Report on Mahila Panchayat

I had visited the Mahila Panchayat in Jahangirpuri on the 20th of July 20, 2011 and was there during the hearing of a particularly interesting case. The case was of a wife seeking maintenance from her husband as she did not want to live with him anymore. The lady, Rekha is a Muslim and her husband, Mukesh is a Hindu. They have 2 kids as a couple. The problem lies in the fact that the lady had been married earlier to a Muslim man and has a son from her earlier marriage who stays with her. Also a major problem is that she hasnt got divorce from her earlier husband. Also while she has been staying with her present husband, she hasnt married him and simply lives with him. The two have been living together in this manner for over 16 years now. The feud between the two of them started around 5 years ago when the husband who owns a small factory employed a lady by the name of baby. The wife alleges that her husband is too friendly with her and that the two are having a romantic relationship, she also alleges that they eat in the same Tiffin that she gives her husband. The lady does not want to stay with him anymore and is demanding alimony. The husband was very cooperative to the Panchayat members and they all seemed impressed by him. He says that he is willing to give her rs6, 000 per month, on the conditions that she should take care of the home of the expenses and that she will not take their children to her parents home. The husband fears that if she takes the children to her home, then when they need to be married off, it will be very difficult for him to marry them off. The children are registered as Hindus in the school they go to. The husband says that his family does not have a problem with her and she has visited them many a times. The panchayat

members were in agreement to what the husband had to say as he was willing to give her money and said he was fine whether she stayed with him or wanted to stay somewhere alone, he just says that he wants to keep the children with him irrespective of whether she stays with him or not. The wife alleges that the husband sends huge sums of money to his relatives and spends very little amount on their children. She says that her children do not get fruits to eat whereas he sends home a lot of money. The husband explained this by saying that his eldest brother and his wife passed away a few years ago leaving behind four unmarried children. The money he sends home is used for their education and their marriage. The panchayat members accepted this explanation of the husband and considered it to be logical. The Panchayat members thought that the ladys demands were unreasonable and that she should take some time and think about the proposition of the husband. The couple has been given a time of 15 days to think over their problems and on what they are willing to compromise and on what points they will be adamant and want fulfilled no matter what. The Panchayat members also wanted to consult a lawyer to find out what exactly is the marital status of the lady and her husband at the moment. The members showed a great amount of skill in dispute redressal and kept their cool even during the heated discussions. They also showed determinism in the right places and were not biased towards the lady even though all the panchayat members are women themselves. The case has been given the date of 3 rd August for the next hearing.

Harshul Singh