A.P. Women’s Commission Chairperson Tripurana Venkata Ratnam has said that Section 498 (a) which defines punishment for husband or any of his relative whoever subjects the wife to cruelty or harass her mentally or physically, was being misinterpreted, and are tagging words ‘dowry harassment’, which is not read in the Section.
Some advocates and persons who are writing complaints are adding dowry harassment and are including the names of in-laws and other persons in the family, which is leading to arrests and separation of the couples, without giving any scope for reconciliation.
Speaking to newsmen here on Monday, Ms. Venkata Ratnam said Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 was enacted to prevent dowry system and the Act defined punishment for giving or taking dowry. But, due to lack of awareness, some people were misusing Section 498 (a).
“It is not correct to involve the family members, who are away from wife and husband and not connected to the disputes, in every case and break the marriages. However, I request both the sex to protect the moral values and culture,” the chairperson urged.
Explaining the activities of the Commission, Ms. Venkata Ratnam said the Women’s Commission received about 1,300 cases in 2013, of which, 700 were solved, and the remaining were in different stages. The Commission was trying to render justice to all the victims and protect their rights. Victims could post their complaints to Second Floor, Buddha Bhavan, Ranigunj, Secunderabad-500003, she said.
As regards breaking up of NRI marriages, the chairperson said the courts of some countries were granting divorce there which was against Hindu Marriage Act 1955. The Commission appealed to the State and Central governments to discuss the issue with other countries.
Later, she participated in a seminar on ‘Balikalu Bhadratha’, organised by AIDWA at Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala. Krishna District Women Development and Child Welfare Project Director K. Krishna Kumari and other officers were present.
