Misuse of IPC article 498 (A)

The women in India suffer from domestic violence. The Article 498 (A) of the Indian Penal Code has been specially prepared to protect such suffering women. According to the provisions of the Article, the Police are required to immediately arrest the perpetrators of violence, as mentioned by the victim in the FIR.

However, many times it is seen that the legal provision does not fulfill its desired goal. That is on two accounts, (a) payment of huge compensation to the victims and (b) misuse of the article by the some women, especially educated women in the urban areas, to settle personal scores against their male counterparts.

According to the principle of natural justice, culprits can be set free for the want of evidence but innocent should never be punished. However, when the article is misused, innocents are punished by way of arrest and jail. It is rather surprising to see that the Police are not required to carry out any enquiry, before the arrest. Whomsoever named as perpetrator by the woman in the FIR, that is taken as an adequate ground for arrest.

                   That the Article is being misused to take revenge on males, has been observed the Bombay High Court also. All are equal in front of law. However the Article 498 (A) appears to be unjustifiably skewed against the males, as he gets no protection by law. The following amendment is suggested to the Article:

“In case the allegations are not proved and the malicious intent is established by the court, the woman filing the FIR must be arrested immediately and tried under the relevant provisions of law”.

Spy cam evidence

Amend dowry law to stop its misuse, Supreme Court of India tells Government

Know everything about Article 498A

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These ‘Days’

The celebration of ‘Days’ appears to be western style, but Indian tradition is not far behind. The mechanical way in which we celebrate our festivals like ‘Padva’ and ‘Bhaubij’, they could be as well called as Husband’s Day of Brother’s Day, respectively. Barring the commercials like ‘Chocolate Day’ etc., the Days generally symbolize different relationships that all of us cherish. In my opinion, celebrating a Day offers us an opportunity to take a stock of the relationship it symbolizes.

Take the example of ‘Women’s Day’! On this day, all of us must ponder over our relationships with women playing different roles in our life: mother, sister, daughter, wife, colleague or boss. Are we thankful and gratuitous to all these individuals for their services or guidance? We Indians are hypocritic on this score.

Whilst we never get tired singing songs praising these relationships, but in practice our record is very poor. The rising graph of crime against women illustrates that aspect. Today’s news tells me that on average three women are molested in the National Capital, every day. Disgusting, sub-animal behavior !!

The fact remains that the status of women in India, where we are taught to worship Goddess, has not changed from the ancient times of Sita Mai, Draupadi, till date.

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Masakkali

Masakkali ! Pigeons with clipped wings !! rightly describes the status of women in India.

In a country which boasts of female (nari) worship. Just take a look at the results of the survey reported by the Times of India

Majority of the women, working or housewives, do not decide how the money is to be spent or about the way of entertainment. The so called 'Lakshman Rekha' is drawn by the parents or the husbands (Dracula ?)

40% of the women surveyed accepted that the sexual harassment is common at the workplace.

Majority of them expressed that it is not safe travelling alone in the city, that they are discriminated, when it comes to pay and promotions

The average amount of wages earned by the women: Rs 29-37.7 per day, much below the statutory provision

Out of the total women married during 2005-06, 44.5% married before reaching the age of 18 years, quite against the law

The statistics is enough to reveal the status of women India

The celebration of Women's Day is all about restoring the honour of women in India.

Save India !!

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