J'Khand HC quotes religious texts in judgment on husband-wife relationship
Ranchi (PTI): The Jharkhand High Court has cited religious texts while delivering a recent order involving a distraught wife seeking maintenance from her husband.
The judgment not only addresses interpersonal relationship between a husband and wife, but also discusses the rights and responsibilities of married couples.
In a 25-page order, Justice Subhash Chand quotes the Supreme Court to illustrate how women in India are received into the husband's family after marriage. Chand also uses excerpts from the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Manusmriti, and a book by Teresa Chacko titled 'Introduction of Family Life Education' in the order.
Unlike the Western world, where a son separates from his family upon marriage, this is not the case in India, according to Justice Chand.
Quoting from a judgment of the apex court, Justice Chand states that a wife is expected to be with her husband's family after marriage, unless there is a strong justifiable reason for separation.
The wife becomes an integral part of the husband's family, and it is uncommon for her to insist on living separately.
To further explain this concept, Justice Chand references excerpts from the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Manusmriti, and a book by Teresa Chacko titled 'Introduction of Family Life Education.'
Quoting from Chacko's book, the judge mentions that there are cultural and social expectations regarding appropriate behaviour for both males and females in marriage. The goals and functions of marriage can only be achieved when each family member fulfills their specific role.
The order also enumerates the role of a husband, stating that he should be a sex partner, companion, confidant, decision maker, and accountant. The husband should also be observant and provide emotional support to his wife, the order.
On the other hand, the wife is expected to be an affectionate companion, a good sex partner, confidant, and social secretary for her husband.
She should take charge of the couple's social life, show interest in her husband's work, understand his activities, and provide intellectual companionship.
The matter had come up in a recent case filed by one Rudra Narayan Ray challenging the order of maintenance granted to his wife and minor son by a family court in Dumka.
Justice Chand passed the judgment on January 22 and modified the order to the extent that the maintenance awarded to Ray's wife was set aside while his minor son's maintenance amount was enhanced from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
