Madras High Court Says Removal Of Mangalsutra By Wife Is Mental Cruelty On Husband. Why Are We Glorifying Symbols Of Patriarchy?
Well, I think people prioritise symbols more than human beings, especially women and sometimes it can get too toxic and the same happened in this case as well. The Madras High Court recently stated that the removal of the mangal sutra by the wife will amount to subjecting to mental cruelty to the husband and granted divorce to a couple. Why are we giving so much importance to the symbols of patriarchy?
During a court hearing, the woman’s counsel referred to Section 7 of the Hindu Marriage Act and submitted that the tying of thali (mangal sutra) is unnecessary and that’s why its removal by the wife will not have any impact on the couple’s marital tie. The bench of Justices VM Velumani and S Sounthar pointed out that it is common knowledge that the tying of thali is an essential ritual that takes place in wedding ceremonies. The Madras High Court stated that the removal of ‘thali’ (Mangalsutra) by an estranged wife would amount to subjecting the husband to mental cruelty of the highest order while granting divorce to the aggrieved man. The bench also said that thali around the neck of a woman is a sacred thing which symbolises the continuance of married life and it can be removed only after the death of the husband. Therefore, its removal by the wife is an act which reflected mental cruelty of the highest order as it could have caused agony and hurt the sentiments of the husband.
Removal of Mangalsutra by wife highest order of mental cruelty on husband, says Madras High Court. @LawstreetJ #mangalsutra #MadrasHC #mentalcruelty #husbandandwife #india #hindumarriage #Divorce pic.twitter.com/KmOuxpMFET
— Lawstreet Journal (@LawstreetJ) July 15, 2022
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According to the reports, the Madras High Court also observed that the husband and wife had been living separately since 2011, and the wife did not make any attempt to reunite with her partner.
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Well, it is clear that we are living in an era that glorifies symbols of patriarchy.
