Matrimonial disputes on the rise

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 6

Matrimonial disputes have witnessed a rise in the last two years in the district. As many as 42 cases were registered in 2012, 80 cases in 2013 and 1,366 applications received in 2014 (dowry cases) at the women police station, out of which 65 cases have been registered, while inquiry into 41cases in still pending.It is pertinent to mention that last year, many cases were also found in which the dowry act has been misused by the girl’s side in their complaints just to pressurise the groom’s family while the issues of difference between the two were different.

Kabul Singh, supervisor, women police station, said, “People should not use the Dowry Act as a tool. The government has given such a good platform for dowry victims to get justice. But due its misuse, the victims in even the genuine cases suffer. It would be better if they come to us and tell us about the original issue of dispute between them.”

He also stated that there were many issues behind the matrimonial dispute, but the major reasons are the mobile phones, unnecessary intervention by family members, use of more alcohol, drugs and the inability to adjust. “There are majority of cases in which girls want to stay separately. This shows that girls are not keen on adjusting. He also termed that movies, serials are also the reason behind the disputes as by seeing what going on TV, they follow that in real life,” he added.
He said their first preference is always to solve the issues through counselling. But some couples make it a prestige issue by claiming that they are right and will settle the issue in the court itself. He added that people were becoming aware day-by-day, due to which the number of applications and cases were increasing year-by-year. In this regard, the women’s helpline 181 is also playing a great role, as any woman who is feeling harassed, can call on this number and action is taken immediately.
Even dowry material that was given by the girls’ parents during the marriage parties are lying in the open, unattended and exposed to rains and occupying space at the police station.