Covid19 - Legal Remedies for Intimate Partner Violence (Domestic Violence)

Legal Remedies for Intimate Partner Violence (Domestic Violence | 498A | Divorce) 

Domestic Violence today is gender agnostic. What was once considered only women to be victims of such domestic violence today's society has accepted any intimate partner irrespective of gender and orientation can be a victim to domestic abuse. 

A multi country study conducted by UN with available sample size at 90% confidence level shows that 35% of partners have been subjected to domestic violence in some form or other by their intimate partners. 26.4% Men, 43.8% Women and 61.1% LGBTQ community reports intimate partner violence. Women and LGBTQ community has reported a higher percent of sexual and physical abuse while the Men have reported mental abuse and to a greater extent financial abuse. 

One such estimate and the study conducted in 2017 showed 57% women whose death was unnatural like death due to physical assault, accident, suicides, homicides, drowning, falls etc… had an history of intimate partner violence.

Covid19 has brought a situation where people are unable to go outside and locked down. The conflicts between intimate partners have seen raising exponentially, as the quarantine takes effect world wide the intimate partner violence is now become an “intimate terrorism” such is the term used by many experts, lawyers, counselors etc… globally … such grave is the situation today. 

Before we figured out the possible legal remedies to overcome the abuse lets define who is an Intimate Partners and what are the broad categories of intimate partner violence.

Who is an Intimate Partner ?

An intimate partner is a person with whom you have or had a close personal or sexual relationship. Such partner may be heterosexual or homosexual or of any sexual orientation. 

What is Intimate Partner Violence ?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines intimate partner violence as "any behavior within an intimate relationship that causes physical, psychological or sexual harm to those in the relationship". The WHO also adds controlling behaviors as a form of abuse. 

What are the types of Intimate Partner Violence ?

- Physical Violence : is the intentional use of force with a potential of causing life threatening condition, disability, severe injury, grievous hurt, and the milder forms of physical abuse like scratching; pushing; shoving; throwing; grabbing; biting; choking; shaking; slapping; punching; burning etc.. .

- Psychological Violence : Acts of emotional torture, constraining and restraining someone from performing an act, curtailing the freedom, stalking, nagging, passing comments, taunting, using nonphysical form of violence, using abusive language, humiliating a person, isolation, invading the privacy, unauthorized access to passwords and social media content or private content etc…

- Financial Violence : Acts done by an intimate partner which causes severe financial threats, use of force either physical, or psychological and control another person’s finances against the will, further examples of financial abuse include steeling money or property, financial mischief, intentional fraud, Coercion to sign documents, forcefully taking away money or salary earned, misuse of possessions by intimate partner or his/her family members, control over bank transactions, credit card and debit cards, restraining some one to spend money on his/her parents, restraining one to spend money on his/her will, unpaid bills, unpaid EMIs and forcing the partner to pay, unnecessary subscriptions to various goods / services etc..

- Sexual Violence :  Use of physical force to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against his or her will, sexual violence, unnatural sexual behavior, use of drugs and substance abuse during sexual activity either by will or under coercion, use of derogatory sexual words, forcing to engage in acts of pornography, molestation, passing lewd comments etc… 

What are the Behaviors of people who are subjected to Intimate Partner Violence ?

We live in a society where only one face of a person is seen which he/she is willing the society to know and there exists a hidden life which the world is unaware. Same is the situation with people who are subjected to domestic abuse by intimate partners. 

We will have many friends who surely would have gone through such trauma but appear normal in front of all but suffer in silence, such suffering could be because either they accept that abuse is normal and that’s how the life is, or they may not know how to seek legal remedy. 

Firstly, one needs to identify if that person is suffering violence and you can play a vital role in helping such person by asking him/her if something is wrong, express concern and assurance, offer help and support, listen patiently without deducing inferences or conclusions. While you do so, never try to judge or blame the person. Here are some traits of persons who are subjected to intimate partner abuse …

- Such persons seem extremely anxious to please their partners

- Such persons are also seen visibly afraid of their partners

- They seem to agree with everything their partners tell, although it may not be by their free will

- They call their partners often to report where they are and with whom

- Visible signs of injuries and bruises may be commonly seen, and they may dress to hide them

- These people will be restricted to see the family and friends

- They rarely go out in public and especially they don’t spend money although they are capable of

- They may seek permission from their partners before spending money

- These people although be earning well will have limited or no access to Credit cards, money etc..

- Such persons will carry low self-esteem, you will see them often lost and depressed 

- Typically, an extrovert person will suddenly behave introvert and also carry suicidal tendencies

An observation that should trigger you investigate further or offer support will be when such a person talks about their partner’s jealousy or possessiveness, or even their temper.

What are the legal remedies available for persons subjected to Domestic Violence?

Indian Legal system has various legal remedies that can help the victims of domestic abuse, such laws are gender agnostic and applicable to Men, Women and persons of any gender orientation. 

Some sections in IPC that the abusers can be booked under but not limited to are Section 107, 109, 102A/B, 212, 302, 303, 304, 304B, 306, 307, 314, 323, 325, 341,342, 342, 354, 370, 376, 377, 379, 384, 406, 417, 426, 465, 496, 498, 498a, 500, 506, 511. 

There are many other legal remedies available including DV, Maintenance and Restraining Orders, every individual is unique and ever person who is subjected to abuse has a unique experience, while the sections imposed under law may be common, but the case build up is uncommon. The victim alone knows the challenges he/she has faced and only a learned counsel can understand the situations and draft the legal papers to seek the appropriate remedy. 

Such remedy the victim of intimate partner domestic violence shall receive in the form of compensation and / or punishment of the abuser which can extend from as less as 6 months and depending on the gravity of violence can also be subjected to life imprisonment. In rarest of the rarest cases where a persons modesty is outrages or the intensity of violence is such that has resulted in loss of life a death punishment also can be prayed. 

What should a person or his/her friend / relative parent does if they identify a person is subjected to intimate partner violence ?

- Talk to your friends and keep your near and dear ones appraised about the situation you are in and seek support. 

- Seek help from a Legal Practitioner to initiate the legal proceedings

- Dial emergency / SOS number and seek police intervention 

Very importantly figure out a way to get out of such relationship which is harmful in a long run. Eventually, one fine day the lockdown will end. But as the quarantine drags on, the danger appears likely to deepen. Studies show that abusers are more likely to cause severe life-threatening damage to their partners physically and mentally. 

Such abuse many not necessarily be habitual but also due to  and other variables in the wake of personal crises, including loss of jobs, financial setbacks, and other economic challenges. 

Prevention is better than cure, as you observe any change in behavior of your partner seek counselling in early stages as compared to a legal remedy after the abuse. 

Trust this information is helpful to the reader, feel free to write to me at lawyersonia@gmail.com or call +91 9845944896 and have a discussion. 

As I have mentioned earlier too, every individual is unique and his or her circumstance too is. A one to one discussion will certainly help you adapt to this changed reality and cope with the psychological effects, loneliness, build trust and improve self-esteem.

Help is just a call away … 😊 

How to get Divorce by Mutual Consent in Bangalore

Cosmopolitan Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) is one of India's most progressive and developed cities, blessed with a benevolent climate and very nice surroundings it’s recognized as Silicon Valley of India. The past decade has seen a mad surge of development, coupled with traffic congestion and rising pollution levels and more alarmingly RISE IN DIVORCE RATES too, at this pace be no surprised after Mumbai and Delhi it will be Bangalore that will have the highest number of divorces. Today stress levels have hit the roof creating a wedge between two people, pushing each farther away and they are just a memory to each other… some common reasons I have heard from my clients are unable to give time to each other, no sexual intimacy, communication problems, alcohol and drug abuse, small apartments to live in with In-Laws (Infrastructure challenges), lack of trust, infidelity, adultery, impotency and sexual orientation.

The fact is that today couples, who are well educated, after realizing that marriage has no future and they are virtually carrying on irretrievably broken down marriage and there is no possibility of reconciliation, after a calm and careful deliberation and taking their respective parents into confidence, couples decide to approach the learned court to seek a divorce by their mutual consent.  

Here are the steps outlined one can refer to…

1.    India is a multi-religion country Divorce my mutual consent carries different process for different religions in India, Hindus are governed under the Hindu Marriage Act,1955, Christians are governed under Indian Divorce Act-1869 & The Indian Christian Marriage Act,1872, Parsis are governed by The Parsi Marriage & Divorce Act-1936, and Muslims under Personnel laws of Divorce and also the Dissolution of Marriage Act,1939 & The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act,1986, and finally for NRIs, or Foreign nationals who are married with Indians fall under a secular law called Special Marriage Act, 1954.

2.    Governing rules for couples to seek divorce by mutual consent are as follows

a.    Both Husband and Wife have mutually agreed to dissolve the marriage under no influence / threat

b.    Filing the petition for mutual consent should be done in the jurisdiction where husband and wife live ( document required to prove the jurisdiction is address proof)

c.    Both Husband and Wife are living separately since one year (i.e.. staying in different locations and not under one roof in different rooms, address proof is the document required)

d.    After filing the petition both husband and wife has to wait for 6 months (Cooling Period) to complete the procedure post which they will be declared divorced, but in a recent development in this clause a married couple may not need to wait six months for a separation order in the case of mutual consent and the marriage can be legally terminated in just a week as the Supreme Court on Tuesday 12th September 2017 held that the "cooling off" period in not mandatory and can be waived off.

e.    After the divorce decree is granted, they need to go to the marriage sub-register office and submit a form along with the divorce decree to cancel the marriage certificate

3.    Divorce is filed in the family court of the city; in Bangalore family court is located at H.Siddaiah Road, Sudhama Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560027. The court operates from 10:00 AM in the morning to 6:00 PM in the evening, Monday to Saturday.

4.    The couple who plan to seek divorce meet a lawyer and share their concerns, post which the lawyer drafts a petition, collects signatures on a few affidavits and applications and depending on a date that suits everyone they decide to file the petition at the family court. Documents required to complete the filing are

a.    Divorce Petition for dissolution of marriage under sections and acts as per the religion

b.    Memorandum of Understanding (in case of child custody, property and assets etc…)

c.    Verifying Affidavits of both Husband and Wife

d.    Joint Affidavit of both Husband and Wife

e.    Application under Section 13 Family Courts Act

f.     Address Proof of both Husband and Wife

g.    Identify Proof of both Husband and Wife

h.    Marriage Invitation Card

i.      Marriage Photograph

j.      Marriage Certificate

k.    Valkalatnama

5.    On the day of filing, both Husband and Wife meet the lawyer at the family court, the lawyer verifies all the documents, prints them on a green colour legal paper of size 8.5” x 14”and aligns them as per the requirements / process outlined by the family court, collects signatures from both husband and wife in the presence of an authorized notary,  affixes the stamps and pays the stamp duty (fees) as prescribed by the court depending on the act and section under which the petition is being filed. This process typically takes not more than a couple of hours and the filing is completed.

6.    The Filing department forwards the case file to the court after verification, If in case there is an error, or any document not as per the prescribed rules, or any other point mentioned does not meet the requirements outlined as per the act and sections the couple are governed, the judge raises an objection.

7.    The Lawyer is notified about the objections and the same needs to be rectified, typically 15 days to 1 month duration is granted by the court to address the objections. The lawyer then reconvenes with the parties (husband and wife) and collects all relevant information / additional documents and submits to the court. In case the objections are not addressed, the case gets dismissed and the procedure needs to be followed all over again.

8.    If there is no error and the filing is done following the correct procedure the court accept the petition, records the statements of both parties and date for next herring is given, this is typically 6 months from the date of filing the petition. There have been some cases where a special prayer is done by the lawyer and parties to wave off the cooling period of 6 months, but this practice is not entertained in all cases. The Supreme Court put an end to this practice in the year 2009, but still in some cases the High Court has granted relief form the waiting period.

9.    During this waiting period / cooling period of 6 months either both Husband and Wife or any one of the party can withdraw the petition, however the courts comedown heavily and wran parties who are withdrawing the consent after filing if the intention is to extort money or draw vengeance, more often than not such instances don’t occur and the process gets completed. The point I am highlighting here is the opportunity.

10.  After 6 months both husband and wife have to present themselves before the court to confirm the mutual consent filed earlier and in this cooling off period as well there has been no reconciliation, in some cases if there is an inclination of saving the marriage counselling can be recommended at the mediation center of the same premises in Bangalore, if nothing works out, the final order is passed and both are declared divorced.

11.  Once the divorce decree is granted the final step is to visit the Marriage Sub Registrar office and get the marriage registration cancelled. This completes the process.

A very important point to remember is during this 6 months waiting period it’s advisable for the (Husband) boy or (Wife) girl not to entertain any second marriage option or engage in a courtship, this is punishable offence and will entertain complications in the proceedings.

Trust this blog was helpful and the reader has fair knowledge on the procedure for divorce by mutual consent that prevails in India, If you need assistance / support or need to discuss about your case feel free to drop a note to me at lawyersonia@gmail.com or call at 9845944896.

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