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Bombay High Court Hears Dowry Case Involving A Civil Judge
The wife of a sitting civil judge, Senior Bench at Baramati, wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court stating:
"My husband is a sitting judge; he is harassing me and my family for dowry. I hope that the Chief Justice takes appropriate action to ensure justice is served."
In the letter dated 29 July, the 37 year old wife of the judge has alleged that she started receiving threats and harassment soon after the couple got married in the month of May in 2007. Reportedly, her husband and other family members had begun to demand a car and 30 acres of agricultural land as dowry. The demand was made in addition to the 5 lakh rupees and furniture already given during marriage.Even the wedding expenses were borne by the woman's family.
The letter also throws light on the fact that the pressurisation from the Judge and his family increased manifold after the death of the complainant's father. The complainant was not allowed to stay at her matrimonial house because she refused to transfer her father's property to her husband's name. Following this, she stayed at her mother's house in Latur for a while. When her husband was transferred to Akola, she again tried to move into her matrimonial house, but was yet again sent back. She thereafter filed an FIR ( First Information Report) against her husband under section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code. The police, however, failed to take any action and ultimately the wife had to live with her mother.
The women filed an application for ad-interim maintenance in August 2014. The court ordered a monthly maintenance of Rs 10000 on 16th October 2016. She filed an execution appeal in January 2018, when her husband did not comply with the above order. Finally, she filed an application under section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956.
