A recent case from Kapurthala, Punjab, has brought to light the disturbing trend of IELTS marriages in the state. This practice involves men marrying women who have passed the IELTS exam and then paying for their study expenses in Canada, with the expectation that the women will eventually bring them to Canada as well. However, these marriages are now causing legal and emotional turmoil for the parties involved.
One such case involves a complaint filed by the groom’s family against the bride and her parents, alleging fraud in an arranged marriage. The complainant claims to have spent up to 40 lakhs for the marriage, but the bride did not fulfill her part of the agreement to bring him to Canada. The case has now reached the police station and the court.
In a similar case, a woman named Swathi got married to a man named Saurabh in 2019, with the expectation that she would bring him to Canada after completing her education there. However, Saurabh passed away before this could happen, and Swathi remarried Saurabh’s elder brother, Baljit Zakki, in March 2023. This marriage also ended in turmoil as Baljit claims that Swathi did not fulfill her promise to take him to Canada and defrauded him of 45 lakhs.
The woman’s side, however, refutes these claims and states that they were real marriages and not contractual arrangements. Swathi alleges that the groom’s family harassed her after she returned to Canada and did not support her visa application.
Such incidents have raised concerns about the practice of IELTS marriages in Punjab. Kian Singh, a former professor at Punjabi University, Patiala, attributes this trend to the high levels of unemployment in Punjab and the desire to go to Canada. This has led to a situation where men, unable to score high in IELTS exams, are resorting to marrying women and paying for their expenses in Canada.
The complexity and emotional turmoil that arise from these marriages suggest that urgent action is needed to address this issue. The practice of IELTS marriages not only undermines the sanctity of marriage but also puts the emotional well-being of individuals at risk. It is crucial for authorities to intervene and address the underlying issues that drive this practice in order to protect the rights and dignity of individuals involved.