Tied up in knots, marriages falling apart in city

Aneesha Sareen

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 22

Dreams of a happy married life are fast getting shattered in the city as evident from the large number of divorce cases filed in the District Courts every year. Statistics reveal that over 3,500 cases have been filed in the District Courts over the past five years with an average of 700 cases being filed every year. The figure is rising.

A total of 880 divorce cases were filed in the courts in 2014, marking an increase of over 100 cases compared to 777 filed in 2011. Earlier in 2009, a total of 648 cases were filed while in 2010, the number of couples seeking divorce was 708.

The court statistics reveal that the stigma surrounding divorce is steadily fading with marital bliss appearing to come under greater stress in today’s fast-paced life.

The maximum number of divorce cases were filed in July, which was 122. On an average, 75 cases are filed in the District Courts every month, which on an average makes it at least two couples approaching the courts every day for divorce.

Lawyers dealing with divorce cases say the stress of modern life, change in gender roles, incompatibility and inflated egos are the basic reasons for the rise in divorce rates. Adjustment issues and adultery account for most divorce cases in the city.

A significant number of these cases have been filed on grounds of impotency.

While a large number of cases are filed seeking divorce through mutual consent, which makes the trial the quickest when it comes to disposal, a number of petitions have also been filed seeking divorce on grounds of cruelty and desertion. A large number of divorce cases have also been filed under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act (fraud) and also on concealment of grounds. In addition to the divorce cases, another 200 petitions for restitution of conjugal rights (rights and responsibilities in marriage) have also been filed in the lower courts in 2014.

Divorce cases mostly among highly educated: Lawyer

Senior advocate Malkit Singh Jandiala said the trend that arranged marriages were more stable continued even today since no differences arose when it came to celebrating rituals and customs in a marriage. “The maximum number of cases is being filed by the highly educated class, who are unable to deal with the stress of life and have inflated egos. A number of marriages these days are made on the Internet and these do not always have a fairytale ending” he said.