Supreme Court to Hear PIL Seeking Guidelines for Addressing Domestic Violence against Married Men and National Commission for Men

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on July 3, which calls for the formulation of guidelines to address the issue of suicide among married men who are victims of domestic violence. The PIL also advocates for the establishment of a 'National Commission for Men' to protect the interests of this demographic. The case will be heard by Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta.

Supreme Court to Hear PIL Seeking Action Against Domestic Violence on Married Men and National Commission for Men

PIL Highlights Disturbing Statistics: 

Advocate Mahesh Kumar Tiwari filed the PIL, citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) published in 2021. The data reveals that out of the total 1,64,033 suicides reported that year, 81,063 were married men and 28,680 were married women. The petition highlights that approximately 33.2% of men took their own lives due to family problems, while 4.8% were due to marriage-related issues. In 2021, 1,18,979 men (72%) and 45,026 women (27%) committed suicide, based on the provided NCRB data.

Call for Intervention and Guidelines: 

The PIL urges the National Human Rights Commission to address the issue of suicide among married men and to accept complaints from men facing domestic violence. Additionally, it requests the Union of India (respondent no.1) to issue comprehensive guidelines, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, to police authorities and Station House Officers in every police station. These guidelines would ensure that complaints from victims of domestic violence, as well as those experiencing family problems or marriage-related issues, are accepted and processed accordingly. Until appropriate legislation is enacted by the Government of India, the complaints would be referred to the State Human Rights Commission for necessary action.

Recommendation for a National Commission for Men: 

The plea also proposes a recommendation or directive to the Law Commission of India to conduct research on the suicides of married men facing domestic violence or dealing with family and marriage-related problems. The objective is to compile a report that would support the establishment of a dedicated forum, similar to the National Commission for Men, to address the specific needs and concerns of men in society.

The forthcoming PIL hearing in the Supreme Court aims to address the distressing issue of domestic violence against married men and the subsequent rise in suicide cases. The petition stresses the importance of formulating guidelines to protect male victims and the establishment of a National Commission for Men. Through these measures, it is hoped that steps can be taken to safeguard the well-being and rights of married men who face domestic violence and related challenges.