Abusive hubby ordered to pay Rs 7L

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Chennai: Abusing wife and children would cost more for delinquent men. The Egmore metropolitan magistrate court has ordered a husband to pay Rs 2 lakh for medical expenses and Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the abuse meted out by him to his son, daughter and wife over the years. 
 
When he refused to pay the compensation, a warrant was issued and police protection was provided for the wife and children.
 
The ‘Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act’ (PWADVA) empowered the aggrieved wife, 30-year-old Vimala (name changed), to put an end to the 10-year-old tortured married life she led with her husband Ravi (name changed), aged 38, who was running an utensil store in Sirkazhi.
 
According to her petition, her husband first tried to force her to hand over the house gifted by her parents for the wedding. “He pawned all the 35 sovereigns of gold jewellery given during our marriage and spent the money to set up his shop. As he lost all his earnings to liquor, he tortured the children and me. He hit us many times,” she said.
 
Vimala told the court that when she did not give in about the house, Ravi spread a canard among the neighbours that she had affairs with other men. In order to save her children and her life, Vimala filed a case under the PWADVA. 
 
“I am now living with my parents and I have no income to take care of my children. I need maintenance,” she pleaded in court. She also mentioned that she wished to take back all the marriage gifts given to her by her parents, as she needed to set up her own house now.
 
Arguing that his house had gone up in flames and his business also failed, Ravi said he would not be able to give any maintenance. 
 
He said he took good care of his children and wife. Giving the order, judge M. Gopalan pointed out that all evidence produced by Vimala proved her sufferings and Ravi failed to prove his innocence. So, he should give the monthly maintenance of Rs 25,000 and also return the marriage gifts. He should pay Rs 2 lakh for medical expenses and Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the mental agony suffered by Vimala and the children.