BHOPAL: She is a 40-year-old government official and has a busy schedule to stick to. She hardly took any notice of what was going on behind her back at home. Reena (name changed) would never have known about illicit relationship between her 45-year-old husband and domestic help, had her 14 year-old-son not spilled the beans. Frustrated Reena filed for divorce, but the husband is not ready. He, in turn, is blaming her for doubting him. The case is pending in family court of Bhopal district court.

Suresh (name changed), a 40-year-old government official never took his wife along while away on tours. Instead, his maid and her husband accompanied him to wherever he went. After a long time his wife came to know about Suresh's affair with the domestic help, whose husband was also involved in this. The wife tried to commit suicide, but she was saved. She filed for divorce.In yet another case, 45-year-old Dilip (name changed) used to take help along wherever he went. When his wife probed further into the matter, she caught them red-handed. She eventually filed for divorce.

And the list goes on. Domestic workers have become a major reason for divorce in Bhopal. As many as 100 cases of separation are pending in the court.

The number of divorce cases filed by wives against their husbands involved with domestic help has increased over a period of time. In most of cases, husbands belong to the age group of 40 to 45 year.

Nikhat Ali, lawyer, district court, said, "I have almost 100 cases of divorce in which the reason is illicit relationship of husband with domestic worker . In some cases, couples have already started living separately. Recently, I got a case in which a 26-year-old was involved with his maid and the wife has filed for divorce. The age group varies, but mostly it happens in cases where wife lives away or has a busy schedule."

Sangeeta Moharir, lawyer, district court, said, "In many cases, husbands of these maids are also involved. They do everything for money." Noorunnisa Khan, senior counsellor , family court, Bhopal, said, "Four to five cases have come to me for counselling in last one month and the number is only rising. Domestic workers do it for money and males seldom admit their fault."

