Jorhat, July 13: Estranged couples in the state can soon expect to have hassle-free way to pay and receive maintenance without wasting time, energy and money to make it to the court every month.

Gauhati High Court has ruled that a Jorhat district court initiative - maintenance and alimony of estranged spouses can be paid into bank accounts of recipients near the places where they reside - be made the norm in all districts of Assam.

The Jorhat district court initiative taken in December 2014 provided relief by giving a directive in which maintenance and alimony could be paid into bank accounts of the recipients near the places where they reside.

Taking advantage of the ease in opening accounts through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana - in which an individual could open an account without going through too many hassles - the Jorhat district opened 125 accounts in the United Bank of India under Jorhat revenue circle on December 13.

Referring to this as an example, B.K. Chetri, registrar (judicial), Gauhati High Court, had sent a letter in March to the member secretary, Assam State Legal Services Authority, Gauhati High Court, to implement this in all judicial districts of the state at the earliest.

A source said the order was received last month and efforts are on in some districts to implement this order.

Chief judicial magistrate Md Darak Ullah, (it is his brainchild) said in Jorhat district they were planning to take up the Titabar subdivision next.

"The process to open accounts is long-drawn. First, the litigants have to be informed of the date. To do this, we take the help of the district administration, trained paralegal volunteers attached to different police stations, the district legal service authority, village defence personnel and the media, including the district information and public relations office. Secondly, officials of banks have to be informed and then only can the date and venue be fixed," the chief judicial magistrate said.

A paralegal volunteer is a person who is trained in subsidiary legal matters but not fully qualified as a lawyer.

Darak Ullah said if bank accounts were opened, it would be easier for the courts to give rulings in favour of depositing the amount "which has to be paid as maintenance" into bank accounts, thus making the process easier for thousands of women having to come to court once in a month. In Jorhat except for the Titabar and Majuli subdivisions, all areas falling under Jorhat, Teok, Pulibar and Bhogamukh police stations have been covered in the last exercise.

Jogomaya Sahu is indebted to the Jorhat district court for easing the whole procedure. Since 1996 she had been travelling every month from a remote village in the district, losing a day's wages in the process. She has to shell out money as expenses for commuting to and fro as well as for food not only for herself, but also for a relative she brought along as companion.

The court too does not have to waste its time and energy for the tedious process entails a peskar (accountant) having to take out her file and find out if the money had been deposited. Then a judge has to pass the order for payment, resulting in waste of time, energy and money for staff of the court.