I am married..I guess

And I got to read about it in the papers today morning.

Thanks to the Maharashtra Government’s  (well meaning?) move, I may be married.Or not.It all depends on a bunch of law makers

/***********************Times of India*********************\

MUMBAI: In a progressive step with far-reaching implications, the state cabinet on Wednesday gave its green signal to amend Section 125 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) which seeks to protect the pecuniary interests of the ‘other woman’. However, it would need the Centre’s stamp of approval to become a law.

According to the amendment proposed by Maharashtra, the definition of the word ‘wife’ under Section 125 needs to be changed to include a woman who was living with a man like his wife for a reasonably long period. This amendment would cover the interests of women involved in polygamous or live-in relationships, say officials. The only catch is that the state has not specified the term‘reasonably long period’ that a woman needs to stay with a man to be called his wife.

The state law and judiciary department has drawn heavily from the recommendations of the Justice (retd) S Mallimath committee formed by the Centre to suggest reforms in CrPC. In fact, state officials admit that the amendment proposed by them is an exact copy of what has been proposed by the Justice Mallimath committee. Ironically, the state has taken cognisance of the committee’s suggestion even while the recommendations gather dust at Delhi.

Explaining the need for such an amendment, state law department officials said most bigamy cases lead to problems for the ‘other woman’ not recognised by law in presence of the official wife. “The other woman is on the streets in dire straits if the man decides to dump her for someone else. She is not entitled to any maintenance as her status is not that of a wife,” said officials.

Against this backdrop, the state amendment proposes that any woman who has become the other woman in a man’s life, knowingly or unknowingly, should be eligible for maintenance under CrPC, said officials.

Officials said there are several cases where the other woman does not know of the existence of the official wife.

However, a section of lawyers said the proposed amendment may legalise or justify bigamy.

/*******************************************************************************************\

Does this mean I have been doing something illegal? This whole ‘live-in’ arrangement needs to be sanctified by the law? What is CrpC 125? Other than the fact that it makes me eligible for some sort of maintenance money. And here I have been spending money on car maintenance etc, not knowing I am also clubbed in the same category. So whatever it is, it must be good news, since that can only mean that someone owes me money, and I am talking big dough!! Can I go on collecting money with the 3 men I had ,at some point in my life, had a “live-in” relationship?And don’t you just love those officials who simply assume that if the woman gets dumped, she will be out in the streets.

Secondly, other woman??? Wow, this makes me feel all vulnerable and at the mercy of the cruel man.

Most importantly, will someone please clarify what on earth is a “reasonably long ” time. I have been living -in for two years now.Well make it three, but that includes the ex, and ,hello, will the law cover that loophole?

This is bloody unfair if you ask me. Where is the bending on the knee proposal, the pre-wedding shopping, the whole wedding itself? Trust me to have such let downs in my life.One day I am this hassle-free unmarried woman joyfully ticking on the single box in the forms and next, Bam, I am married.