A week after the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court in Berhampur directed Sumit Sahu and his wife Tapaswini to live together in a rented house, the court on Thursday asked the couple to continue living in the rented accommodation.
The court asked Sumit to pay the rent of the accommodation and bear his wife’s food and other expenses.
Meanwhile, the police deployment at the guest house is withdrawn and permission to meet the couple has been granted to both the families. However, the court has directed the police to submit a report about the couple every week.
Tapaswini Dash, a native of Chhatrapur in Ganjam district had hugged limelight after she had staged a sit-in for 11 days in front of her husband Sumit’s house at Brahmanagar in Berhampur town, demanding justice. She had to stage a dharana, staying in a tent, braving the chilling winter after her in-laws refused to own her.
Tapaswini claimed that she married Sumit in the court on September 7, 2020. After their marriage, she even lived at Sumit’s house as his wife for six months. Later, her in-laws had asked her to go to her parents and stay there till her marriage with Sumit is not solemnized as per vedic tradition.
Believing them she had gone to her parents’ house. In the following days, Sumit’s family had fixed two different dates for their marriage but skipped the dates on one or the other pretext.
With no option left, Tapaswini had sought the help of Pramila Tripathy, a social worker. Thereafter, putting up a tent in front of Sumit’s house, she had launched a dharana, saying she wouldn’t budge until justice was delivered to her.
Hearing the case, the SDJM court had on December 2 directed the couple to stay in a rented house and settle their scores.
Meanwhile, Sumit’s family has been granted seven days’ time to place its side before the court while January 17 has been fixed for the next hearing.