The government is likely to consider on Wednesday the recommendations of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to make marriage laws more women friendly. One of the key issues the GoM was asked to decide was whether a court can work out "sufficient compensation" for a woman from her husband's ancestral property in case of divorce which takes place on the grounds of "irretrievable breakdown of marriage".
The GoM, set up recently to decide on the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, was also asked to decide on whether a judge can exercise discretion in granting divorce if one of the partners does not move a second 'joint application' for divorce with mutual consent. But there is a view contrary to the proposal within the government. Sources said there is a view that by allowing courts the discretion to allow divorce would fail the very purpose of seeking it on the grounds of mutual consent.
They said if one of the parties refuses to move a joint application, then the other should be allowed to file for a divorce on other grounds than mutual consent. While the bill has a provision for share in a husband's self-acquired property, a new clause - 13 f - was discussed by the GoM headed by Defence Minister AK Antony. It says if the ancestral property cannot be divided, then the woman should get sufficient compensation by calculating husband's share in it. The amount of the compensation can be worked out by the court hearing the divorce case.
The GoM also discussed the issue of allowing courts to decide on doing away with the mandatory six-month waiting period for couples seeking divorce to move a joint petition by mutual consent. Sources said there was a general agreement on the issue as it would help speed up divorce procedures. A six to 18 month waiting period already exists and the Cabinet will take a call on whether a judge can reduce the waiting period to even less than six months. A Supreme Court judgement in this regard is being cited to support the provision.
The bill had divided the Union Cabinet in May over a clause dealing with woman's right to husband's property after divorce, forcing the matter to be referred to a GoM. After its introduction in the Rajya Sabha, the bill has come up before the Cabinet on three occasions with various changes. It is still pending in the Rajya Sabha. The amendment bill, which seeks to alter the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and the Special Marriage Act, 1954, introduces the option of divorce on grounds of "irretrievable breakdown of marriage".
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