Asian Dowry Dispute Case Study 

Just before formal proceedings were instigated, the parties agreed to mediate. Neither side was going to back down; whatever argument one side brought it was extinguished by the other side with a better argument and defence.

Quite clearly this was more a dispute over honour, and what the Sikh community thought about the families and what had happened rather than the money per se it was clear to the mediator that the Parminder and Sunita were being sidetracked about what their families wanted rather than what they wanted, the mediator took them both to one side and spoke to them about their needs and what had happened.

They both advised that this was being fuelled by their parents and although their parents were out of pocket, they both were, certain gifts could be returned such as jewellery and various household appliances; however the dishonesty issues also needed to be taken into account and needed to be discounted from any settlement agreed.

Speaking to the parties individually key issues of importance were drawn up, issues which were negotiable, could be discounted and issues where there was no room for negotiation.

Eventually a deal was done, unused gifts totalling £24,000 and jewellery totalling £18,000 would be returned to the respective parties, as for gifts of money both sides were more or less even on the gifts of money that they had given to the other and therefore this alongside we spent this on the wedding and so forth cancelled each other out, taking into account how a Judge would view the issues of dishonesty. Parminder contended he felt he had a good case and ideally a Judge would not ask him to return anything, however as he had no need for these gifts he would return them, Sunita equally did not want the jewellery she and her family were given and therefore was more than willing to return it, but did want back the jewellery she had given to Parminder and his family, which was finally agreed.