If dowry issues lead to harassment of women, then dowry laws are torturing men, feel some aggrieved husbands. Blaming section 498 (A) for their plight, married men from Telangana are now demanding the formation of a Men’s Commission on the lines of a Women’s Commission. This was one of the demands put forward by members of Save Indian Family (SIF) Trust, Hyderabad on Friday.
According to the members, a Men’s Commission is the need of the hour in the absence of a body that probes and fights injustice done to men. The members are also demanding scrapping of section 498 (A), which they say has become draconian in nature. The members will sit on a day-long dharna on May 10 at Dharna Chowk to draw attention to their demands.
“There are more than 50 laws favouring women but they are being used to harass and trouble men,” charged T.R. Parthasarathy, founder of SIF, at a press meet. “Due to section 498 (A), women, kids and family members of a husband against whom a complaint is lodged, suffer. There are already sections like IPC 223, 504 and 506 which deal with assault and inhuman treatment to women. Hence, we feel 498 (A) should be scrapped immediately. Countries like U.S.A. and Australia have issued advisories to their citizens to be wary of marrying Indian women due to the existence of such laws.” According to Mr. Parthasarathy, married men from AP and Telangana are more vulnerable than their counterparts in the rest of the country. “In Telangana and AP, section 498 (A) is a compoundable offence because of which some women are resorting to blackmailing men for money and taking a complaint back whenever their conditions are accepted. This way, there is more misuse of the law.”
The members are conducting counselling sessions every Sunday at Indira Park for those affected by anti-dowry laws. Most of the victims belong to middle and upper middle class, they claim. Sai Maruthi, a female member of SIF, observed that ‘proper parenting’ and ‘pre-marriage counselling’ could go a long way in curbing undesirable situations arising out of a marriage.
There are more than 50 laws favouring women but they are being used to harass and trouble men
T.R. Parthasarathy
Save Indian Family (SIF) Trust founder
