Rakesh Koirala, permanent resident of Triyuga Municipality in the district of Udayapur went to district court seeking for divorce without consent of his wife Samita Koirala. Legally, only women can directly file a case of divorce at district court. Men, however, have to go to local government bodies – VDC/ municipality to register the case, therefore the divorce process initiated by men take longer time in this regard. Hence it was not unnatural in the case of Rakesh too that the divorce process initiated by him could not reach divorce even within a year.
Later on, Triyuga Muncipality referred his case to Triyuga Mediation Center for mediation. Once referred to, the Mediation Center called Samita for mediation. During mediation session, Samita had her statements. As per her, they had been living separately from their parents with their two sons and a daughter. Rakesh had recently come back from four years’ stay abroad. He, according to Samita, did not bring any money with him as he had been sending money to her mother regularly. She, therefore, was compelled to struggle for living. She viewed that she sustained her children by selling milk. Misunderstanding increased between them when she started to inquire about the money Rakesh earned abroad. She even revealed that her in-laws suggested Bikram to divorce and go for another marriage. This suggestion further aligned Bikram with his parents so he now, started to live with his parents and sister.
Rakesh, on the other hand, told that he had been living abroad but Samita didn’t take care of her parents and children properly. He stated that her behavior towards his parents was not good and that she always quarreled with him over issues especially casting doubt on his marital sanctity.
After hearing both sides, it was concluded that theirs was a problem created out of long time separation and resultant miscommunication. Citing her economic dependence on her husband, Samita said that she didn’t want divorce and that she would take care of her husband and in-laws. She wanted him to look after her and their children apart from taking care of his mother and sister. Rakesh then said that if she wouldn’t show any suspicion toward him and took proper care of his mother and sister, he would stop the process of divorce. Both parties agreed on it and left mediation center resuming their relationship. Later both of them were found fulfilling their promises and leading a happy life. Mediation thus saved a family from breakage and also avoided a terrible life the wife and children had to face if divorce was done.
