Men Too Are Entitled To Same Protection From Cruelty And Violence As Women: Delhi High Court

You are currently viewing Men Too Are Entitled To Same Protection From Cruelty And Violence As Women: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has ruled that both men and women are entitled to equal protection under the law when it comes to cruelty and violence.

The Court denied anticipatory bail to a wife who had poured boiling water mixed with chilli powder on her husband, causing severe burn injuries. The wife argued for leniency based on her gender, but the Court rejected this, emphasizing that gender cannot be a determining factor in cases involving physical violence or harm.

The victim husband had stated that his wife had previously filed a false rape case against him, and under threat, he had married her. Despite the wife claiming she was being tortured by the husband and his family, she had not lodged any formal complaint against them.

A Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated that empowering one gender and offering protection cannot come at the expense of fairness toward another, especially when it concerns acts of violence. The Court stressed that creating a special category for leniency based on gender would undermine the foundational principles of justice, particularly when the victim suffers life-threatening injuries. The Court further highlighted, “This case also highlights a broader societal challenge. Men who are victims of violence at the hands of their wives often face unique difficulties, including societal disbelief and the stigma associated with being perceived as a victim,”. The Court added, “Such stereotypes perpetuate the erroneous belief that men cannot suffer violence in domestic relationships. Thus, the Courts must recognize the need for a gender-neutral approach to such cases, by ensuring that men and women are treated alike.”

Rejecting the wife’s request for leniency, the Court emphasized that injuries caused to any person—regardless of their gender—should not be treated differently. It also added, “While dealing with this argument, this Court wonders that in case the roles were reversed, and had the husband poured boiling water mixed with chilli powder on his wife while she was asleep, would have locked her inside the room, after doing so, would have taken her phone and had fled away from the spot, leaving their infant child crying beside her, it would have been undoubtedly argued that no mercy should be shown to him. However, the Courts cannot let hidden or apparent biases guide them while deciding cases even when arguments full of hidden biases are presented before them,” The Court concluded that the stereotype that only women suffer physical or mental cruelty in marital relationships is flawed and does not reflect the realities of many cases. It further clarified that courts must avoid relying on stereotypes when adjudicating cases, ensuring justice is served impartially for both men and women.

Leave a Reply