Unfortunately whatever comment is posted by Ms. Liberal on this forum in several threads is being ridiculed.
Now, coming to demanding Rs.1.50 lakhs in place of o.50 lakhs spend for engagement, is it reasonable and good or extortion on the girl's side? In India, people before reaching the stage of engagement thoroughly investigate and enquire about each other. If the author do not want to marry the girl, who forced him to attend the engagement ceremony. He should have turned down the proposal before arrangement for engagement ceremony has happened. In the case of girl, breaking the marriage after engagement is big black spot and it ruins her chances to get another suitable match. Wild rumours about her character are spread in the society, where she lives. The breakage after engagement also lowers the reputation of the entire girl's family and not only that particular girl and all other her younger sisters also face the disability due to this.
Leaving aside the social and economic problems faced by the girl and her parental family due to this bruitish act done by the boy, who heeds only his whims and does not say a solid reason for breaking the engagement, there are legal grounds for the girl to claim Rs.1.5 lakhs for breaking the marriage ceremony, where only 0.50 lakhs is spent. First, it is breach of promise of marriage and hence damages can be claimed. Damage can never be equivalent to the actual expenses and they have to be covered the mental and physical agony faced by the girl's family. She can also claim huge amount for lowering the prestige of the family in her society for no fault of her and so that spoiling her and her younger sister's marriage prospects. Engagement ceremony is not a proposal to agreement and it is a step forward and it is an agreement to do particular act and breach of agreement invites exemplary damages from the breaching party.
So, legally, ethically and morally the girl is entitled to claim to Rs.1.5 lakhs and if the demand is not met, she is also entitled to file civil suit for claiming damages, so that window shopping bridegrooms may learn the lessons of their life.