Women’s rights activists have demanded that Chief District Officer (CDO) of Bajhang, Devi Dutta Poudel, be punished for polygamy.
Talking to Nepalnews, advocate Sapana Pradhan Malla, president of Women, Law and Development (WLD) said, the Civil Code states that CDO Poudel who married Pramila Shrestha despite having his first wife living in Kathmandu would be fined up to Rs 25,000 and may face up to three years of prison sentence.
“Similar punishment would be implied to the woman marrying man who already has wife. However, if she was unaware that the man had married earlier, she would escape from all punishment,” she said.
Advocate Malla said her non-governmental organisation, WLD, was ready to help if any appeal was filed against Poudel but would not take initiative themselves. According to law, a case of polygamy needs to be filed within three months. “If the news is correct, the government must punish him for violating the law, as he is responsible for implementing such laws,” Malla said.
According to the code, a man is permitted to marry second wife only if his first wife was suffering from incurable sexually transmitted diseases, mentally retarded, became physically disabled, became blind or lived separately receiving her share from husband. Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed the provision that a man would be permitted to marry if he could not have children because of wife’s infertility.
Reports say Poudel, who had been appointed as CDO to the remote far-western district of Bajhang only four months ago, fell in love with Women’s Development Officer Ms. Pramila Shrestha and both of them tied their knots on Sunday, according to Hindu rituals. Poudel has two children from the first wife.