KOCHI: Attack on women in matrimonial homes demanding more dowry should be stopped forever, the Kerala High Court said while denying anticipatory bail to a young doctor who is an accused.
Justice Shircy V said in the judgment (B.A. No. 3750/2021), “Harassment, abuse and torture both mental and physical towards married ladies are increasing day by day in our country to pressurize them to bring more wealth to the family of the bridegroom to improve their financial situation. Though so many cases are being registered against husbands and in laws, there is no change in the attitude of the society towards married women and family members. The attack towards them are of course, for various reasons, making their matrimonial homes as most dangerous place to live and the number of cases being reported in our country is alarming, though stringent laws are there. This has to be stopped forever. But, if anticipatory bail is granted to such wrongdoers, that will definitely give a 'wrong message' to the society.”
The court was considering a case in which 28-year-old doctor Sijo Rajan RV of Kannamkuzhy near Kuttiyani at Vattappara in Thiruvananthapuram, his parents, and his brother 24-year-old Rijo Rajan RV were accused of attacking Sijo’s wife, her father, and her brother when they came to the matrimonial home to take the bride back to her home as she complained of torture.
A car and Rs7 lakhs were given as gift to Sijo’s wife during marriage in September last year and her parents had registered two acres of land in her name, as per the prosecution case. Sijo was alleged to have forced his father-in-law to transfer 10 cents of land with road frontage to his name.
At the matrimonial home, the bride allegedly faced torture demanding that the two acres of land should also be transferred to Sijo’s name. In the attack on April 14th, the bride’s father sustained severe injuries on his neck and spinal cord. The bride and her brother also sustained fractures, as per the petition.
Advocate Thomas J Anakkallunkal, who represented the bride, argued that the bride contacted her parents when the physical torture became unbearable and that she and her family members are still undergoing treatment for the injuries.
