Ranchi, April 15: When Malancha Ghosh of Mahila Utpidan Virodhi Evam Vikas Samiti, was invited to speak at the workshop held under the aegis of Jharkhand Judicial Academy, little did the organisers imagine that she would stir up a hornet’s nest.

In fact, Ghosh’s speech became so “unpleasant” for the members of the judiciary and police force, who were present at the workshop, that she was asked to cut her piece short and step down.

The workshop was a daylong affair that dealt with issues such as bigamy, divorce, alimony and custody battles and other women and family-related issues. And Ghosh spared none — not the judiciary nor the law enforcers — as she pointed out loopholes and fallacies in various cases, which never really gave the promised “justice” to the women. Also, she accused the courts and police as insensitive to women’s issues.

To make her point Ghosh narrated several incidents. She spoke of a certain case where her husband threw out a mother along with her two children. Later, when her son turned 10, the husband claimed and won the custody of the son. Afterwards, when she sought the help of the high court and Supreme Court, she was finally granted an alimony of Rs 18,000 plus Rs 3 lakh as compensation. Three years have passed since then and the woman, Ghosh pointed out, is yet to receive a penny from that amount.

Ghosh also referred to the Paharia rape case, which has been awaiting justice in the Patna High Court for the past 18 years. “A futile wait,” she added.

Malancha Ghosh also spoke of several instances where police stations have been used to solemnise and legalise second marriages, instance when a court granted a woman a meagre alimony when she sought the right to remain with her husband. And when a court sought a TI parade when medical tests prove d a case of rape. “Why was there a need for a TI parade?” wondered Ghosh, “When medical reports had confirmed rape and police did admit to raiding the village?” she asked while talking about the gang rape cases at Paharia.

Ghosh has been upsetting status quo for long at Ranchi. And she succeeded in rattling the normally unflappable judges present at the workshop. But, she had made her point. Women in this country are being denied the basic right to life, let alone life with dignity. Case in point, the paradox of an increasing population and a declining sex ratio.