
Guntur: During the National Lok Adalat held at the Guntur court on Saturday, Fourth Additional District Judge R. Sarathbabu expressed astonishment at the inadequate amounts proposed for maintenance in divorce settlements. Addressing the family court cases through compromise, he emphasized the need for fair compensation to ensure the well-being of divorced wives and their children.
In one case, a woman from Nehrunagar, Guntur, was married to a man from Vijayawada. They have a seven-year-old son, and due to ongoing animosity, the police registered a case against the husband. The divorce and maintenance cases were pending in the family court. The couple agreed to a settlement of Rs. 40,000, which was presented to Judge Sarathbabu. Surprised by the amount, the judge questioned how the wife and child could survive on such a meager sum and refused the compromise without adequate maintenance.
In another case, a woman from old Guntur married a man from Martur in Bapatla district. They have two children, and the husband offered Rs. 1 lakh for the settlement. Judge Sarathbabu rejected the compromise and conducted counseling for the couple, highlighting the irresponsibility in divorce cases and the adverse impact on children’s futures.
Judge Sarathbabu, along with Lok Adalat member SBA Jhansi, emphasized the importance of ensuring sufficient compensation for wives and children to live satisfactorily, stressing that many couples fail to consider the long-term implications for their children.