Ex-parte divorce cases on rise in Punjab

The NRI youths of Doaba region in Punjab have shot to notoriety for their alleged use of 'power of attorney' documents to get divorced and leave their wives behind, police said today.
The number of 'ex-parte divorce' cases, where only one spouse participates or appears in court, are on a rise in Doaba region. The NRI youths of the area provide power of attorney to their relatives who appear on their behalf in the court while they leave the country, Daljit Singh, SHO, NRI police station here said.
We have received many complaints by aggrieved women who have been left by their NRI husbands like this, he said.

"If the two parties agree on the amount of compensation to be provided to the aggrieved woman, then she files for an ex-party divorce case in the court," Singh said.
"Only in case of ex-party divorce, power of attorney can be used. In other cases, such as divorce by mutual consent both the spouses need to be present during the court proceedings," he said.
The SHO maintained that there are no proper record of such cases as the role of police becomes very minimal in such scenario.
Asked about instances where the NRI youths file for such divorce, Singh said, "In many cases, the girl agrees to get married as she sees it as a chance to fly abroad. When the youth comes to know about this motive, he files for such divorce."

A senior police official admitted that at times the family of the girl files dowry harassment case against the groom if they do not like him or the country he resides in, forcing the youth to file for such a divorce.