By Express News Service
KOCHI: Expressing concern over the rise within the variety of dowry harassment instances, the Kerala High Court has noticed that the assaults on girls for dowry make matrimonial homes essentially the most ‘harmful’ locations for them. The variety of such instances being reported in our nation is alarming, although stringent legal guidelines are there, the court docket famous.
“Harassment, abuse, and torture – both mental and physical – towards married women are increasing day by day in our country to pressurise them to bring more wealth to the family of the bridegroom to improve their financial situation. Though so many cases are being registered against husbands and in-laws, there is no change in the attitude of society towards married women and family members. This has to be stopped forever,” the court docket noticed.
Justice V Shircy made the remark whereas dismissing the anticipatory bail plea of Dr Sijo Rajan RV of Vattappara in Thiruvananthapuram district, his dad and mom and brother, all of whom have been accused of allegedly harassing his spouse and her aged father demanding dowry.
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The prosecution identified that Dr Sijo Rajan married the complainant, who can be a health care provider, on April 14, 2021. She was gifted gold ornaments, a automobile, cash in addition to landed property by her dad and mom. But she was subjected to bodily and psychological torture with more cash being demanded by the petitioners. Even the mother-in-law had assaulted her whereas she was residing in her matrimonial residence.
The prosecutor argued that the sufferer and her brother had sustained accidents together with fractures because of the assault. Her 63-year-old father sustained severe accidents through the assault and remains to be present process remedy. He by no means anticipated such remedy from his son-in-law and his dad and mom.
The girl submitted that her dad and mom had handed over an quantity of Rs 7 lakh to her as a present for the wedding aside from a automobile. They additionally registered 2 acres of land in her identify.
The possession of property measuring 10 cents with street frontage was transferred to Dr Sijo Rajan as a result of compulsion. But Sijo Rajan and his dad and mom didn’t cease at that and insisted your complete property of two acres be transferred. When the sufferer refused, she was manhandled, she acknowledged.
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The court docket noticed that the allegations levelled towards the petitioners are grave and severe in nature. “If anticipatory bail is granted to such wrongdoers definitely, that will give a ‘wrong message’ to the society.”
Though the primary petitioner is a health care provider who simply joined authorities service and is engaged in Covid duties, the court docket doesn’t assume that it is a match case through which pre-arrest bail could be granted to him. Prima facie it appears the brother and oldsters of the accused additionally joined to commit the alleged offences. So, in addition they don’t deserve pre-arrest bail.
The court docket directed them to give up earlier than the Magistrates’ court docket on July 19.
