Hyderabad: The Telangana State Commission for Women has estimated that there are around 50 cases in Telangana and 200 cases countrywide, of marriages to non-resident Indian (NRI) men, where the husband has abandoned his wife. Cases of harassment or dowry against the husband by his wife are not recognised in courts in the United States of America, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. It thus becomes very difficult to get the husband back to India.
Dr Tripurana Venkata Ratnam, chairperson of the state commission explained, “NRI matrimonial disputes are complex in nature. If the wife is from India and the groom is settled abroad, these disputes have no end as there is no specific legislation in place. Indian laws have to be accepted in these countries or there has to be some mechanism in place whereby they (the husbands) can be brought back and booked.”
The National Commission for Women wants the Union Government to intervene and have a bilateral treaty with these countries regarding matrimonial disputes and custody of children, so that Indian laws are taken into account while hearing these cases. At present, the woman usually comes back to India and fights in the Indian courts, but the judgements of Indian courts are not accepted abroad. Indian police cannot trace the person if he is out of the country.
“Only the parents and relatives of the husband are available and they clearly state that they have no idea about their son. We are seeing many cases where the woman is a doctor, B Tech or talented professional and is married in a bid for good dowry or for her ability to earn more money abroad. “When the women are not able to meet the expectations, disputes arise and finally the woman is sent back and then the email address, company and even location of the husband changes and he is untraceable,” Ms Ratnam said. Custody of children is another problem area. If the husband keeps the children in, say, the United States, the woman can’t get custody after she is sent back to India.
