Ahmedabad Court Orders Husband to Pay ₹11,000 Monthly Maintenance, ₹20,000 Compensation in Domestic Violence Case

An Ahmedabad Judicial Magistrate Court has ordered a husband to pay ₹11,000 per month in maintenance and ₹20,000 in compensation to his wife after finding evidence of physical and mental domestic violence.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vipulkumar Joshi also directed the local police station inspector and the Protection Officer in the woman's residential area to take appropriate measures to ensure her safety and prevent further domestic violence.

The court ordered the husband to pay ₹3,000 towards housing expenses and ₹8,000 for his wife's livelihood every month. It separately awarded ₹20,000 as compensation for the mental harassment she suffered.

Court Finds Evidence of Physical and Mental Abuse

In its order, the court observed that the woman had established through concrete evidence that she was subjected to physical and mental abuse.

Considering the harassment and distress she had endured, the court held that compensation was justified. It also directed the police inspector and the Protection Officer to take appropriate steps to protect her from further abuse.

Husband and In-Laws Allegedly Demanded ₹15 Lakh

The case was filed by Kiranben Umeshbhai Dhobi, a resident of the area behind Vasna Bus Stand in Ahmedabad, through Senior Advocate Anil Kella.

According to her complaint, she married Umesh Mulchandbhai Dhobi, a resident of Bhilwara in Rajasthan, on December 3, 2019, following community customs.

At the time of the wedding, her father provided household goods, ₹5 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewellery worth ₹12 lakh.

Around 15 days after the marriage, Umesh reportedly left for Jaipur alone for employment. Soon afterwards, her husband and in-laws allegedly told her that she would have to bring ₹15 lakh from her father if she wanted to live with her husband in Jaipur.

The woman alleged that her husband and in-laws subsequently subjected her to physical and mental harassment, including taunts and verbal abuse over the demand.

Husband Allegedly Said He Was Living With Another Woman

In her complaint, Kiranben also described an incident in which her husband allegedly returned home drunk one night and told her that he had never wanted to marry her.

He reportedly claimed that he had married her because of pressure from her parents and the community and was living with another woman in Jaipur whom he liked.

He also allegedly told her that although she was his wife in the eyes of society, she was no more than a domestic help in his life.

Court Orders Police and Protection Officer to Ensure Safety

During the proceedings, the woman's advocate presented evidence to establish the allegations of physical and mental harassment by her husband and in-laws.

After considering the submissions made by both sides and examining the evidence on record, the court concluded that domestic violence had been established.

Along with monthly maintenance of ₹11,000 and compensation of ₹20,000, the court directed the local police inspector and the Protection Officer to take appropriate steps to ensure the woman's protection and prevent further incidents of domestic violence.