Court serves notice to woman for false evidence

CHANDIGARH: Backtracking on dowry allegations in court proved costly for a woman as she got entangled in her own web of lies, following which, a show-cause notice was served to her for giving false evidence.

According to information, the Sector-25 based woman had levelled dowry charges against her 27-year-old husband, a resident of Sector 51, in May 2007.

In her police complaint, the woman alleged that soon after she got married, her husband started misbehaving and using derogatory language with her for bringing insufficient dowry.

She also alleged that she was thrashed and locked up in rooms on several occasions.

Subsequently, a case under sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 498-A (husband or relative of a husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the IPC was registered against her husband on July 5, 2007.

However, the case took a new turn when during the court hearing on Monday, the complainant outright denied that she was harassed or maltreated by her husband or her in-laws.

The woman went on to state that a 'misunderstanding' had cropped up between the couple, due to which her relations turned sour with the in-laws, resulting in the two getting divorced.

Much to the surprise of the jury, the woman's parents also supported her statement and denied that she was never maltreated or harassed by her husband and his family.

Shocked at the turn of events, the prosecution declared the complainant hostile, while the judicial magistrate questioned her why she shouldn't be punished for giving false evidence in the court?

The magistrate in his judgment stated, "The complainant deliberately suppressed the truth and made a false statement knowing it could be used in the court proceedings. This clearly amounts to perjury."

He further said, "The complainant should be tried for giving false evidence in legal proceedings. A show-cause notice must be served to her under Section 344 of the CrPC, wherein she must explain why she should not be punished. Separate proceedings must be also initiated against her."

Meanwhile, the court acquitted the woman's husband by giving him the benefit of doubt.

 

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Court-serves-notice-to-woman-for-false-evidence/articleshow/5337893.cms

Man dumps wife after she gets him bail in dowry case

 

A man from Bhopal, who was remanded to police custody in connection with a dowry case, dumped his Amdavadi wife after she got him and his parents released on bail.

The metropolitan court, that ordinarily does not grant bail in such a case, had taken into consideration the wife's request after she claimed that her husband had agreed to take her back.

According to case details, Yogini Khawani, a 29-year-old resident of Vejalpur, had married Amin Awani in 2003.

Soon after her marriage she went to Bhopal along with her husband, where her in-laws stayed. After a while, Yogini's in-laws reportedly began seeking dowry.

Meanwhile, Yogini became pregnant and delivered a baby girl which led to further harassment.

Yogini got pregnant again twice. But both these times, her in-laws allegedly forced her to abort the foetus in Bhopal.

When the situation spiralled out of control, Yogini came back to her parents' house in Vejalpur and lodged a complaint against her husband and in laws  with the Mahila Crime Branch.

A team from the Crime Branch arrested Amin and his parents in Bhopal and brought them to Ahmedabad on November 28.

The next day, they were produced before the court of the urgent metropolitan magistrate who granted them two days in police remand.

After the remand ended, the police produced the three before metropolitan magistrate G M Patel on December 2.

There, Yogini submitted in writing that she and her in-laws had reached a compromise.

She wrote: "If the judge wants to give them bail, I have no objection."

Following this, the judge granted bail to Awanis under the condition that they would mark their presence at the Mahila Police Station in Karanj on the 20th of each month.

After getting bail, the Awanis however returned to Bhopal without taking Yogini along.

When the Khawanis realised this, they approached their advocate Gulab Khan Pathan.

Said Pathan, "The Khawanis came to me two days ago and informed me that the compromise turned out to be a sham.

"The Awanis left behind Yogini. As the terms of compromise has been breached, we are thinking of filing a bail cancellation petition before the sessions court."

A person close to the Khawanis said the family will try to solve the dispute again on December 20 when the Awanis are expected to arrive at the police station.

 

Sources : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=3&contentid=20091217200912170311132043d6c073b&sectxslt=#ftr2

Wrongly jailed for 10 yrs, man gets Rs 1L

Shibu Thomas, TNN 2 September 2009, 08:32am IST

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to a 40-year-old man who languished in prison for over 10 years for a crime he didn't commit.

Malegoan resident Bapu Mali was in jail for five years as an undertrial battling rape and murder charges. Even after the trial court acquitted him, Mali spent five more years in prison as he didn't pay the bail amount when his case went into appeal.

"This is a sorry state of affairs," a division bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice A R Joshi said, while upholding the trial court order acquitting Mali. "Not only the prosecuting agency but also the courts are involved (for Mali languishing in jail). This is a reflection on our own system which needs to be corrected."

The court, in its order, also framed guidelines for the trial courts in such cases and said that the sessions judge who didn't comply with the rules will be liable for departmental inquiry and even contempt of court. "A person who is acquitted should not remain in jail even for an (extra) day," said the judges.

"But many poor persons are unable to furnish the bail amount and remain in jail," advocate Yug Chaudhry, who was appointed as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) said. The HC asked the sessions judges to release such accused on bail or a personal bond; and, in case the sessions court decides to send the accused back to jail, the judge has to furnish the information to the HC.

TOI, in its edition dated August 17, 2009 reported the case of the 35-year-old man who was in prison for over five years despite being acquitted of the criminal charges against him. The court had directed the state to pay him Rs 100,000 as compensation. Subsequently, the HC asked the state to find out if there were other such prisoners and Mali's case came to light.

source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4961723,prtpage-1.cms

Protection from 498A for ‘tortured’ in-laws

Protection from 498A for 'tortured' in-laws

TAPAS GHOSH

Calcutta, Dec. 16: A man so afraid his wife might file a false dowry case against him that he would torture his parents at her behest today earned rare immunity for his family from a domestic violence law said to be loaded against husbands and in-laws. Justice P.K. Chattopadhyay of Calcutta High Court issued an order barring Beauty Saha, 27, from filing a complaint under Section 498A against husband Prasanta, 32, and in-laws Prafulla Kumar and Swapna Saha after a tearful outburst turned the case on its head. The court was hearing a petition filed by 74-year-old Prafulla, a government pensioner from Barrackpore, over police inaction on a complaint filed by him against his son and daughter-in-law when Prasanta broke down and blurted out the "real reason" for mentally and physically torturing his parents. "The truth is that I am helpless. I have been doing my wife's bidding all along lest she carry out her threat to lodge a false case of domestic violence under Section 498A against me," Prasanta said, going down on his knees with hands folded. When Justice Chattopadhyay asked him why he had arranged for a lawyer to represent his wife if he cared for his parents, the unemployed man said: "I have so far done whatever my wife has asked me to do." Prasanta later requested the court to provide him with legal assistance to contest any counter-allegation by his wife. "I am sure she will find new ways to torture us as soon as we reach home," he said. The court ordered the officer-in-charge of Titagarh police station to arrest Beauty if any member of the family lodged a complaint of torture by her. Section 498A, which deals with "cruelty on housewives by husbands and in-laws", has been the subject of debate because of a glut of allegedly false cases filed by women trying to either use it as a tool for blackmail or settle personal scores. Organisations of husbands and in-laws facing false dowry cases are now common across the country. Beauty's counsel Pushpal Satpathy contested the allegations. He accused Prasanta of maligning his wife under pressure from his parents. Prasanta and Beauty had a love marriage three-and-a-half years ago and have since been living off the elder Saha's pension. The couple have a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. According to Prafulla's counsel Soumyajit Bhatta, Prasanta and Beauty started mentally and physical torturing his client and his wife Swapna, 64, last July, in a bid to grab the family property. "My client has a two-storey house on a four-cottah plot at Nonachandanpukur, under Barrackpore police station. His son and daughter-in-law have been torturing him and his wife for months, pressuring them to write the property in their names," the lawyer said. On November 15, the couple needed medical attention after an alleged assault by Beauty. Bhatta submitted a doctor's prescription to support the allegation. "On November 19, my client filed a general diary with Titagarh police station. But the police took no action and the torture continued," the lawyer said.

 

source : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091217/jsp/frontpage/story_11876635.jsp

2,715 cases of abuse registered in Ahmedabad

Friday, December 11, 2009 8:38:00 AM

Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo must be obtained from www.3dsyndication.com.

2,715 cases of abuse registered in Ahmedabad

S Krishnan / DNA

The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has expressed serious concerns over increasing incidents of crime and domestic violence against women. The commission conducted a study on the number of cases of atrocities against the weaker sections of the society, particularly against people belonging to scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) across the state. The SHRC study revealed that the number of crime against women in Gujarat has gone up to 16,067 in 2008 from 12,602 recorded in 2001. Ahmedabad city tops the list with 2,715 crimes in 2008, followed by Surat (629), Junagadh (607), Bhavnagar (601), Rajkot rural (492) and Banaskantha (426). In the past one year alone, as many as 359 cases of rape, 1,041 cases of kidnapping, 284 cases of murder, 857 cases of molestation, 1,840 cases of suicide, 3,166 cases of accidental deaths, 28 cases of dowry deaths and 6,093 incidents involving physical and mental torture of women were registered in different parts of the state. In 2007-2008, the SHRC said it received, "as many as 117 complaints relating to various crimes committed against women. These included complaints of rape, kidnapping, murder, gender bias, dowry deaths, demand for dowry and exploitation." The commission received 67 more complaints in 2007-2008 as compared to 2006-07. A total of 1,159 cases relating to atrocity committed against SCs and another 199 cases of atrocity against STs were reported from across the state in 2007-2008. The SHRC received 37 complaints of atrocity against the SC/ST communities, of which 27 had been disposed off.  The commission had recommended the authorities concerned to take action against the offenders and protect the weaker sections of the society. Referring to incidents of violation by human rights by the policemen, the Navsarjan Trust had recommended the higher authorities to initiate department inquiry and punitive action against 'erring' cops.  According to a source in the SHRC, the commission received as many as 394 cases of violation in 2007-08, which included 91 cases relating to 'misuse of power' (by the police), 23 cases of false implication and another 233 cases where the police failed to take legal measures. Kantilal Parmer, a member of the Navsarjan Trust, said, "There has been an increase in the number of cases relating to molestation, sexual exploitation and dowry, resulting in suicide and accidental deaths. Moreover, investigation done by the law enforcement agencies in such cases is halfhearted, which is also one of the reasons why a lot of complaints are not filed at the police stations. For most women, finding a public prosecutor is a challenge." Incidentally, to mark Human Rights Day on Thursday, the manhole workers' unions organised a human chain and staged a demonstration near Town Hall. The unions called for a joint platform for taking action against injustice. Zakir Qazi, member of the Swasthya Suraksha Mandal, said, "The demonstration is staged to make people aware about their rights. How can we call the state Swarnim Gujarat?"   Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_2715-cases-of-abuse-registered-in-ahmedabad_1322500

Self-immolation bid 'to teach in-laws a lesson' backfires

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/dec/071209-attempted-suicide-woman-booked.htm

Cops book woman for attempting suicide after they find no harassment 

A woman who set herself ablaze after a quarrel with her in-laws has been booked for attempting suicide, as the police believe she did it only to get her way by dangling the sword of the domestic violence law over her husband's parents.

Mary Sunitha (35), who was admitted to the Victoria hospital burns ward, told the police that she had set herself on fire because she was unable to bear the harassment she was subjected to by her in-laws.

At first the police thought it was another case of dowry harassment, but investigations by Assistant Sub Inspector Shanth Rajaiah made them change their opinion. Now Sunitha can be sentenced to a year's imprisonment by the court for attempting suicide.

Denied expenses

The police said Sunitha used to spend most of her time outside the home, which had irked her in-laws. They said though Sunitha and her husband, Stephen Raj, worked with a private firm and earned well, she would give her in-laws not more than Rs 300 per month for their expenses.

The police said one day Sunitha's father-in-law had had enough and decided to talk to her. He objected to her attitude towards the home and scolded her for spending her time outside.

Playing with fire

The police said Sunitha decided to "teach her in-laws a lesson" by attempting suicide as that meant they could be booked for domestic violence. The relevant law holds the in-laws responsible for pushing their son's wife towards suicide in case they have subjected her to mental or physical harassment.

Sunitha doused herself with kerosene and set herself ablaze. Stephen Raj, with the help of neighbours, rushed her to a private hospital and later shifted her to Victoria, where she is said to be out of danger.

Assistant Sub Inspector Rajaiah of the Gangammana Gudi police station investigated the case, in the course of which he also recorded Sunitha's statement, and concluded that taking the extreme step was unwarranted in the circumstances. The officer found Sunitha's actions directed only towards putting members of the family in trouble. 

After consulting his seniors, Rajaiah booked her for attempted suicide. 

False cases on rise

A senior judicial officer, who did not want to be named, said of late a majority of dowry harassment and domestic violence cases were turning out to be abuse of the law by women who were using it as a tool to blackmail husbands or in-laws. "A rough estimate is that over 80 per cent of such cases are fake and result in acquittal of those accused of domestic violence," said the judicial officer.

In the law book
Attempt to suicide is treated in Sec 309 of IPC
Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for term which may extend to one year (or with fine, or with both).

Lower court issues bailable warrant against 5-year-old for not appearing as a witness in a sexual harassment case

Lower court issues bailable warrant against 5-year-old for not appearing as a witness in a sexual harassment case

No one is out of the purview of India's justice system, not even five-year-old kids. A lower court in Delhi issued a bailable warrant against a five-year-old girl for not deposing in a case of sexual harassment. Interestingly, the case was filed by the girl's mother against one of her neighbours and the girl was mentioned as an eye witness.

The incident took place in New Usmanpur police station area in June this year. A case of sexual harassment was registered against Sunil alias Sonu after the mother of the five-year-old alleged that her daughter was sexually assaulted by him.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shivali Sharma issued a bailable warrant for the girl after she and her mother failed to appear before the court to record their statement.

The court has now directed the two to appear before the court on December 10, the next date of the hearing.

"We need to record the statement of the girl and her mother. The accused has already been arrested and produced before the court, but without their statement the case cannot move ahead," said a police official.

The New Usmanpur police refused to comment on development in the case. MiD DAY tried to contact the SHO RK Khatana, but all calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.

The court has directed the investigating officer of the case to inform the two to depose before the court on the next date of hearing.

source : http://timesofindia.hotklix.com/link/entertainment/celebs/My-CEO-framed-blackmailed-me

Atit
Pune
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Fwd: Now Indian Monkeys also come under the DV act . :-)

Just shows how dumb the average villager is in India . No wonder the are fleeced by the netas.

*-------------------------------------------------------------------*

http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20091117/808/tnl-orissa-villagers-file-case-for-femal.html

Orissa villagers file case for female monkey!

Tue, Nov 17 01:45 PM

Bhubaneshwar (Orissa), Nov 17 (ANI): In a bizarre development, residents of a village near Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, have filed a case against a male monkey for attempting to attack and kill a female monkey and its newborn.

The case was filed at a police station near the village.

Villagers said in their complaint that the male monkey- Raja had been consistently trying to attack the female monkey- Jhumri and its dear newborn at Astaranga.

Police have registered a case under three sections of the Indian Penal Code, which includes section 363 (kidnapping), 366 (abducting for slavery) and 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences).

"If a female will place a complaint before me about her son going to be kidnapped or murdered by anyone, then a cognizable offence under section 366, 363, 507 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code will be registered. The accused and his associates would also be arrested and necessary police protection would be given," said Jatindra Kumar Das, a police official.

According to the complaint filed before the Police, Raja had already killed its first child and was now hunting down its second baby as well. (ANI)

Ill-treatment not for dowry, rules HC

BANGALORE: Scolding a wife for not doing household work properly, talking to strangers or objecting to sale of household property is not ill-treatment under Section 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code, according to the Karnataka High Court.

Acquitting G R Lokanath and others, convicted under 498(A) by the city fast track court for Saritha's death, Justice Arali Nagaraj on Monday observed that since the alleged ill-treatment was not in connection with any unlawful demand (dowry), it cannot be categorized under 498(A).

Counsel C N Raju told the court the allegations against the petitioners are not traceable under 498(A). Saritha, who had been married to Lokanath, met with a homicidal death on March 10, 2007. Her mother Siddamma filed a complaint against the relatives of her son-in-law that they had scolded her daughter for not doing household work, etc. Cases were booked against Lokanath and relatives under Sections 302 (murder) and 498(A). The trial court acquitted all the accused of the murder charge, but convicted them under 498(A).

toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com

source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Ill-treatment-not-for-dowry-rules-HC/articleshow/5262314.cms

Efforts needed to do away with dowry system: Chidambaram

New Delhi: Bracketing dowry with arranged marriages, home minister P
Chidambaram today said efforts have to be made to find a way to do away with
the practice that has been prevalent for ages in the country.

He also termed as "evil" the portrayal of a child bride in a TV serial.

Speaking at a seminar on dowry here, Chidambaram said in India, majority of
marriages are arranged. "As the failure of arranged and not-arranged
marriages in India was the same, we accept arranged marriages. But dowry is
a fact in arranged marriages," he said.

"We accept arranged marriage, but we reject dowry; but dowry is a
concomitant part of arranged marriage," the home minister stated.

Agreeing that there were no easy solutions to this, he said, "Unless you
state the problem clearly and then try to find an answer, this problem will
continue for ages to come".

"I have no easy answers, but educated people in the country should take a
lead in solving this problem," he said adding, that ultimately it was the
choice of an individual. If more and more people join the campaign, then the
evil will die down".

He said that it was a myth that dowry was present only in certain sections
of society. "It is prevalent in every section of society," he said.

"I am told that there is even a serial which shows a child bride. This is an
evil," he added.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_efforts-needed-to-do-away-with-dowry-system-chidambaram_1316224

Abusing wife for talking to strangers not ill-treatment

Abusing wife for talking to strangers not ill-treatment

Abusing a woman for not doing household work or for talking to strangers or for objecting to the sale of household property doesn't come under the purview of ill-treatment as defined under 498(A)of IPC, the High Court of Karnataka has said.  Acquitting GR Lokanath and others who were convicted by the city track court in connection with the death of  Saritha, Justice Arali Nagaraj observed that since the alleged ill-treatment was not in connection with any unlawful demand (dowry), it cannot be categorised under 498(A). CN Raju, counsel for the accused, told the court that the allegations made against the petitioners are not traceable under 498(A). Saritha, who was married to Lokanath, met with homicidal death on March 10, 2007. Her mother Siddamma had filed a complaint against relatives of her son-in-law. Cases were booked under Sections 302(murder) and 498(A) of IPC. The trial court acquitted all the accused of the murder charge, but convicted them under Section 498(A) of IPC. Raju told the court that on March 10, 2007 Saitha's husband returned home to find his wife dead. The deceased's mother had filed a complaint, alleging harassment of her daughter by her in-laws and husband.   source : http://www.dnaindia.com/dnaprint.asp?newsid=1315742

Harassed husbands take out ‘victory’ rally after govt relief

Harassed husbands take out 'victory' rally after govt relief

The harassed husbands' association was celebrating the Centre's directive to states not to arrest husbands without proper checks The harassed husbands association took out a victory procession in the city on Monday following the central government's directive to states not to make immediate arrests in dowry cases. The Akhil Bharatiya Patni Athyachar Virodhi Sangh took out their 'vijay yatra' around 2 pm from Manav Mandir to Gandhiji's statue at Income Tax. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked state governments to issue directives to the police not to arrest the husband and his relatives without proper investigations in anti-dowry cases. The harassed husbands association president Dashrath Devda said, "Since the implementation of Section 498A of IPC across the country in 1984, it has been often misused by women for petty ends and to send their husbands and family members behind bars on false grounds." Outside court, the man and his family members are made to shell out a lot of money as part of the settlement, Devda said. "Our Sangh organised a lot of protests objecting to the gross misuse of Section 498A. Recently, the apex court said the section was misused. The court directive to the government that only after proper investigation should a man be arrested in anti-dowry cases is a blessing for harassed men," he said. "At present we have 48,000 cases of husbands being harassed by women. And every month we get around 250 such cases. Our organisation tries to help and save husbands harassed by their wives," he said.

Harassed husbands take out 'victory' rally after govt relief

sources : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=3&contentid=20091124200911240232147846845a6b&sectxslt=

Abinav Bindra supports International mens day

Men want their day, talk equality

International Men's Day, though yet to get official recognition from the United Nations, is slowly getting more votaries in its favour in India.

Sports icon and Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra feels it's a good idea, "not just to have another Day but if it is to deal with specific problems of men. Why not?"

Everybody has issues; men too have issues that are specific to them and we must be "sensitive to those", he added.

Celebrated on different days in different parts of the world, it was the then Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev who first called for an international day to celebrate men in 1999 at the UN in Vienna.

In India, NGOs like Save Indian Family Foundation that advocate the cause of men — on a range of issues like false dowry claims, domestic violence, sexual harassment and torture — want to build international consensus for November 19 to be International Men's Day.

Fashion designer Rohit Bal is all for it. "Men always get a raw deal, particularly in times of segregation and divorce. Custody of children go to women.  I think, in any country, both sexes need to be treated equally." He added: "This is not a demographic problem but a human problem. We should definitely have an International Men's Day."

Fashion designer Jattinn Kochhar said: "The Indian government should establish an International Men's Day though the day and date could be decided. I will give it full support."

"On the one hand, we talk of women's empowerment which is very good. But then a small percentage of men get slaughtered as the government, police and law are with women," he added. 

This year, the day coincides with International Philosophy Day. Head of the department of philosophy at Hindu College, Devasia M. Antony, said: "An interesting but (un)welcome coincidence, one may think so! A glance at philosophical writings show most philosophers were and are men. A case of clear gender bias indeed! One hopes the emergence of more women philosophers would radically alter the way philosophy is taught and practised."

UN Information Centre director Shalini Dewan said: "As far as the UN is concerned, men were not the discriminated gender."

Email to author : smohapatra@hindustantimes.com

Sources : http://www.hindustantimes.com/cinema-news/newdelhi/Men-want-their-day-talk-equality/Article1-352611.aspx

Re: [sif-core] Re: [SaveIndianFamily] ‘Step to protect men from wives’ fake complaints not enough’

Please comment on the articles. This will be a nice way to contribute.

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 12:11 PM, Myth Kumar <fightin498a@googlemail.com> wrote:

1
 SIFF prepares to mark International Men's Day on Nov 19
<http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/862-siff-prepares-to-mark-international-mens-day-on-nov-19.html>
2

 'Step to protect men from wives' fake complaints not enough'

<http://www.saveindianfamily.org/about-us/siff-news/861-step-to-protect-men-from-wives-fake-complaints-not-enough.html>
-----------------------------
Myth Kumar
Bangalore.

<http://followmeonnet.blogspot.com/>
"Men can acquire knowledge, but not wisdom. Some of the greatest fools ever
known were learned men."


On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Atit Rajpara <atit.rajpara@gmail.com>wrote:

>  'Step to protect men from wives' fake complaints not enough'
> *Aaditi Jathar* Posted online: Tuesday , Nov 17, 2009 at 0523 hrs
> *Pune : **Centre's directive to states say no arrests be made without
> proper
> investigation*
>
> Taking cognisance of the increasing number of false complaints being filed
> under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Central Government
> recently issued directives to the state governments not to make any
> immediate arrests but conduct thorough investigations before taking any
> action. However, family court lawyers and activists feel that unless women
> are punished for lodging false complaints, this directive would not help.
>
> "Though the directive is welcome, unless the women are punished by law for
> filing false cases under Section 498A, its misuse cannot be stopped," said
> Mahesh Kalge, a representative of Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), who
> runs a helpline for men in distress caused by domestic disputes.
>
> Mahesh (name changed), an IT professional from Chinchwad, had to spent a
> week in the lock-up after his wife filed a harassment complaint with the
> police.
>
> "In most cases, the investigating officer immediately arrests the husband,
> mother-in-law and sister-in-law, as per the statement given by the wife.
> However, when the allegations prove false, the investigating officer is
> never held at fault. It is time the judiciary take this into account," said
> Mahesh.
>
> "This directive, if implemented strictly, will surely put a tab on the
> misuse of this section. Of the total cases filed under this section in one
> year, 85 per cent turn out to be bogus," said advocate Shailaja Kelkar,
> matrimonial counselor who practiced in the family court for 20 years. There
> should be a provision in the law where husbands can sue their wives for
> making false allegations. Women take to filing such false complaints with
> an
> eye on compensation or husband's property, Kelkar observed.
>
> In a letter to state chief secretaries, the Ministry of Home Affairs has
> asked the state governments to issue directives to the police not to arrest
> the husband and his relatives without checking the genuineness of the
> anti-dowry complaint.
>
> The MHA wants the arrests to be the last resort and has asked the state
> police to ensure that the law doesn't become a tool in the hands of
> disgruntled women to settle scores with their husbands and in-laws.
>
> Source :
>
> http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-to-protect-men-from-wives-fake-complaints-not-enough/542632/0
>
>

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Re: [SaveIndianFamily] ‘Step to protect men from wives’ fake complaints not enough’

1	SIFF prepares to mark International Men's Day on Nov 19
2	'Step to protect men from wives' fake complaints not enough'

-----------------------------
Myth Kumar
Bangalore.

<http://followmeonnet.blogspot.com/>
"Men can acquire knowledge, but not wisdom. Some of the greatest fools ever known were learned men."

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Atit Rajpara <atit.rajpara@gmail.com> wrote:

 'Step to protect men from wives' fake complaints not enough'
*Aaditi Jathar* Posted online: Tuesday , Nov 17, 2009 at 0523 hrs
*Pune : **Centre's directive to states say no arrests be made without proper
investigation*

Taking cognisance of the increasing number of false complaints being filed
under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Central Government
recently issued directives to the state governments not to make any
immediate arrests but conduct thorough investigations before taking any
action. However, family court lawyers and activists feel that unless women
are punished for lodging false complaints, this directive would not help.

"Though the directive is welcome, unless the women are punished by law for
filing false cases under Section 498A, its misuse cannot be stopped," said
Mahesh Kalge, a representative of Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), who
runs a helpline for men in distress caused by domestic disputes.

Mahesh (name changed), an IT professional from Chinchwad, had to spent a
week in the lock-up after his wife filed a harassment complaint with the
police.

"In most cases, the investigating officer immediately arrests the husband,
mother-in-law and sister-in-law, as per the statement given by the wife.
However, when the allegations prove false, the investigating officer is
never held at fault. It is time the judiciary take this into account," said
Mahesh.

"This directive, if implemented strictly, will surely put a tab on the
misuse of this section. Of the total cases filed under this section in one
year, 85 per cent turn out to be bogus," said advocate Shailaja Kelkar,
matrimonial counselor who practiced in the family court for 20 years. There
should be a provision in the law where husbands can sue their wives for
making false allegations. Women take to filing such false complaints with an
eye on compensation or husband's property, Kelkar observed.

In a letter to state chief secretaries, the Ministry of Home Affairs has
asked the state governments to issue directives to the police not to arrest
the husband and his relatives without checking the genuineness of the
anti-dowry complaint.

The MHA wants the arrests to be the last resort and has asked the state
police to ensure that the law doesn't become a tool in the hands of
disgruntled women to settle scores with their husbands and in-laws.

Source :
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-to-protect-men-from-wives-fake-complaints-not-enough/542632/0

'Step to protect men from wives' fake complaints not enough'

Aaditi Jathar Posted online: Tuesday , Nov 17, 2009 at 0523 hrs

Pune : Centre's directive to states say no arrests be made without proper investigation

Taking cognisance of the increasing number of false complaints being filed under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Central Government recently issued directives to the state governments not to make any immediate arrests but conduct thorough investigations before taking any action. However, family court lawyers and activists feel that unless women are punished for lodging false complaints, this directive would not help.

"Though the directive is welcome, unless the women are punished by law for filing false cases under Section 498A, its misuse cannot be stopped," said Mahesh Kalge, a representative of Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), who runs a helpline for men in distress caused by domestic disputes.

Mahesh (name changed), an IT professional from Chinchwad, had to spent a week in the lock-up after his wife filed a harassment complaint with the police.

"In most cases, the investigating officer immediately arrests the husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, as per the statement given by the wife. However, when the allegations prove false, the investigating officer is never held at fault. It is time the judiciary take this into account," said Mahesh.

"This directive, if implemented strictly, will surely put a tab on the misuse of this section. Of the total cases filed under this section in one year, 85 per cent turn out to be bogus," said advocate Shailaja Kelkar, matrimonial counselor who practiced in the family court for 20 years. There should be a provision in the law where husbands can sue their wives for making false allegations. Women take to filing such false complaints with an eye on compensation or husband's property, Kelkar observed.

In a letter to state chief secretaries, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the state governments to issue directives to the police not to arrest the husband and his relatives without checking the genuineness of the anti-dowry complaint.

The MHA wants the arrests to be the last resort and has asked the state police to ensure that the law doesn't become a tool in the hands of disgruntled women to settle scores with their husbands and in-laws.

Source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-to-protect-men-from-wives-fake-complaints-not-enough/542632/0

Fast track courts to come up for domestic violence cases: Law Minister

Fast track courts to come up for domestic violence cases: Law Minister
11/14/2009

Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily said fast track courts will be developed immediately for meting out speedy justice to women in domestic violence cases.

Speaking at the inauguration of the third national conference on the Implementation of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Mr Moily said, 'Whatever proposals are forwarded to the Law Ministry by the National Commission of Women, we will accept them readily. We will also implement fast track courts immediately to mete out justice in domestic violence cases.' Calling the 2005 Act on domestic violence revolutionary, the Minister said the law further needed to be firmed up in providing custody for the accused and payment for child care.

He also expressed concern over the need to address the resource constraints that were hindering the implementation of the Act.

'I will talk to the Planning Commission about it,' he said.

'We also need to sensitise the judicial system in bringing women judges in all courts. We will also deploy the legal fraternity in the campaign on domestic violence against women,' he concluded.

He lamented that domestic violence had not received the kind of opposition smoking or other wrong activities had got and said cases of women and children will get priority in all courts of the country from the district level to the Supreme Court.

Saying that laws could not stop at home or family, Mr Moily said the judiciary and his Ministry would ensure that domestic violence was firmly dealt with.

UNI

 

Sources : http://www.indlawnews.com/Newsdisplay.aspx?606a3b69-0963-4381-84fe-299ac4132253

Stop playing safe, Addl DGP tells investigating officers

PUNE: CID's additional director general of police S P S Yadav attributed the poor rate of conviction in the state to pressure under which police

investigation officers tend to submit charge-sheets even in cases where a final report should be submitted due to lack of evidence. The practice of just submitting charge-sheet as a safe playing technique should be curbed by the higher echelons of Maharashtra police, he said.

Adopting scientific measures and making use of latest techniques in investigations has helped the state criminal investigation department (CID), Pune, secure 60 per cent conviction rate in 2008 as against 9.4 per cent by the state police units, said Yadav.

Addressing policemen after the release of state's yearly crime report at the state reserve police headquarters at Wanowrie, Yadav said the crime registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has gone up by 5.4 per cent in 2008 as compared to the previous year, but the crime committed under the special and local laws has declined considerably.

The crime which registered rise are: counterfeiting coins and currency notes (+ 50 per cent), riots (+17.5 per cent), murder attempt (+13.7 per cent), dacoity (+13.3 percent), thefts (+10.9 percent) and robbery (+9.4 percent). The crime on the decline include planning dacoity (-32.3 percent), dowry deaths (-10.6 percent) and culpable homicide (-1.8 percent).

Yadav said that property offences have gone up by 9.26 per cent and percentage of detection in such cases was 34 per cent, but the rate of illegall transaction of money under such offence was 9 per cent.

The crime against women surged by 5.4 percent and in the last five years it has increased by 36.5 percent. The crime against women which are on rise include molestation (+9.47 percent), dowry (prevention) act (+8.89 percent) , rape (+7.37 percent), subjecting women to cruelty (+6.43 percent), sexual harassment (+5 percent) and kidnapping (+3.21 percent). The conviction rate in respect of crime involving husband and relatives is down by 3.55 percent; dowry and suicide abatement is down by 9 percent and 8 percent respectively. These figures call for introspection by investigation officers and supervisory officers, he said.

Talking to media persons, Yadav said violent crimes like murder, attempted murder, culpable homicide, dowry deaths, kidnapping, rape, arson, riots, dacoity and robbery has escalated by 11 per cent. Violent crime constitutes 10.95 per cent of the total IPC cases and its percentage per lakh population is 19.42 percent. These crimes poses a serious challenge to crime prevention machinery particularly in rural areas like Beed, Gadchiroli, Hingoli, Aurangabad rural, Parbhani, Latur, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalna and Solapur rural.

Crime against members of SC/ST communities have increased by 71 percent and 24 percent respectively in the last five years. The rate of conviction under the Prevention of Atrocities Act was 4.8 percent and Prevention of Civil Rights was 2.1 percent. Although the death sentence awarded in the Khairlanji case is a pointer to the success of police investigation, the overall result of investigation of crime against the weaker sections is far from satisfactory.

The CID has called for formation of special juvenile police units in every district and commissionerates consisting of child welfare officers as crimes relating to minors have increased in the age group of 16 and 18 years.

As many as 12,957 people died in road accidents and 49,656 people were injured in road accidents in 2008. The CID report says that the unit commanders can ill afford to ignore the significance of various traffic planning measures required to be taken in their respective jurisdiction for controlling accidents.

Earlier, Mumbai police commissioner D Shivanandan released the CID's annual report titled: "Annual crime in Maharashtra-2008". The function was attended by state police academy director Sridevi Goel, city police commissioner Satya Pal Singh, joint commissioner of police Rajendra Sonawane and mayor Rajlakshmi Bhosale

 

source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Stop-playing-safe-Addl-DGP-tells-investigating-officers/articleshow/5231403.cms

Cruel marriage law being misused, so don't rush to arrest: Centre to states

Maneesh Chhibber Posted online: Tuesday , Nov 03, 2009 at 0843 hrs

New Delhi : For years, there has been loud debate and even orders from courts to do away with or, at least, amend Section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with the offence of matrimonial cruelty. This clause is considered to be rampantly abused, with several examples of husbands and their families being arrested without a preliminary inquiry on allegations of harassing their wives for a range of reasons, including dowry.

Now the Ministry of Home Affairs has written to all state governments, advising them that arrest for an alleged offence under Section 498A should be the "last resort," not the first step.

In a communication sent to the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of all states and the Administrations of the Union Territories on October 13, the MHA has cited misuse of the clause.

"In some cases, every member of the husband's family has been arrested, irrespective of whether they had a role in inflicting cruelty on the married woman or not. In some cases, the provisions have been used to settle personal scores. Cases have been reported where momentary anger has resulted in invocation of Section 498A, which resulted in the arrest of the members of the family shutting down any possibility of reconciliation in future and total collapse of the marriage. Even where there is a divorce proceeding, the case under Section 498A continues to persist because of the offence being non-compoundable," the letter says.

Section 498A, incorporated in the IPC in 1983, provides for adequate punishment for any cruelty inflicted on a married woman by her husband and his relatives. The maximum punishment under the Section is three years and/or fine.

The MHA letter, incidentally, says that in light of judicial pronouncements, an attempt was made earlier to find a via media by amending Section 498A to make the offence compoundable. "However, this could not be pursued because of the opposition from women organisations," the letter says.

Incidentally, in its judgment in Savitri Devi vs Ramesh Chand and others in 2002, the Delhi High Court observed: "...the misuse of the provisions of Section 498A...is hitting at the very foundation of marriage itself and has proved to be not so good for the health of the society at large."

This was echoed by the Supreme Court in Sushil Kumar Sharma versus Union of India and Others. "The object of Section 498A is to prevent dowry menace. But...many instances have come to light where the complaints are not bonafide and...filed with oblique motive. It may become necessary for the legislature to find out ways how the makers of frivolous complaints or allegations can be appropriately dealt with."

In 2003, the Justice Malimath Committee, submitted a report to the MHA on reforms in the Criminal Justice System, recommended that the Section be made bailable and compoundable to give a chance to the spouses to come together.

Source : http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/536560/

Master plan... :)

'Pay alimony to wife first, invest later'

Refusing to reverse the order of a family court asking Sudhir Apte, 41, to cough up Rs1,000 as maintenance for his estranged wife Rupali and their two children, the Bombay high court held that family comes before investments.

"It is not open for a husband to keep investing money in various schemes and then claim to not have sufficient money to look after the family," justice RY Ganoo said. "In my view, a person who earns by way of salary has to adjust his savings keeping in view the minimum requirements of his wife and children."

Sudhir and Rupali first separated in 1996 and Rupali sought maintenance from him under section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. But in 2000, the family court held that Rupali was not entitled to it.

In 2003, however, Rupali and Sudhir buried their differences and started living together with their two children. In six months, however, Rupali levelled charges of cruelty against him and started living separately with the children.

This time, Rupali urged the family court to direct Sudhir to pay the maintenance on grounds of cruelty. Taking this and Sudhir's income into account, the court directed him in January 2008 to pay Rs1,000 as monthly maintenance.

Seeking revision of the family court's decision, Sudhir contended before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court that the allegations of cruelty were not substantiated and he could not afford to pay Rs1,000 as maintenance.

Justice Ganoo noted that Sudhir worked as a tracer in the public works department of the state government and his contribution to his provident fund was in excess of his responsibility. The court also discarded Sudhir's argument that Rupali had her own source of income.
(Names have been changed to protect privacy)

 

Sources : http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pay-alimony-to-wife-first-invest-later_1295141

Even HC Judges confused about PWDVA

Women fight for cover under DV act

Saeed Khan, TNN 4 October 2009, 12:05am IST

AHMEDABAD: Last year, a court asked a family in Dholka to vacate the house for the daughter-in-law, and asked all the men in the house to leave. This, after the daughter-in-law filed a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (DV Act) and demanded shelter in the house.

The court did not touch women under provisions of Section 2 (q) of the Act, which says that the law does not envisage women as respondents in proceedings. However, a year later, the Gujarat High Court is debating if action can be contemplated against women under the DV Act?

Many women who have been booked under this law, have approached the high court claiming that the law does not envisage a woman as respondent, but the magisterial courts across the state have initiated proceedings against them. They requested the high court to exonerate them in these cases.

During the hearing before Justice HN Devani, the petitioners' counsel PK Jani argued that proceedings under the DV Act can take place against adult males only. However, the issue nags every application under DV Act. He requested the high court for a judicial pronouncement to obviate conflicting decisions by lower courts in the state.

Following this request, Justice Devani admitted the petitions and ordered lower courts concerned to stay proceedings against women respondents till the final outcome of the case.

The lower courts and high courts across the country differ on this issue. The Madhya Pradesh HC has held that complaint can be filed and proceedings can be initiated against adult male persons only under DV Act. In one case, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has taken similar view that women cannot be made respondents, but in another case a division bench of the same high court took a different stand.

The division bench in AP High Court on June 2 this year concluded that the complainant under DV Act has to be a woman and if she is a wife, the female relatives of husband can be named as respondents. Thus, DV Act does not exclude women completely.

Amid such conflicting orders, the high court here has decided to settle the law for further guidance of lower courts. Further hearing is kept on October 30.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/ahmedabad/Women-fight-for-cover-under-DV-act/articleshow/5085082.cms

'Ahimsa messengers' to fight domestic abuse..

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday launched a nationwide campaign to deal with the problem of violence against women and spread the message of non-violence.

Under the campaign, the women and child development ministry has designated 25 women from across the country as `ahimsa messengers', who will spread the message of non-violence and awareness about issues related to domestic violence.

Launching the scheme on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, WCD minister Krishna Tirath said, "Though women constitute 48% of the population and are acknowledged as the very foundation for the development of the society and the country as a whole, the issues concerning them and abuse of their rights often remain neglected."

She said there was a need to bring to the centre stage the issue of promoting non-violence and preventing all forms of abuse and violence against women in our society through mass awareness programmes.

Prominent persons, opinion makers, panchayat leaders and NGOs shall be asked to contribute to the campaign. Various stakeholders, including police personnel and judges, will also be sensitised about the welfare and protection of women against violence in coming days.

 

source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Ahimsa-messengers-to-fight-domestic-abuse/articleshow/5078386.cms

Wife gets husband killed on honeymoon

Press Trust of India

Munnar, Kerala, June 19: Apparently unhappy in the wedlock, a 24-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu allegedly killed her husband during their honeymoon trip to this hill station with the help of her paramour ten days after her marriage, police said today. Anantharaman (30) was strangled to death yesterday by wife Vidyalakshmi's lover Anand and his friend Anburaj in a deserted spot nearby Kundala dam, they said. Vidyalakshmi was taken into custody this morning, police said adding that Anand and Anburaj were also arrested. She was allegedly in love with Anand and conspired with him to kill Anantharaman with whom she got married only on June 7. The plan was first to kill Anantharaman at Guruvayur, where the couple had gone for worship, but were unable to carry out the plan, police said. They then reached Munnar on Saturday where Vidya accompanied her husband to the Kundala dam who was strangled to death, police said. She then raised alarm saying two persons had tried to snatch her gold ornaments and had killed her husband, police said. However, on being questioned, the woman spilled the beans, police said.

URL: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=69607

Ninety-two-year-old womean beaten up by daughter in law

Mumbai: Ninety-two-year-old Laxmibai Paleja is scarred physically and mentally. The bruises on her face are a stark reminder of the violence that she has been allegedly subjected to by her daughter-in-law Darshana and grandson Vinay.

Laxmibai says she has been constantly harassed by the two since her son died of a paralytic attack in December last year.

"My daughter-in-law hit me on my chest and my grandson kicked my face," an inconsolable Laxmibai said, who lives Darshana and Vinay in Mulund, a Mumbai suburb.

After the battering, she was allegedly dumped at her daughter's house who then rushed her to a nearby hospital.

"Ever since my father died they had been constantly harassing her, mentally and physically and she was obviously too weak to defend herself," Laxmibai's daughter Prerna Kapadia said.

Laxmibai's worried daughter went to the Mulund police station to register a complaint, but was disappointed when the police registered it as a non-cognisable offense.

Mumbai has seen a steady rise in such cases. In this particular case, Laxmibai alleges that she was meted out such harsh treatment because she had already given away her property and so now her family didn't want to take care of her.

However, even if her own family has deserted her, many NGOs have come forward to help Laxmibai.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ninetytwoyearold-beaten-up-by-family-in-mumbai/62844-3.html

Woman gets 5-yr jail for driving husband to suicide. Truly Social Reform.

AHMEDABAD: In a rare conviction, a city sessions court on Friday punished a
woman for causing mental harassment to her husband that led him to
commit suicide.

An additional sessions judge, BU Joshi, awarded five-year jail term to
29-year-old Vandana Batul, a resident of Ghodasar, for exerting pressure on
her husband Shreyas to follow instructions of her parents. Shreyas consumed
poison on February 27, 2006 and died the next day in hospital.

After his death, a criminal proceeding was initiated against Vandana, her
sister Varsha and parents Balkrishna and Tara Kanchani on the basis of the
suicide note written by Shreyas accusing them of torturing him and driving
him to end his life. During the trial, it was also revealed that Vandana had
once tried to commit suicide a month before Shreyas died, because Shreyas
allegedly refused to succumb to the pressure of his in-laws.

After assessing 26 documentary evidence and examining 24 witnesses, judge
Joshi concluded that Shreyas committed suicide because of mental torture by
his in-laws. The court acquitted Vandana's family members for want of
evidence against them, but punished her with five-year imprisonment and
imposed a fine of Rs 500 on her.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/ahmedabad/Woman-gets-5-yr-jail-for-\
driving-husband-to-suicide/articleshow/5058014.cms

Ayurvedic Recommendations for Emotional Health

Ayurvedic Recommendations for Emotional Health
 
Depression is affecting a large section of humanity each year.
Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression in their lives, and are especially vulnerable after the birth of a child, before menstruation and during menopause.
Depression can take many different forms: frequent sad, anxious or "empty" mood; loss of interest and pleasure in activities; fatigue; irritability; social withdrawal, acting out behavior and family conflict; insomnia; loss of appetite or weight gain; feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or pessimism; declining school grades or job performance; and poor concentration. For some, the winter season can bring on a low mood, for others depression is caused by major life changes, such as a divorce, major financial problems, a chronic illness, death of a loved one and other life stresses.
 
Ayurveda has much to offer the person who suffers from occasional emotional imbalance. The  Ayurveda Physicians gives us some practical guidelines to help us stay happy and healthy throughout life.
It is recommended to  see an Ayurveda physician in your area if you suspect you have depression-he or she can do a pulse diagnosis and tailor an individualized program to help restore balance.
 
1. Practice  Meditation /Pranayama  for 20 minutes twice a day to relieve emotional, physical, mental and environmental stress.
 
2. Go to bed before 10:00 p.m. Earlier is even better. Getting enough rest is essential for emotional health, and falling asleep during the Kapha time of night generates a deep, restful sleep that truly refreshes mind and body. If you stay up beyond 10:00 p.m., after the Pitta time of night starts, you are likely to feel hungry and give in to cravings to eat "junk" food. Even eating healthy foods at this hour disrupts digestion, which needs the night time to cleanse impurities and rest. Falling asleep after 10:00 p.m. produces a more restless sleep, and you will be more likely to wake up in the night with emotional distress.
 
3. Wake up with the rising sun. Waking up early is critical to preventing depression, because sleeping during the late morning, after 6:00 a.m., causes the shrotas or channels of communication to be clogged with impurities, leading to dullness of mind, depressed moods and slow communication between heart and mind.
 
4. Walk outdoors when the sun is rising and breathe deeply. Daily exercise is essential to combat depression, because exercise helps moved blocked emotions and hormones out of the body. It increases the power of agni and helps improve processing power. Exercise also releases positive neurohormones, elevating mood and positive thoughts. The early morning sun adds an extra boost, because you become infused with the positive energy of the sun when it is at its most saatvic and benevolent for all body types. Walking in the early morning sun helps open the channels, stimulates digestion and elimination, clears the impurities from the previous day, and is an overall tonic for ideal health.
 
5. Make sure you eliminate each morning. Constipation can cause headache, dullness, fatigue and depression. If your elimination is sluggish or blocked, start your day with cooked apples, prunes and figs.
 Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Eat your meals at the same time each day, with the main meal at noon and a lighter meal in the evening. The early morning walk will go a long way toward making your elimination regular as well.
 
6. Eat intelligent foods. Foods that are natural, unprocessed and contain more of nature's intelligence are digested quickly by the body and create ojas.
 Ojas is the product of good digestion that creates bliss, stable emotions and good health in the body. Intelligent foods are milk, clove, walnut, pear, and coconut. Eat intelligent proteins such as soaked seeds and nuts with raisins and dates; panir (fresh cheese); and buttermilk rather than yogurt or lassi, as this lighter drink does not increase Kapha and is better for lightening emotions. To make buttermilk, follow this simple recipe. Please note that ayurvedic buttermilk is not the same as the buttermilk you buy in the store. This recipe helps restore the beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, thus helping digestion and assimilation.
Ayurvedic Buttermilk Ingredients:

1/4 c. fresh cold yogurt (For best results, use freshly made yogurt. To find out to make your own yogurt, see the foods section at www.mapi.com)
3/4 c. purified cold water (the temperature must be cold for this recipe to work)
1/4 t. cumin powder
1/4 t. coriander leaf (cilantro)
1 pinch of rock salt or sea salt
Directions: Place the freshly-made yogurt in the blender and blend for three to five minutes. Add the cold water, and blend again on low for three to five minutes. You will notice that a fatty foam has collected at the top of the yogurt. Skim it off with a spoon and discard. Repeat the blending and removing of the fatty foam if the yogurt remains thick, white and solid. When the yogurt has become watery but still cloudy in color, you have made buttermilk. Add the spices and stir by hand briefly to mix the spices evenly. Serve at room temperature.
 
7. Spices such as black pepper help to enhance medha agni, which means they improve coordination between different functions of the mind. Other spices enhance digestion and balance the emotions.
 
8. Give yourself a daily abhyanga (Ayurvedic oil massage). Massage has many benefits: it increases circulation, allows toxins to be cleared from the tissues, invigorates the body, calms the mind and soothes emotions. The sense of touch is associated with emotions, and even if you are massaging yourself you are giving your skin the tactile stimulation needed to balance Vata dosha and calm anxiety and stress. Follow your massage with a warm bath to flush out the toxins that have been pushed out from the cells with the massage.
 
9. Do moderate exercise such as Yoga Asanas. In addition to your half-hour walk in the early morning sun, it's important to include Vedic exercise such as Yoga Asanas in your schedule. Yoga Asanas enhance digestion, stimulate the Sadhaka Agni, cleanse toxins from the channels and cells of the body and improve overall balance and health. They are excellent for clearing away the toxins that lead to depression.
 
10. Take  Ayurveda rasayanas. Rasayanas are elixirs for bliss and rejuvenation, and are the cream of the herbal kingdom, prepared according to ancient methods that can take weeks. Maharishi Amrit Kalash is the most powerful of all the rasayanas, and it has the ability to create bliss, contentment, and ideal health. Like any true rasayana, Maharishi Amrit Kalash has the ability to enhance medha, or the coordination between the mental functions of learning, retention and recall. This kind of coordination is important for balancing the emotions and helping to prevent depression.
 
**************************************************
AIM LOW IS CRIME - APJ.
**************************************************

Regarding your presence in SIFF-PUNE Weekly meeting.

Hi,

 

You are absent in more than last 2 weekly meetings, And now SIFF-Pune have decided that if member is not coming for more that 2 weeks without any reason or prior intimation then we are going to remove such members from yahoo group. and may be will not entertain such people in weekly meetings for their query regarding their cases own also .. we want every SIFF member to contribute atleast little bit in some area.

 

Requesting you to come for next weekly meeting.

 

To Respect your idendity I have put all missing member's in BCC List.

 

If you have attended any of last 2 meetings and your have still received this mail, I apologies for the same.

 

 

Thanks and Regards,

Atit
Pune
--
Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail
http://siff-pune.blogspot.com/
http://ivf-498a.blogspot.com/

Maharashtra HC CHIEF JUDGE SPEAK ON MISSUE OF 498A DV ACT

Chief Justice urges PWD to complete new court complexes in time

Express News Service Posted: Sep 14, 2009 at 0248 hrs

Pune Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Swatanter Kumar said that all the new court complexes in Maharashtra would be state-of-the-art structures with corporate office look. He was speaking during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new building for family court at Shivajinagar. "All the upcoming court complexes in Maharashtra will be class structures with help from the public works department (PWD). They (PWD) do wonders when they want to," he said.

The Chief Justice voiced an open request to the PWD officials, who were present for the function, to ensure that the family court building is completed within time. "Delays hamper proper functioning of the court, which is of utmost importance and increases the cost of construction, which is unreasonable for the tax payer," he said.

Addressing the fellow judges and lawyers, Justice Kumar referred to Australia's specialist Federal Court that offers less adversarial trials that are flexible, meet the need of the situation and are less costly as compared to traditional trails. "Our lawyers, judges and counselors may study these aspects to find out whether any of such methodologies may be imported into our system," he said.

Justice Kumar stated that the child sex ration at 927:1000 is not only a sad reflection of the status of women in the country, but also a warning bell for the future. On the other hand, there are few instances of misuse of women-centric laws like 498A and domestic violence act. "Merely passing legislations cannot create equality unless we take effective steps to change our mind sets," he said.

The family court with five courtrooms, presently located in Bharati Vidyapeeth Bhavan at Alka Chowk, will be shifted at this new location once the building is ready. The new building will be three-storeyed and will house eight courtrooms. Principal Judge of Pune family court S D Joshi spoke about the need of additional facilities needed in the court. Referring to a case in 2000 where the husband had committed suicide due to his pending case at family court, Joshi said, "Pune is in a position to start a psychological service centre that help litigants in coping up with the cases. Presently, there is one such centre in Mumbai that is run by a charitable institution twice a week. A child guidance centre for children of divorcees is of equal importance in a family court."

Joshi said that the cases coming to family court are just the tip of the iceberg as many others go unreported. "However, considering the increasing number of cases in the court, we need to have a free litigation counselling centre and a legal aid office to guide the litigants in out-of-court settlements and in filing cases, only if need be," she said. "We are also expecting separate bar rooms for male and female lawyers, meeting place for litigants and lawyers and a library in the news premises," said some of the family court lawyers.

Justice V C Daga, Justice J S Bhatia, Justice J N Patel, Justice S C Dharmadhikari, Justice A A Sayyed, Pune district judge Vijay Achliya were present for the function.

Source : http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/chief-justice-urges-pwd-to-complete-new-court-complexes-in-time/516688/

UNITED WE STAND - Law not on our side, say moms-in-law

 

It is a role reversal of sorts, but the victims here say the harassment they face is all too real. Mothers-inlaw in the city who say they have been harassed and hounded by their daughtersin-law have come together to fight the injustice that is being inflicted on them.

Members of the Akhila Bharatha Atteyara Sangha, or forum for mothers-inlaw, who held their first meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday, say laws that have been promulgated to protect women are now being used against them. The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, they feel, is being misused by many women to harass their husbands and families.

"Daughters-in-law are filing false cases simply to get back at us for minor issues at home," says Janaki Srinivas, forum member. "In such instances, the police almost always takes the side of the wife. Police officers do not even enquire to determine what the actual case is."

The association, founded less than two weeks ago to create awareness on harassed mothers-in-law, already has around 60 members.

"Baseless allegations by daughters-in-law against their husbands and mothersin law are on the rise," notes forum president C. Rajeshwari. "This has led to an increase in suicides among husbands and their family members as a result of the embarrassment caused by the allegations."

The forum has called for amendments to relevant laws so complaints of harassment by wives are thoroughly investigated.

Source : http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCB/2009/09/14/ArticleHtmls/14_09_2009_002_009.shtml?Mode=1

Mothers-in-law gather strength

TNN 14 September 2009, 05:12am IST

BANGALORE: Are you a regular viewer of saas-bahu soaps and taken in by vampish mother-in-laws portrayed on screen? It's not always so in real life. The truth is, not only bahus are victims and traumatized by saas - even the mother-in-law is at the receiving end.

There is evidence: the All India Mother-In-Law Forum was launched on September 6 this year. Forum coordinator Neena Dhuli, who was a victimized mother-in-law, was accused of dowry harassment and is still fighting a related legal battle.

The Forum, possibly a first of its kind, has gathered 50 members across India. It will help mothers-in-law globally who are falling prey to a one-sided legal system, which often favours daughters-in-law. The Forum will also organize dharnas to make citizens and government aware of the real issue.

Forum members will meet every Sunday at Cubbon Park at 11 am.

"The present legal system has no provision for mothers-in-law. Being a victim, I can understand the limitations. The bride and her family members take undue advantage of the provisions made by the government for empowerment and protection of women," Neena pointed out.

"We're receiving 50 calls every day since the Forum was launched," she added.

Neena's son, Virag R Dhulia, was married in 2007. Her daughter-in-law filed cases against Neena and family in September for dowry harassment and domestic violence.

"The cases are pending. We're suffering for no reason. My daughter-in-law wanted financial possession of our family and planned these cases," she alleged.

Founder-member of the Forum includes Mamta Naik, Sahira Shiggaon and Rajeshwari, who have suffered under similar circumstances.

source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/bangalore/Mothers-in-law-gather-strength/articleshow/5006781.cms

What about the evil bahu?

For years they've been haunting television and movie screens, making life miserable for their daughters-in-law — but now a group of real mothers-in-law have decided they've had enough of this lopsided depiction. And it might just trigger a movement. The idea took root over a cup of chai on an ordinary Bengaluru afternoon when a group of friends decided to do something about the one common thing they were all subject to — daughter-in-law abuse! For one of the co-founders of the group, Meera Thuliya, it was an idea whose time had come. "We are all victims and often shared our problems with each other. Then one day we just decided to do something about it." That led to the formation of AIMPF (All India Mother-in-law Protection Forum) a week ago and it is already getting up to 30 calls a day on its helpline. "We also get international calls from as far away as Russia and London," she adds. Meera says that while brides are protected by the strict anti-dowry laws and file cases, the in-laws have no recourse. "Blame the saas-bahu serials that have always shown the mother-in-laws as a vamp. Why don't these serials show the other side of the coin? Do you know that research by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) shows that women face the most violence from their own mothers. The thing is, when they get married they simply vent their frustration on their in-laws," she says. Co-founder of AIMPF Tahira Shiggaon adds that they plan to take the Forum to different cities as well. "We also plan to approach TV producers and film-makers and ask them to rectify the image of the mother-in-law." Actor Sudha Chandran who has been playing an evil saas for the past eight years says she'd welcome the change. "It would be great," she exclaims. "I've been so bad for so long now, I'd like to be a good saas." Sudha agrees that TV, especially, has created a sympathy vote for the daughter-in-law. "She's someone who has to fight evil and the very word mother-in-law has come to represent that evil," she states. Actor Apara Mehta who has played a mother-in-law with different shades opines that women today would not be affected by a serial or film. "They're a different lot; they're working girls who do not want to make many adjustments. Often, they do not want to live in joint families. Why blame serials?" she asks. Would she continue to play the wicked mother-in-law? "Sure," she enthuses. "It's just a role and I enjoy it." Sums up yesteryear vamp Bindu, "The mother-in-law is always shown as a bad person and I feel it affects the minds of people. The amount of domestic violence shown on screen — in all forms — must be cut down."   Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_what-about-the-evil-bahu_1289136

 

Man puts kidney on sale to pay alimony

A man in Ropar has approached a court in Punjab for permission to sell his kidney to pay Rs8,000 maintenance to his estranged wife. The man's monthly income is Rs3,600.
While the judgement is still awaited, this unique case has generated strong demands for a "rational maintenance" in proportion to the husband's salary.

A woman can seek maintenance from her estranged husband under laws like Section 125 CrPC, Section 23 of Domestic Violence Act (DVA), Section 24 Hindu Marriage Act (HMA), Section 18 Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Acts (HAMA), Section 25 Hindu Marriage Act etc. In fact, Section 24 of HMA even provides relief to a man who has no independent income, besides necessary expense for court proceedings. But husbands claim that men are rarely considered for maintenance while in many cases maintenance has been awarded to wives much beyond the capacity of the husbands.

They now want the judiciary to ponder over the fact that a working and well-qualified wife is an empowered woman and has, hence, no right to claim maintenance. These husbands have written to law minister Veerappa Moily and the Chief Justice of India, proposing a concept of three year interest-free loan to non-working spouses to enable them to get gainful employment.

"The courts should not force an unemployed man to pay maintenance. We have seen cases were husbands are forced to either sell their organs or told to beg/borrow/steal to pay maintenance. Maintenance should be looked upon as a means to survive, not an easy route to tax-free luxuries. The way courts are ordering maintenance in the range Rs20,000-30,000 is completely unacceptable. Maintenance should not be a matter of right but awarded in certain circumstances," said Virag Dhulia of Save India Family Foundation (SIFF), an organisation of harassed husbands.

While some recent judgments indicate that the courts are slowly trying to maintain a balance, the men say it is a drop in the ocean. "The pendulum swings too far to one side. Judiciary has to be sensitive to reality and actual conditions," lawyer Prashant Bhushan said.

 

Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_man-puts-kidney-on-sale-to-pay-alimony_1288906

Indian mothers-in-law campaign for protection Story Highlights Thousands of Indian brides are alleged to be killed each year over dowries Killings are suspected of being committed by their in-laws Campaigner: Mothers-in-law often portrayed in Indian film, TV as vamps By Harmeet Shah Singh CNN NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Some 50 mothers-in-law have come together in a campaign seeking legal protection from what they allege is abuse of laws favoring daughters-in-law in the country. "There are a number of laws to protect daughters-in-law in India, but there is none to protect us," said Neena Dhulia, coordinator of the newly-launched All India Mother-in-Law Protection Forum. The group was formed last Sunday in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, she told CNN. In India, thousands of brides are alleged to be killed each year over dowries. Such killings, suspected of being committed by their in-laws, are mostly described as kitchen accidents. A tiny percentage of these murderers are brought to justice, according to UNICEF. But Dhulia insisted daughters-in-law often use India's tough anti-dowry law to settle scores. "Our primary aim is to raise awareness in society about the state of mothers-in-law," she said. Dhulia regretted that Indian films and soap operas too portrayed mothers-in-law mostly as vamps. "The stereotyping of mothers-in-law as evil and blood thirsty by media and popular culture. This violates the civil liberties and the constitutional provisions of right to liberty and right to life," the group said in its launch statement. For a start, the forum, consisting of women older than 50, is holding park meetings in Bangalore every week. "We are receiving encouraging response from all over," she claimed.

Find this article at: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/09/india.mothers/index.html

View Point: Divorce soars in India's middle class

Divorce rates are soaring among India's newly affluent middle classes, as working women with independent incomes refuse to submit to the traditional ideal of marriage.
Cases in New Delhi have doubled in five years to a projected figure of 8,000 for 2005, with similar rises seen in Calcutta, Bombay and Bangalore.
Most marriages are still arranged by the parents, with the bride and groom meeting on only two or three occasions before the ceremony.
The bride is expected to move into her husband's house where - for the first four or five years at least - the couple get to know each other under guidance of their joint or extended family.
But a new breed of independently-minded women is often not well-adapted to this role.
The virtues of individualism and self-reliance that are prized by employers who are vying for the services of bright young graduates do not sit easily with the accepted role of a Hindu wife.
In Bangalore, India's showcase tech-city, where women work in call centres and as IT managers, the number of divorces tripled between 1988 and 2002.
Opinion is divided over what the phenomenon means: for traditionalists the rising numbers portend the breakdown of society while, for some modernists, they speak of a healthy new empowerment for women.
"The belief that marriage is sacred has disappeared among some of these girls," said Vandana Sharma, the president of the Women's Protection League in New Delhi. Her organisation runs pre-marriage classes to help women adapt. "We try to teach them how to live in their joint families - how to serve their husbands and their family - because we believe this is the most stable environment for newly wedded couples.
"In our experience love marriages encounter far more problems because couples are left to cope alone and cannot rely on the support and moral guidance of their parents."
But many "new women" are not so sure. A survey by India Today magazine was filled with accounts of how previously independent women found themselves virtually imprisoned after marriage.
The Manu Smriti, the ancient Hindu texts which list acceptable codes of behaviour, say that from the day she is married until the day she dies a wife must be "joyous, adept at domestic work, keep her domestic wares clean and be thrifty".
But one recent divorcee, a 26-year-old teacher from Bombay, said she knew on her honeymoon that her marriage was doomed: her husband ordered her to eat her dinner, even though she was not hungry. Another said she was forbidden to wear skirts and was berated if she arrived home late from work.
For Ranjana Kumari, a sociologist and author of Brides are not for Burning, rising divorce rates are an indicator of women's empowerment. "In the past," she said, "women had little or no choice but to stay with their husbands except in instances of extreme abuse or cruelty.
"They had to tolerate it, to learn to live with their men. With economic empowerment, that is no longer so."
The social stigma of divorce has also receded. Gitanath Ganguly, a broadcaster and chairman of the West Bengal legal aid service, recalled making a television programme on divorce in 1976.
"In those days if a woman got divorced her family would hide her in a separate room, even from her uncles and aunts because of the shame it brought on the family. Attitudes have totally changed."

Source : http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=14105

India mothers-in-law fight abuse

By Geeta Pandey
BBc News, Delhi

A group of Indian mothers-in-law have come together to fight the harassment they claim to endure at the hands of their daughters-in-law.

Fifty women have joined the All India Mothers-in-law Protection Forum (AIMPF), launched in Bangalore city.

A spokeswoman told the BBC that while there were 15 laws to protect the younger generation, there was nothing to protect mothers-in-law from abuse.

India's National Commission for Women has acknowledged the problem.

It says that cases against in-laws are often registered by brides who are protected by strict anti-dowry laws.

But a number of the accusations turn out to be false.

'As vamps'

"The mother-in-law is portrayed as a villain in our society," says Neena Thuliya, coordinator of AIMPF.

"In television serials, films and the media, we are shown as vamps. It's an age-old belief that the mother-in-law physically assaults and mentally tortures the daughter-in-law."

The AIMPF recently did a survey in Bangalore studying cases of abuse and torture filed against the mother-in-law.

Mrs Thuliya says that of the nearly 50 cases they researched, all turned out to be false allegations.

"There was a time when the daughter-in-law had to live with so many restrictions, but now the time has changed. Today's daughter-in-law is free and works outside the home. It's the old mother-in-law who now faces abuse at the hands of the daughter-in-law," Mrs Thuliya says.

"In tele-serials we are the villains, in real life we are the victims," she adds.

Mrs Thuliya says elderly women are sometimes thrown out of their homes by their daughters-in-law.

The forum, she says, will hold meetings every Sunday and will devise strategies to provide support to "harassed mothers-in-law".

The AIMPF says it will also campaign against the demonisation of the mother-in-law in popular culture.

For centuries, in many Indian families, daughters-in-law have been harassed for bringing in "inadequate dowry" - a South Asian tradition where the bride's parents give cash, jewellery and gifts to the groom's family.

The Indian government outlawed giving and accepting dowries in 1961, but the practice continues and even today few arranged marriages take place without an exchange of dowry.

Campaigners say the system has led to the abuse of young brides, making them vulnerable to domestic violence.

Every year, hundreds of women are scalded or even burned alive by their in-laws.

In the past few years, India has introduced several strict laws to protect new brides from abuse and torture.

But it is being accepted by the authorities that the laws are being increasingly misused by young women to harass their in-laws or settle scores.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/8241275.stm