In a strange news coming from MP, a newly-married wife left her husband’s home as her husband didn’t accept the car and gifts he got. The news of a woman being tortured by her husband or in-laws for dowry are unfortunately quite common in India. But this is the first instance where a woman is irate over the fact that he hasn’t accepted the dowry.
According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, the Bhopal-based woman’s family gave her husband a car and household items as gift. However, when the man chose to not accept the gifts, the woman left his home and went back to her parents’ place. After repeated attempts of persuading his wife, the man ultimately took to the family court. The case is still unresolved.
Background
In 1961, India finally criminalized the dowry system. However, the word dowry has been replaced with ‘gifts’ to indirectly get financial resources and other luxurious items from the bride’s family at the time of marriage. The custom still runs rampant across India especially in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, etc.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) dowry related crimes amounted to the deaths of 19 women every day in 2020. Reportedly close to seven thousand dowry deaths were reported in 2020 (6,966 cases) with as many as over seven thousand victims. The numbers fell in line with the data from 2019 and 2018 with 7,141 and 7,167 dowry deaths reported in those two years respectively.
News reports of a woman being tortured or a woman killing herself over dowry related incidents is quite common. However, a bride from Bhopal is making all the buzz.
Also Read: Caught on Cam: Leopard Strays into Aligarh School, Attacks Student Before Being Locked
The Facts of the Matter
On February 14, 2021, a couple in Bhopal’s Arera Colony got married. Reportedly, in the marriage proceedings, the groom took Rs. 1 as a customary amount to carry out all the rituals. However, the bride’s family ‘gifted’ the man several household items and a car. The man, according to reports, denied to accept the gifts. However, the wife got irked because of the same, and left the husband.
Man Takes to Family Court, Invokes Hindu Marriage Act’s Section 9
The man has taken to the family court in the matter. Reportedly, the man has filed a case against the wife under the Hindu Marriage Act’s Section 9. The Section 9 can be invoked in the cases when “either the husband or the wife has, without reasonable excuse, withdrawn from the society”.
A Dainik Bhaskar report stated that after the groom and his family denied the car and house hold items, the wife stayed with the family for a while. However, since the last 3 months, the wife has been living with her own family.
Also Read: Gurudwara Photoshoot Row: Pakistani Model Sauleha Apologizes For Hurting Sikh Community Sentiments
“No Space For Household Things”: Husband Told Wife
The husband claimed that after the wedding, his in laws had kept the gifts in one room and also left a car parked. He also claimed that the brothers of his wife started pressurizing her to keep the gifts. When the husband told his wife that he had no space to keep those gifts, the wife made an issue out of the situation.
This is the Wife’s Side of Story
Meanwhile, the wife and her family are not putting the label of dowry on the items and car. The Dainik Bhaskar report stated that since they only had one daughter, they wanted to give her all the the things to their heart’s content.
Also Read: Miss Kerala Accident: Ansi Kabeer & Anjana Shajan Died in an Attempt to Evade ‘Drug Dealer’
Couple Goes Through Court Mandated Counselling
Since the matter has been taken to the court, the couple are now receiving mandated counseling. In the counselling, it was reported that the counselor suggested the husband to not consider the car and household items as ‘dowry’. The counselor further suggested the husband to not deny the woman the gifts she has received from her parents.
