Birbhum: A unique judgment. A most desired outcome. That’s perhaps the best way to sum up the experience of the estranged couple in Bengal’s Birbhum district who knocked on the doors of the judiciary for a reprieve.
The newly-wed couple had approached the district court in Suri for a formal separation following the wife’s allegation of torture against her in-laws. The judge advised the duo to try and iron out their differences by staying in a hotel room separately from the rest of the family. When the husband said he had no money to rent a room, the judge ordered that the hotel bills would be sponsored out of court funds.
After fulfilling that court order, the couple has now decided not to pursue divorce.
In October last year, Goutam Das, a cashier at the state electricity distribution company, and his wife Ahana approached their lawyers for separation following the latter’s complaints of torture by her in-laws.
During the course of hearing on 16 January, Judge Partha Sarathi Sen noticed that the young couple could resolve their personal issues and asked them to spend time together. He then went out of his way to pay the money for their hotel stay when the couple submitted they had ‘no cash’ to afford ‘hotel expenses’.
Despite the judge’s offer, it was the court’s public prosecutor, Ranjit Ganguly, who intervened and expressed his willingness to pay for the hotel expenses. Officers of the Suri police station were also instructed to provide security to the couple.
The PP later booked a suite for the couple at a hotel in Birbhum and wished them a happy living.
Speaking to News18, Ganguly said: “The couple entered the courtroom with lots of grudges but came out happy. I have never seen such case before. This is a unique case and would like to thank our Hon’ble Judge for his initiative in handling the case perfectly.”
“I booked them a suite and I will bear the entire expenses of their lodging and food. They are enjoying a comfortable stay with good food. Yesterday, I took them for shopping and gifted them sweets. They are happy now and have promised not to live separately,” he added.
Lawyers of both sides have hailed the judge’s efforts to save the marriage as rare and exemplary.
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