Woman in India Divorces Husband Because of Loudspeakers at Nearby Temple

Divorce and separation in modern India is popular (AFP/File Photo)

A woman has sought divorce from her husband because she cannot bear loudspeakers blaring from the adjacent temple, and he has not been able to curb the noise pollution.

A lack of toilets at home has split up quite many families in Bihar, but failing to tackle noise pollution around the home is a new problem.

Sneha Singh, a resident of Rajput Nagar in Hajipur, the headquarters of Vaishali district, took the extreme step after her husband Rakesh Singh could not stop loudspeakers at the local temple. She said she has to put up with the noise 150 days in a year.

She initially tried to fight the problem by bringing the matter to police’s attention and filing a complaint. “I have been living in tension. This is a violation of the Right to life laid down under Article 21 of the Constitution and also violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling,” she said in her written petition to the police last year.

As her appeal failed to bring respite, she lodged formal complaints with the District Magistrate, Director General of Police, National Human Rights Commission, ministers, Bihar chief minister and finally the Prime Minister but to no avail.

Eventually, she asked her husband to act. “When I requested local villagers to look into this family trouble, they instead attacked my house and threatened me with dire consequences,” her husband Singh said.

“I can’t think of spending my life with a man who cannot give me the security needed,” she said. I am very worried after her divorce demand,” the husband said. Her in-laws are making fervent appeals to her to reconsider the decision. “

Last week, police officials rushed to her residence and requested her not to seek a divorce over the issue but she remained adamant. According to the woman, police suggested she shift to some other place during religious occasions when the speakers are loud.

The woman, a law graduate, fell in love and married Singh, a badminton player, who is physically-challenged, four years ago.

This article has been adapted from its original source.