Court upholds rights of estranged mother

A 'cruel' husband who would not allow his wife either to feed or sleep with their two minor children has been cut to size. The woman approached a city court pleading to restore her basic human rights. The court in a stern response hauled up the husband and directed not to interfere in mother-child love. Sumit Saxena reports.

A 'cruel' husband who would not allow his wife either to feed or sleep with their two minor children has been cut to size. The woman approached a city court pleading to restore her basic human rights. The court in a stern response hauled up the husband and directed not to interfere in mother-child love.

HT Image

"The applicant being the wife of the respondent and mother of the children has every right to fulfill her matrimonial obligations and duties and live a dignified life," Metropolitan Magistrate Veena Rani said.

The court also directed the husband not to stop his wife from giving tutoring the kids.

Neelam (name changed), a resident of Sarita Vihar, filed an application in court pleading that her husband, Sunny (name changed), has placed her in isolation in the same house.

Neelam told the court that she was restrained from nurturing her children by making meals for them and sleeping with them.

"The husband was intentionally not allowing the children to meet their mother and depriving them their mother's love and affection," the judge said.

Neelam said that for years she has been living in the same two-bedroom house, under isolation, as a stranger and she sleeping on the floor. The court noted that the woman wants to pursue a computer course, but she has no money to fulfill her day-to-day expenses.

Also, as a consequence of Sunny's attitude the children are not showing any love and affection for their mother.

The court has directed the husband to pay R5000 per month to her wife. The court also directed the local SHO to ensure no harm is caused to the woman.