UK court awards Indian woman 35,000 pounds as compensation

London, July 26 (UNI) An Indian woman has been awarded 35,000 pounds compensation after bringing a landmark legal case against her mother-in-law who treated her like a servant.

English-born sikh Gina Satvir Singh (26) had an arranged marriage with Hardeep Singg Bhakar (28) and went to live with his family in Essex.

Her mother-in-law Dalbir Kaur Bhakar, 52, who was born in India and barely spoke English, would not give her daughter-in-law a house key, and was not even allowed out to do her own shopping. She was banned from watching TV - and was so isolated that she was unaware war was breaking out in Iraq in spring 2003.

Mrs Bhakar made her get up at 0630 hrs, would not allow her to return to her room except to go to bed and created humiliating chores. She was ordered to clean the lavatory with her hands.

A judge's decision to order Mrs Bhakar to pay compensation after Miss Singh brought a case through the 1997 Protection from Harrassment Act, designed to deter stalkers, has profound implications for families and insurance companies across Britain.

The important legal decision was declared at Nottingham County Court on Monday, where recorder Timothy Scott awarded Miss Singh her 35,000 pounds in damages after accepting she had endured 'misery and humiliation' during her four month marriage.

Judge Scott said: "She was utterly miserable and wretched during those months and was suffering from what was for her an incomprehensible personal attack. The course of conduct which I have found on the part of Mrs Bhakar is very serious, far more than enough to amount to harassment for the purposes of the Act." Judge Scott said: "Mrs Bhakar bullied her into coming to a hairdresser where her hair was cut to shoulder length. She was treated in a humiliating manner at the hairdresser and again when she returned to the Bhakar home - she was made to display her cut hair and was told she looked like a poodle." Miss Singh also claimed that while the Bhakar claimed to be Sikhs, they also tried to convert her to Hinduism, and once took her to a mysterious woman who gave her a locket she was ordered to wear always. Her family believed it was supposed to be a magic talisman.

Miss Singh claimed she was only allowed to make and receive one call a week from her family. A member of the Bhakar family would then listen in - and her mobile phone was confiscated.

In March 2003 Miss Singh's father-in-law Prithvipal Singh Bhakar suddenly phoned her father and asked him to take her away. She divorced soon after. Her ex-husband has since married an Indian girl. Miss Singh has been depressed, on medication, and virtually unable to work - and eventually brought the case partly to help other women in similar situations.

Mrs Bakhar denied maltreating her daughter, with her family claiming Miss Singh spent three hours in the bathroom in the morning, and wanted to be on the phone continually. On Monday night the Bakhars refused to comment.

UNI XC SRS VA DB0938