keep the marital tie alive. Here the ground of irretrievable breakdown is really needed. But it should not be oblivious that the ground, when introduced, needs to provide safeguards to ensure that no party is exploited. When no steps were taken in this direction the Supreme Court was forced to use it’s power under article 142 in the case of V. Bhagat v. D. Bhagat [92] and granted a divorce . In subsequent cases where marriage was dead emotionally and practically [93] , divorce was granted.High courts cant grand divorce by invoking 142. This should be remedied, this obstacle imposed by statutory provisions.
At present irretrievable breakdown of marriage is not a ground for divorce under the HMA,1955. However, the courts continue to be in favour of it as a ground for divorce. “This is clear from a recent Delhi High Court case where the husband filed for separation from his wife and his mother in law caused a lot of agong to him. Justice Khambir didn’t grant a divorce on a couple of reasons. First, that the law doesn’t recognize irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce under the HMA and the High court has no powers to grant divorce on this ground. Second, that the allegations made by the petitioner didn’t establish mental cruelty as they were vague.Third, there should be a minimum period before which such a ground can be invoked. When it does so divorce is subject to the woman getting money.Yet again the judiciary took this opportunity to bring the states attention to this issue. Again emphasizing the need for the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce under the HMA, 1955. It did so by saying that though getting a divorce is not a cake walk and marriage should be preserved but it is pointless to try and rebuilt on something which has broken long back . Living in matrimony will create more agony to the spouses than them parting ways”. [94] The Union Cabinet headed by Manmohan singh has passed the suggestion for the incorporation of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce by approval given to the Marriage Laws(amendment) Bill,2010. [95] This will allow the parties to escape the delay in the proceedings. [96] It will also safeguard the parties to marriage who file a petition on grounds of mutual consent from harassment in courts if one of the parties doesn’t turn up for court proceedings or wilfuly avoids the court to keep the divorce inconclusive. [97] It is absolutely essential to note that there should be a yardstick to work with so as to conclude that a marriage has been broken down beyond repair. [98] Such measures can’t be vague or intangible. [99] This has been done in most leading countries. Indian distinguished jurists consider a proof of living separately for a period of five or ten years of being conclusive evidence of a marriage beyond repair. t is quite strange that all these laws which were made for empowering women turned out to work against them. The HMA, which has been regarded as the odd composition of the old and the new Act was enacted to empower woman . To the contrary more men used this provision to divorce woman than men did after this enactment.Thus, this time round we have to make sure that the amendment made In the Act should be sensibly done. Ensuring that whenever a divorce is granted on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of marriage , the financial stability of the women involved and the children is absolutely ensured. [100] Manu says, “where women are honored the God are pleased.
In India 11 marriages out of 1000 marriages end up in divorce. [101] Whereas in the US 400 marriages out of 1000 end up in divorce . [102] It is due to these statistics that we as Indians keep bragging about how much we value marriage as an institution and have been able to preserve it even after so many centuries of its existence. It has crossed and passed all hurdles of the modern day world and has emerged victorious. Well,one must understand that these statistics are not conclusive at all. A low divorce rate in India as compared to the US doesn’t mean that people respect marriage more in India than in the US. It simply means that the society and the law are more liberal in the US than in India when it comes to granting and accepting a divorce respectively.In India a low divorce rate means firstly unequal access to justice. Divorce is more common in urban India than in rural India. This is due to the fact that seventy percent of the people in India don’t even go to the courts unless there are some criminal charges against them. [103] This may be due to lack of resources such as inability to pay the money involved in court proceedings , the courts being far off from the villages.Rural woman are more reluctant to seek a divorce than urban woman due to the stigma attached with being a divorcee . [104] Also, the financial aspect kicks in. Urban women on an average are more financially independent as compared to a woman living in rural India, who in most cases is dependent on her husband for her basic necessities. The situation of a rural Indian woman is similar to what Manu stipulated ‘A woman must be dependent on her father in childhood,upon her husband in youth and upon her son in old age.She should never be free’. [105] Second reason for the low divorce rates can be that it can take anyone between six months to twenty years in order to get a divorce in India. [106] In the US the process is much faster. Third,In India most of the people are forced to live in matrimony as their marriage has broken beyond repair however the HMA,1955 doesn’t recognize it as a valid ground for divorce. Thus, people do live separately but don’t get legally divorced. Thus, these figures are highly faulty. The people actually divorced are far more in number. It’s just that they don’t get counted in these statistics as they are not legally divorced.Whereas, the situation in US is different.
The Law Should recognize what society does rather than dictating the lives of the people. [107] An immediate need for state intervention in marriage laws is required. Thomas (2000:140) said that institution of marriage is nothing but the transfer of the rights of ownership of a woman from her father to her husband. [108] While the rights of her parents are restricted atleast by the taboos of incest, the rights of a husband are absolute. [109] This coupled with the fact that a true marriage is the one in which both the spouses are willing to sacrifice for the good of the other, the family and the society at large.If we allow people to be trapped in bad marriages were the emotional bond has been broken beyond repair, we are promoting nothing but a form of sexual slavery, as proposed by Thomas. In my view this is true in India, where a woman is reluctant to end a marriage based on reasons such as the stigma attached to being a divorcee and her financial status after divorce . She prefers to be trapped in a failed matrimony rather than come out and breathe the air of freedom. This fear in woman gets stronger and they ruin their lives when they see that they have no recourse in Law unless they either put allegations against their husband or if they are fortunate enough their husband consents to divorce them. [110] What if a woman is just living in matrimony because her husband provides for her financially the fact being that the emotional bond between them has broken long back? Is this really promoting the sanctity of marriage or is this making the future generations lose faith in the institution itself?This is a very strong reason for the inclusion of irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for divorce by the amendment of Section 13 of the HMA,1955.
It has been long realized by the Indian judiciary and the Parliament that mirroring divorce laws in India to that prevalent in England is a bad idea and they will refrain from doing so. However, irretrievable breakdown of marriage comes from English Law.They realized that due to difference in socio-economic conditions between the society in India and that of England blindly copying English law would just be foolish as it would work to the detriment of the society, which deafeats the purpose all together. [111] But, this is neither western nor modern. [112] This is a common problem relating to marriages and shouldn’t be mistaken to blindly copying the practices of English Law. This is for the good and logical.
The courts are balancing out individual freedom and social responsibility. In my view, curbing a persons freedom for the society is not justified. This is unconstitutional altogether. We at the end of the way want to live in a just society where people can exercise their choices freely and live happily.
This is an increasing trend in India , that people don’t formally get divorced but live separately ending up their marriage. This poses problems when one of the spouses wants to get married while the other refuses to grant a divorce due to personal grievances. In such a case the law has no remedy for the aggrieved party. If we don’t provide a remedy in the form of irretrievable breakdown of marriage this will lead to increased number of void marriages, illegitimate children etc thus promoting instability in the society, stability on the face of it.
Changing nature of family has to be kept in mind. The family is becoming more democratic and egalitarian . [113] The husband and wife not only share the house but also the earnings. It is a coalition. If it fails to work, the legal sanction for it should be withdrawn for the larger good.
Keeping in mind the current state of affairs, Diwan (1978:68) suggested that the Hindu Law of marriage should be either amended suitably so as to break the religious shell of marriage or be completely removed from the statute book. I completely support this secular outlook towards not only modern Hindu Law concerning marriages but personal laws in India in general. If we can’t make the necessary amendments in the existing legislations concerning marriage and divorce why can’t we do away with these statutes completely which fail to address the current social and economic issues faced by our society?A uniform civil code a common code [114] for all Indians will not only put an end to gender inequality by giving equal rights to both the spouses irrespective of their cast, creed and religion but also solve the numerous issues which have been left unsettled by personal laws.
We as a country may be flying high on the economic front but we as Indians are still rooted in tradition and grounded in culture. There is a need for a paradigm shift in this current status to ensure future well being and happiness.
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