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ShareBangalore: The phrase 'till death do us apart' will soon need to be done away with all together when a couple decides to tie the knot. Advocates are noting how most newly-weds call it quits after a mere three months of living together, the reason mostly being disagreements on monetary issues.
Senior advocates in the Family Court say they come across at least three such cases every day -- a majority of them from the IT/BPO industry. Shilpa Sharad Shrikhande, who has also worked in Mumbai, says, "I have seen an increase in the number of such cases over the last few months.This trend actually started in 2005 in Mumbai and is now also seen in the South of the country. Most cases are of people from the IT/BPO background."
The lawyer adds that these couples are informed of the law as per the Family Court wherein they are required to live together for at least a year before filing for divorce. "But they don't have the patience and file for divorce anyway. Of course, it is rejected," she says. Advocates observe that 2008 did not see many cases of divorce after two to three months of marriage and how couples waited for the minimum period of one year before making the final decision.
Presently the Family Court receives 70 per cent cases from the IT sector while only 30 per cent comprise general cases. In fact, couples belonging to the latter category approach the court only after three to four years of marriage. Lawyers also say that the reason for a sudden rise in divorce cases among couples in the IT/BPO sector could be due to the recession.
Sociologist Girish K, says, "The trend might have been noticed only this year. But maybe the couples went their separate ways earlier, without filing for divorce. The real meaning of a marriage is put to the test when a couple faces monetary problems. Any kind of adjustment or compromise on matters related to money leads to arguments. It indicates how the power of sustenance in marriage is absent among the youth these days."
The increasing number of live-in relationships in the city and long working hours are also factors leading to such untimely separations. "It is surprising that they do not spare a second thought when they separate," says senior advocate Shankarappa.
"Mostly, love would have blossomed at the same office where the boy and the girl were working, which resulted in marriage. These couples would have already lived together for about two to three years. They would not have even gotten parental consent either when they got married or when they opted for divorce," says High Court advocate AV Amarnathan.
Take the case of Meghana R, an IT employee from the city and Sandeep Pratap Singh from Dehradun. Going against their parents' wishes, as Meghana was five years older than Sandeep, the couple tied the knot after a four-year-long live-in relationship.
Problems began to crop up when Sandeep, who earned Rs3 lakh per annum, became reluctant to pay his part of the EMI for their large house, as was agreed upon earlier. The two decided to part amicably and approached the Family Court where they were told to return after completing the minimum period of living together. Their minds already made up, they parted ways anyway.
"It is settled amicably in most cases," says advocate Ujwala Manvgi. "Once they have approached a lawyer for divorce, no amount of counselling helps. The marriage ends for good and they move on with their lives. In case they find another partner, they come back to the court and file for divorce. It is saddening for us too, seeing a rise in the number of cases."
