Marriage, divorce, and caste slurs

Caste is coming in the way of the divorce of a Delhi-based couple, both in their late 20s.

Sanjeev (name changed) and Rekha (name changed), both doctors in a government hospital, married in 2007 in New Delhi, against the wishes of their respective families. What followed, though, was quarelling and a string of complaints filed by the couple against each other.

The first complaint was filed by Rekha claiming that Sanjeev was torturing her, which was followed by another complaint of domestic violence, and then a case seeking maintenance.

It was only after Rekha had filed her various complaints that Sanjeev, who belongs to a schedule caste, complained to the police that during a quarrel, his wife had used derogatory words against his caste.

The trial court summoned Rekha and her parents under the SC/ST Act in July 2009, and the case is still pending along with all the other cases.