Originally posted by: aj.fathers
I think Fragrance and return_to_hades are being a bit too much dramatic...!!!
Perhaps I did not explain my views clearly in my previous posts. I agree with Souro that the death is unfortunate but too melodramatic. I also agree with most others that her parents are abusing the dowry law and being ridiculous.
My first point is that a system of accountability needs to be set, because India suffers too many unfortunate forced marriages. Perhaps not as melodramatic as this one. However, many young lives are ruined because some stubborn beliefs held by parents. Many Indians families rigidly stick to a system of forced marriages. Due to this problem, I think we need to have more stringent laws to prevent forced marriage - and make parents as well as children think twice before forcing or succumbing to a marriage.
My second point is precisely related to the abuse of dowry law. People are abusing it. We need to replace it with comprehensive, pragmatic domestic abuse laws that are gender neutral. Men and women are victims of abuse, sometimes so are parents and in-laws. Sometimes men and women are trapped in bad marriages. I think we need practical laws that treat things on a case by case basis, rather than having blanket laws that force the burden of proof on the men and their families.
Taking this situation, in what I propose - there would be no question of dowry law abuse. The only charge would be forced marriage, withholding information and perhaps emotional distress of some sort. The husband and his family would face the consequences of a forced marriage (whatever it be determined by law) - and not subject to any sort of liability of a harsher criminal charge like dowry death.
If ever a dowry death occurs, there would be domestic abuse laws and domestic violence laws to address those charges as they come.
Edit: FYI - The involvement of parents is not an assumption. The information clearly states that his parents knew about his relationship with another woman, but forced him to marry a girl of their choice. They also never told her parents or her about his relationship (nor did he). If his parents had no clue about his affair then its 100% his fault. However since they knew and they forced him the fault likes 50-50.
Edited by return_to_hades - 12 years ago
comment:
p_commentcount