Rise in divorce cases has social scientists worried

Social scientists and marriage counsellors are saying that divorce rates in Mumbai are going up. The focus is shifting from physical abuse and the prevalence of the joint family system to adultery, women increasingly standing up against harassment, mental torture and their increasing economic independence giving them the strength to fight it out.
While in 1997, 2,234 cases of divorce were filed, this figure went up to 2,936 cases in 1999.Besides, over 3,000 cases of physical and mental abuse are filed every year with women’s organisations.
Says marriage counsellor Madhavi Desai, who practises in the Family Court at Bandra, “It’s interesting to note that the reasons for marital disputes are changing. Earlier, because of the prevalence of the joint family system, there were problems with in-laws. That’s changing — nowadays, harassment, adultery, violence and temperamental differences are the main causes.�
Lakshmi Lingam, of the Women’s Studies Unit, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), explains: “There has been an increase in violence in the past few years as the definition of violence itself has undergone a tremendous change. Earlier, it was perceived only as physical. These days, the definition has broadened to include mental torture. The number of cases filed have risen as women don’t want to take shoddy treatment anymore. Besides, their support structure and economic independence has increased.�
Counselling since 1989, Desai says, “Our surveys revealed that divorce rates for both arranged and love marriages are equal. The average age of couples seeking divorce is reducing. Often, they want a divorce within a year of marriage! For reasons like impotency, incompatibility.�
Advocate Ashok Shahani, who’s been handling divorce cases for 15 years, says, “Given a choice, most women prefer to end painful marriages, though they can seek less drastic forms of redressal from court. There are different laws, depending upon the nature of the grievance. Laws like 498 A IPC are severe, and the offending husband could be in great trouble even without the spouse filing for a divorce.�
Not all cases reach the divorce stage, though. According to court figures, about 70 per cent of cases end up in divorce. Time heals many bruised relationships. And Family Court procedures can be time consuming.