A woman in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore got married to a man in 2017 and they have a 5-year-old son together. However, after five years of marriage, the woman walked out and was living separately from her husband and demanded a divorce on the grounds of dowry harassment and substance abuse.
The husband, on the other hand, filed a petition in court for the restoration of his marriage rights. According to NDTV, when the woman was recording her statement, it was found that she wasn’t wearing sindoor (vermillion) on her forehead.
Indore Family Court Principal Judge NP Singh said, “When the statement of the woman was recorded in the court, she admitted she was not wearing ‘sindoor’. ‘Sindoor’ is a religious duty of a wife and it shows that the woman is married. She has forsaken her husband. She is not wearing the ‘sindoor’.”
The woman kept accusing her husband of physical and mental harassment but the court observed she had not submitted any police complaints or reports regarding her allegations. The woman was asked to return to her husband with immediate effect.
However, this came as a massive shock to people online who thought that it was a regressive judgement on the part of the court. Many asked what is the “religious duty” of a man to show that he is married.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions to the judgement:
What religious duty for man to show he is married?
— HakunaMatata (@dhanapal13) March 23, 2024
There has to be something for men as well so they don’t start getting involved with other women after marriage shamelessly
— Abhishek Bhalerao (@mumbaiactor_) March 23, 2024
Why not bring ‘sati’ back to prove the woman’s loyalty and faithfulness to one man & adhering to the conviction that women are of little social worth without their protector and breadwinner.
— The Phantom (@Rajesh49039007) March 23, 2024
Will court decide the religious duty of persons in such a personal matters, how not doing so is affecting the people at large, violating others right or a matter of public importance so what’s the constitutional basis for such order
— Ankush Thakur (@Ank2432) March 23, 2024
What kind of regressive people we have as Judges today.
— Zarin (@ZarinKhanz) March 23, 2024
A woman who walked out on her husband, citing physical and mental harassment, wants a divorce but the judge’s solution to her plight – “wear sindoor and return to the husband” coz apparently that’s religious duty. What next? Ask a woman who likes wearing sindoor to stop it coz… https://t.co/Z5dfggnE39
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) March 23, 2024
Wow !!
Our courts are not even caring why the woman left her husband in the first place – they only care about or why she isn’t wearing Sindoor.
They are now preaching that wearing Sindoor is the religious duty of a woman!! 🤦🏽♀️ https://t.co/reNaVjUZgT
— Ruchi Angrish (She/Her/Hers) (@RuchiAngrish) March 23, 2024
I have so many questions about how the family court judges are trained???
Some news like these will come up once a while but so many judgements, proceedings would be hurting common people who don't necessarily have vocabulary to assert their rights https://t.co/3Sqg1zupO1
— Furiosa (@Dishashp) March 23, 2024
What are your views on this issue?