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Is that what the Constitution of India says?




Recently Supreme Court passed a judgment in which there will be no automatic arrest in cases filed under 498A and the court is trying to involve a committee comprising members of the civil society. 

On Monday 31st July at 11:00 morning, around 16 women organizations marched to Supreme Court to oppose the dilution of 498A. 

Section 498A of IPC deals with the prevention of cruelty against women such as domestic violence and dowry. 498A strengthens women power but the Supreme Court judgement tries to weaken it. From 1980s, the protests against dowry death brought in light the agony and death of innocent brides in India. After much struggle, finally we got 498A.

The questions to be asked are, Why Supreme Court is diluting 498A? Why is a woman's access to justice seen as an act of revenge by an egoistic woman? Should the woman's right to life with dignity be subservient to preserving the family and marriage?

There is a need of addition in this law of marital rape, mental abuse, invisible physical abuse, etc.The court tries to dilute this law although the statistics show that only 4.5 % cases are false. It is tragic that the court fails to see the other 95.6% of cases and cases which doesn't come to preview of police and the court. NCRB data also shows that crimes against women are very high.
The Supreme Court in its judgement refers to "certain studies", without naming or detailing them. There is abundant evidence documented by women's groups of continuing violence against women in the matrimonial home.

The women organizations which came to protest against this judgment tried to reach their voices out in the place where justice is given i.e, the supreme court.
These few slogans represented the voices of women around India.

We oppose dilution of 498A.

Strengthen 498A.

थप्पड़ भी एक?? हिंसा है

Women are not liars.

पिटती महिला करे पुकार, 498A है हमारा अधिकार

मानसिक शोषण भी हिंसा है

While women were protesting outside the court, Human rights activist and lawyer Kirti Singh went to court to meet JS Rawat so that he can send the letter to Chief Justice of India. JS Rawat asked Kriti Singh that is it right to oppose court's judgment? Then Kirti Singh replied, She has been working since 35years and they have opposed many judgments.

Many women's organizations highlighted these issues:

Poonam Kaushik who is a lawyer and activist from Pragatishil Mahila Sanghtan firstly congratulated the women organizations who came in this short span of time. She said, the court has given its verdict hurriedly. She highlighted the point; 
कचहरी ने न्याय के नाम पर औरतों का न्याय मिलना ही असंभव बना दिया है।

Nari Shakti Sanghtan said men should also participate against anti-women law.

Padmini from Joint Women's Programme stated that Supreme Court forcing us to do this protest. Asked about the usefulness of this protest, she answered, it will create awareness among people, state and center. She said, we do accept that there is some misuse of this law but the point is, there is no safety mechanism for women who has complained. If she goes back, she will be harassed by her husband and in-laws.

Kusum from Swastik Mahila Samiti stated that women cells are insensitive and court is trying to meddle with 498A.

Dipti from National Federation of Women raised the issues of violence against women by state, police, etc. She said we have gained this dowry law from a long agitation. The root cause of everything is patriarchy. 

Masooma who is a well know activist of FMG from Lawyer's club said the court is trying to dilute 498A which will lead to increase the degree of violence against women.

Mariam Dhawle from All India Democratic Women's Organization raised some crucial point. She said, they are going to start an online signature campaign. Due to digital divide, they will start a campaign offline by involving anganbadi and other organizations. She said Menika Gandhi is a Women & Child development minister not a men agreed minister. She questions government on closing of women studies center.

While the protest was going on, a lawyer from Supreme Court Indrani gives her view that there should be an analysis and statists should be made where accused and the police make a setting and the case is settled therein. She requested women organizations to provide the correct data so that justice could be done.

Now the question is upto the people and the constitution of India that,
Do women have no right to live a life with dignity?
Should the family and marriage be preserved at any cost?
Are not women equal citizens?

It is time for everyone to question themselves - which kind of values they are going to teach their next generation? The paradox is, on one hand a woman is treated as a deity and on the other hand she has been humiliated in every possible way and many a times it ended up in loss of her life. 








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