Due to the patriarchal tag labelled over India, the divorce laws in our country have been hugely biased towards women. Most of the times they are favourable to a wife and forego the interest of a husband, even if he rightfully deserves justice.
There are several legal provisions, rights, leeway, benefit of doubt, protection and sympathy given to a woman in a divorce matter as compared to a man. The Indian Constitution and personal laws have been grossly unfair, biased and one-sided only keeping the interest of wife and virtually turning the husband into a monster.
Domestic Violence is not restricted to any gender. A married man who can also undergo various mental, verbal and physical harassments has virtually no defence in getting justice in the real sense. Despite him filing for divorce under the provisions of the law, he is still held responsible to maintain the wife and ensure her well-being even after the dissolution of marriage.
The Indian divorce laws, however, do provide some rights to the husband during divorce proceedings to ensure that the husband is able to file a divorce matter on valid grounds. Although, he runs a risk for a bitterly contested divorce which won’t see day of light, be ready for other civil and criminal charges filed back on him and also pay his wife for her comforts until the court pronounces a final order.
Husband’s Rights In Divorce
1) The husband has the right to file a divorce petition with the help of a divorce lawyer in India on the following grounds:
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Cruelty: The husband has a right to live with dignity and self-respect and if the wife inflicts him with cruelty, the husband can file for divorce on grounds of cruelty
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Desertion: If the wife deserts the husband for a period of at least two consecutive years
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Adultery: If the wife is indulged in an extramarital and sexual relationship with another man
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Conversion: If the wife converts to another religion
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Mental Disorder: If the wife is suffering from any mental disease or insanity, and is incapable of performing the normal duties required in a marriage
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Communicable disease: If the wife is suffering from any venereal disease of communicable forms such as HIV/AIDS syphilis, gonorrhoea or a virulent and incurable form of leprosy
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Renunciation of the world: If the wife has renunciated the world and opted for sanyasa
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Presumption of death: If the wife is not heard of being alive for a continuous period of 7 years and is presumed dead under the law
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Suicide Threats: If the wife threatens to commit suicide it is also mental cruelty for the husband
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False Allegations: If the wife makes false allegations against the husband of having an illicit relationship and extramarital affairs outside wedlock
2) The husband can refuse to pay maintenance to the wife and defend the maintenance petition with consultation in the following cases:
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If the wife has deserted her husband
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If the wife is guilty of adultery or cruelty
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If the wife has sufficient means to maintain herself, for instance, if she earns more than her husband
- If the wife is educated and earning
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If she gets remarried after the divorce
In case of interim maintenance as well, the husband is not liable to pay interim maintenance if the wife is completely capable of maintaining herself. Despite this, several wives claim interim maintenance as their primary right even if they are in the wrong, earning well and able to support themselves.
Alimony (one time permanent settlement) is granted to wife on final divorce. The quantum of alimony and equal standard of living is very subjective and differs from case to case. For eg. Alimony to a wife within few months/years of marriage without any child will be different as compared to the sum awarded to a wife who has stayed with the man for more number of years and has minor children to support.
However, in both of the above scenarios, even if the husband is not at fault, he is liable to pay his fully abled wife for her sustenance. One such case is listed below, where the court has ordered eviction of the daughter-in-law from her marital home on grounds of physical abuse by her on in-laws. Nonetheless, the court does not take away her right to reasonable maintenance even in this scenario.
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3) Right to get Child Custody
The man has an equal right to claim for the custody of the child born out of the marriage being dissolved in court. The child’s welfare is always important and the husband can step into court to show that the wife is not competent to uphold the welfare of the child.
However, once again in most cases, it is impossible to demonstrate how a ‘father’ can take care of the child better than a ‘mother’ and thus by default the custody is handed over to mothers, leaving fathers with mere weekly/monthly visitation rights.
Fathers are made to pay rightfully for the upbringing of the child, however, when it comes to joint custody, the estranged wives often term them as irresponsible and undeserving dads.
What Is In-Store For A Man Then?
- As per current Indian laws, a contested divorce may never come through, if the wife does not wish to dissolve the marriage
- It takes years/decades to prove harassment by wives unless there is an absolute tangible evidence
- In most marital disputes, the same is non existent as the domestic abuse happens within four corners of the home which only a spouse understands
- Often there is a chance of a rebound by disgruntled wives by filing a domestic violence or dowry harassment case on the husband and his family
- Besides, the meter of interim maintenance begins from Day 1 of the divorce petition and continues till the matter has been dismissed
- Also, the estranged wives keep enjoying the interim maintenance in the name of financial support for years and often stop turning up for court dates during cross arguments on the main divorce petition
Currently India does not have any law for Irretrievable Breakdown of Marriage. Thus, we see thousands of divorce petitions not dismissed even after the estranged quarrelling spouses have separated for more than 20-30 years.
Disclaimer : The above article outlines generic observations and court orders could differ from case to case. A professional legal advice is strictly recommended in case any spouse is planning to take a legal route for dissolution of marriage.
ALSO READ –
http://voiceformenindia.com/his-story/shiv-kumar-alimony-crowdfund-milaap/
http://voiceformenindia.com/in-the-law/false-498a-after-staying-for-5-days-in-matrimonial-home/
http://voiceformenindia.com/in-the-law/divorce-granted-after-21-years-of-desertion-by-wife/
http://voiceformenindia.com/in-the-law/wife-threatening-to-commit-suicide-is-cruelty-to-husband/
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