Tripura Commission for Women (TCW) allotted 45 days to the middle-aged husband of the city to settle the congenial dispute with his wife following the allegation of installing CCTVs in the house including his bedroom along with the charges of domestic violence.
TCW Chairperson Barnali Goswami said though the husband denied the allegations of domestic violence, the installation of CCTVs in the house was admitted and the statement of the person made to believe that the couple has been in some problem.
“Whatever, be the reason installation of CCTVs in multiple locations even in the bedroom of a woman is rare and serious. How can a woman live under constant surveillance in her most private quarters?” she said, adding that the couple has been given 45 days to reconsider and the man was demanded to pay Rs 3,000 per month as maintenance to his wife till the settlement is made.
Goswami pointed out that installing CCTVs is legal in private space and doesn’t require any special licensing. However, it is a criminal offence as per Section 354 C of IPC if such cameras are used for voyeurism. There are prohibitory provisions in the law in case CCTV cameras are installed in private spaces such as toilets, bathrooms, bedrooms.
According to the complaint, a housewife from Sadhutilla locality of Pratapgarh area of the city lodged complaints last week that soon after her marriage three years ago, the husband started demanding dowry. Her in-laws were allegedly tortured in connivance with the husband. Besides, mother-in-law and brothers-in-law, even neighbours started harassing her mentally and physically.
The lady alleged that her family paid rupees two lakh dowry by selling a piece of ancestral land, but the torture continued. She suspected an extra-marital relationship between her husband and one of his relatives. The situation went out of control when the woman’s husband installed five CCTV cameras in the four-room house in September last year and finally, she deserted in-law house and moved to her mother.
“There were cameras everywhere – the main entrance, corridor, my mother in-law’s room and our bedroom in the house. The monitor is placed in my mother in-law’s room. It is a serious infringement of personal life and liberty. I am a woman and having a camera recording everything is very humiliating,” the lady told TCW.
However, the man on the other denied all charges. “I am innocent. I haven’t taken dowry; neither do I have any illicit relationship with anyone. I find it humiliating to discuss this but the entire complaint was made to take revenge from us since my wife threatened us with prison term while leaving my house.”
He said his wife was very suspicious and behaved badly with him, his mother and relatives. Admitting cameras in the house he claimed that it was installed in self-defence”, to pre-empt allegations and keep proof of his innocence. Asked if he might have gone too far with the CCTV cameras in the bedroom, he said, “I slept in a separate bed and installed the camera only to cover me, not to other, as I am afraid of her atrocities and in future, it may help me in a court of law. I requested the TCW team to see the footage of CCTV to decide the case.
“In most such cases, husband and in-laws are facing legal battle and losing all social prestige, as women are getting the advantage of the law. In my little sense, I found at least CCTV could help me in future otherwise, we shall not have other proof to plead us innocent,” he attributed.
(UNI)
