Where the issue of Triple-Talaq has been a hotbed of discussion in India recently, there are NGOs in the South-West zones of Hyderabad which facilitate an instant divorce under the guise of family counselling centres. The centres collect a ‘mediation fee’ ranging from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000.
In a complaint filed by Mohammed Parvez of Bhadurpura, the city police booked a case against the Siraj Foundation of Humayun Nagar, on June 6. He alleged that he has been duped by the foundation when he and his wife went for a divorce to this centre.
According to police, Parvez married Fareeda Begum two -and-a-half years ago. However, due to quarrels between them, the couple contacted the Siraj Foundation on January 24, 2017, seeking counselling. However, the members of the foundation promised to arrange for a khula, a divorce initiated by the wife. Accordingly, Parvez was asked to pay an amount of Rs 1.21 lakh to his wife, Rs 35,000 to Ms Siraj Khan of the foundation and Rs 10,000 additional expenses.
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Later, the wife filed a case of dowry harassment against her husband. When he asked the reason of filing the case, his wife told him that she had not received the money from Siraj Khan. On asking Siraj Khan to return the money, she asked Parvez to go underground and said that she would handle the police. Finally, he lodged a case against the foundation for deceiving and criminal intimidation.
Advocate Momin Roshan Zameer said that there are many family counselling centres and foundations, which indulge in such practices.
“It is illegal for NGOs to accept money and conduct these kinds of settlements. It is not acceptable under Islamic Law either”.
DCP (South), V Satyanarayana said that action will be taken against NGOs who are into these kinds of practices and accepting money to conduct divorce settlements.
“We don’t encourage triple talaq or divorce at these centres. We refer their cases to the court,” he added.
