Finally, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for Jabin Shaykh, who claims to have been abandoned by her husband and has been left fending for herself on the terrace portion of her in-laws’ house at Airapuram, near Perumbavoor, along with her 13-year-old son for nearly a month now.
The ordeal of the 35-year-old native of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh has caught the attention of the human rights protection authorities in Kerala. Hearing about her plight from the media, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Kerala State Women’s Commission (SWC) have intervened in the issue and initiated follow-up action to address the woman’s concerns.
After visiting her on Saturday, P. Mohanadas, acting chairman, SHRC, directed the District Protection Officer to conduct an inquiry and file a report at the magistrate court concerned and take necessary steps to get her residence and protection orders from the judicial authority.
The commission has also directed the Social Justice Officer in Ernakulam to intervene in the issue and take steps to alleviate the grievances of the woman and her child.
Further, the SHRC has directed the District Police Chief to depute a Deputy Superintendent of Police to trace her absconding husband and register a case in connection with defrauding the woman of her money and cheating her.
‘Clear violation’
“The inhuman treatment meted out to a woman and her child at the instance of her own husband and in-laws is nothing but clear violation of human rights. In this case, these two human souls are deprived of all their basic necessities, including food, shelter, or even water,” Mr. Mohanadas said.
Earlier on Friday, SWC member Shiji Shivaji visited Ms. Shaykh and offered her protection and legal assistance to fight the case in the court.
The commission also registered a suo motu case in the issue and directed the Kunnathunad Circle Inspector to trace her husband at the earliest.
Ms. Shaykh, who worked as an English teacher in Dehradun, and her son, a school student, came to their in-laws’ house in the last week of December last year in search of her absconding husband.
Marriage in 2002
According to the woman, he had married her in 2002 and the couple lived together for about six years before the man went into hiding from Delhi in 2008.
After her in-laws denied her entry and locked up the house, the woman occupied the terrace portion of the house.
At the mercy of her neighbours currently, Ms. Shaykh is also fighting a case to this effect with her in-laws in the High Court of Kerala.
“They have denied my existence and my relationship and are offering cash and property instead. I don’t need anything, but my son needs his father and I am doing this for the future of my child,” Ms. Shaykh said.
