Chennai: Sexual impotence emerges as a major reason of divorce in over 20 per cent of the couples, according to statistics obtained from the family court of Chennai. However, legal experts state that the number would be much more considering the fact that many cases go unreported and end in silence before the court of law through ‘mutual consent.’
N. Lalitha, advocate practising in Madras High Court and family court, Chennai explained how cases of impotency areoften hushed up in order to avoid men being tagged as ‘non masculine’
“Cases of impotency are increasing each year, but not all of them are recorded. Men often convince their wives to opt for mutual consent to save
their respect,” Lalitha added.
Though the percentage of wives using ‘impotency’ as a weapon to end the marriage is minimal in Chennai, advocates admit the prevalence of such cases too. “I don’t deny the prevalence of such cases. But they are very minimal,” she said.
The sensitivity of the issue often enables men to seek divorce by mutual consent before things turn ugly. A victim, C. Iqbal (name changed) said, “Two years after the marriage, my wife was uninterested to be in wedlock as my financial condition turned bad. When she went to the extent of filing a divorce petition on the grounds of impotency, I decided to end things. So we got a divorce through mutual consent.”
There is also a phenomenon of how such cases are settled out-of-court, fearing the procrastination in family courts. “Cases are generally not disposed of fast as the parties would be counselled regularly.
Potency test will also be conducted according to the court’s direction. Due to societal pressure, most parties go in for out-of-court settlement,” she added.
