After women panel mediates, husband agrees to pay maintenance to wife, son

Raipur: In a decision during a hearing at the Chhattisgarh state women's commission, a husband agreed through mediation to pay Rs 12,000 per month for the maintenance of his wife and their 14-year-old son. He'll also be responsible for the child's school and tuition fees separately.

In the case, the applicant revealed that her son also opposed his father due to alleged physical and mental harassment. Consequently, she expressed her unwillingness to continue living with her husband. The commission recommended that both parties undergo counselling for a divorce through mutual consent. The respondent husband, who works as a transport broker and earns Rs 55,000 monthly, conceded to the commission's persuasion and agreed to provide Rs 12,000 every month.

This particular case underscores the commission's efforts in mediating and securing a regular source of income for the aggrieved wife and her son, said the commission spokesperson.

Several other cases were also addressed during the public hearing. In one instance, a respondent assured the applicant that he would not restrict his daughter's movement in and out of the house, leading to the closure of the case. In another, a husband agreed to cover household expenses and provide an additional Rs 4,000 monthly maintenance to his wife, with the commission to monitor for a year.

The commission also addressed a case of alleged workplace sexual harassment, where the internal complaints committee's report is still awaited. The college principal has been asked to appear at the next hearing with the report.

Another case involving allegations of character defamation and dowry remained unresolved, with the applicant advised to pursue legal recourse.

The case where the husband agreed to pay Rs 12,000 monthly maintenance serves as an example of the commission's intervention in securing financial relief for dependent family members.

The order came after the commission, led by chairperson Dr Kiranmayi Nayak and member Lakshmi Verma, addressed cases of women's oppression. This marked the commission's 310th state-level and 152nd Raipur district-level public hearing.