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DIGNITY IN DISTRESS
Often stories emerge about how a young married woman is tormented by her in-laws and how the harassed woman emerges as a survivor. Fatima’s story is, however, the flip side of the usual narrative.
Fatima, a senior citizen, a simple woman lives with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. All she ever wanted was to live a peaceful and happy life with her family. But fate was not in her favour.
Fatima and her husband, with their meagre earnings and humble living, managed to bring up their three children. Fatima got both her daughters married. However, Fatima’s son never bonded with the family despite her best efforts. He never supported his parents even during dire circumstances. Fatima hoped that with time, he would become responsible. She got him married.
Soon Fatima’s son forced her and her husband to sell their ancestral property and handover huge sums of money to him to buy a flat. Thereafter, her son started forcing Fatima and her husband to relinquish their rights in their present home. He started verbally and mentally abusing Fatima and her husband over trivial issues. He went to the extent of physically abusing her, thereby causing her immense anguish.
To add to her torment, Fatima’s son did not her allow her to cook in the house nor provided her and her husband with food. He would repeatedly threaten to commit suicide and put the blame on her, if she did not comply with his demands. Even though he was earning handsomely, he forced Fatima to pay all the utility bills of the house, as a measure to torture her and drive her and her husband out of the home. Fatima’s husband is old and frail. His health was failing. Fatima’s health was also deteriorating due to the daily torture and stress. Thus, every day used to be a struggle; without any hope.
Fatima approached various forums to redress her grievance and lodged multiple police complaints. Even during counselling sessions and enquiry at the Police Station, Fatima’s son and daughter-in-law exhibited unrepentant behaviour. None of the grievance redressal measures gave her solace and the harassment continued unchecked and uncontrolled.
As a last hope of recouping dignity to her life, Fatima approached Majlis. Fatima’s plight was evident. The legal team of Majlis counselled her on the various legal rights available to her and urged her to seek remedies from a Court. Immediately, an Application under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act was filed seeking protection, residence, maintenance and compensation orders.
The legal team of Majlis ensured that the case progressed without any delay or glitches. Our legal team highlighted to the Court the dire straits in which Fatima had been thrust into by her own son.
Looking at the circumstances, the Court was pleased to pass a protection order in favour of Fatima directing her son not to commit any acts of domestic violence upon her. The Court was also pleased to pass an order directing her son not to dispossess her from the house and pay her monthly maintenance.
Today, Fatima is secure due to the favourable orders of the Court. Her son is unable to harass, threaten and intimidate her. Fatima is slowly regaining the dignity which she had lost. She can focus on her health and feels confident about her future.
Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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