New Delhi: The financial security and residency security of Indian women must be protected and enhanced for their true empowerment, Justice Nagarathna observed on Monday.
He made the observation while delivering a separate but concurrent verdict of a bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, which held that a Muslim woman can seek maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the CrPC and said that the provision of "religious neutrality" is applicable. to all married women regardless of their religion.
"There is a need to protect and enhance both the 'financial security' and 'residence security' of Indian women. This would truly empower those Indian women who are referred to as 'homemakers' and who are the strength and the backbone of an Indian family which is the fundamental unit of Indian society which must be maintained and strengthened," Justice Nagarathna stated in her 45-page verdict.
She said it goes without saying that a stable family, one that is emotionally connected and secure, provides stability to society because it is within the family that the precious values of life are learned and built.
"It is these moral and ethical values that are inherited by a subsequent generation that would go a long way in building a strong Indian society, which is the need of the hour. It is needless to observe that a strong Indian family and society would ultimately lead to a a stronger nation. But, for that to happen, women in the family must be respected and empowered!" she said.
Justice Nagarthna noted the vulnerability of married women in India who do not have an independent source of income or access to monetary resources in their homes, particularly for personal expenses.
She said that in Indian society it is an established practice that once a daughter gets married, she resides with her husband or her family, unless due to career demands or any other reason she has to reside in another place.
"In the case of a woman who has an independent source of income, she may be financially endowed and not totally dependent on her husband and family. But what is the situation of a married woman who is often referred to as "housewife" and who has no independent source of income and is totally dependent on her husband and his family for her financial resources?" she said.
Justice Nagarathna said that most married men in India do not realize the situation faced by Indian housewives as any request for expenses can be flatly rejected by her husband or her family.
"Some husbands are not aware that the wife, who has no independent source of finance, depends on them not only emotionally but also financially.
"On the other hand, a wife referred to as a housewife works around the clock for the well-being of the family without expecting anything in return except possibly love and affection, a sense of comfort and respect from her husband and his family, which This may also be missing in some homes," she said.
Justice Nagarathna observed that a married Indian man must be made aware of the fact that he would have to financially empower and maintain his wife, who has no independent source of income, by making financial resources available to her, especially for her personal needs.
"Such financial empowerment would place such a vulnerable wife in a more secure position in the family. Those married Indian men who are aware of this aspect and who make financial resources available to their spouse for his personal expenses, apart from expenses possibly through a joint bank account or through an ATM card," he said.
He made the observation while delivering a separate but concurrent verdict of a bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, which held that a Muslim woman can seek maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the CrPC and said that the provision of "religious neutrality" is applicable. to all married women regardless of their religion.
"There is a need to protect and enhance both the 'financial security' and 'residence security' of Indian women. This would truly empower those Indian women who are referred to as 'homemakers' and who are the strength and the backbone of an Indian family which is the fundamental unit of Indian society which must be maintained and strengthened," Justice Nagarathna stated in her 45-page verdict.
She said it goes without saying that a stable family, one that is emotionally connected and secure, provides stability to society because it is within the family that the precious values of life are learned and built.
"It is these moral and ethical values that are inherited by a subsequent generation that would go a long way in building a strong Indian society, which is the need of the hour. It is needless to observe that a strong Indian family and society would ultimately lead to a a stronger nation. But, for that to happen, women in the family must be respected and empowered!" she said.
Justice Nagarthna noted the vulnerability of married women in India who do not have an independent source of income or access to monetary resources in their homes, particularly for personal expenses.
She said that in Indian society it is an established practice that once a daughter gets married, she resides with her husband or her family, unless due to career demands or any other reason she has to reside in another place.
"In the case of a woman who has an independent source of income, she may be financially endowed and not totally dependent on her husband and family. But what is the situation of a married woman who is often referred to as "housewife" and who has no independent source of income and is totally dependent on her husband and his family for her financial resources?" she said.
Justice Nagarathna said that most married men in India do not realize the situation faced by Indian housewives as any request for expenses can be flatly rejected by her husband or her family.
"Some husbands are not aware that the wife, who has no independent source of finance, depends on them not only emotionally but also financially.
"On the other hand, a wife referred to as a housewife works around the clock for the well-being of the family without expecting anything in return except possibly love and affection, a sense of comfort and respect from her husband and his family, which This may also be missing in some homes," she said.
Justice Nagarathna observed that a married Indian man must be made aware of the fact that he would have to financially empower and maintain his wife, who has no independent source of income, by making financial resources available to her, especially for her personal needs.
"Such financial empowerment would place such a vulnerable wife in a more secure position in the family. Those married Indian men who are aware of this aspect and who make financial resources available to their spouse for his personal expenses, apart from expenses possibly through a joint bank account or through an ATM card," he said.
