Supreme Court refuses to entertain a plea seeking to set up a national commission to address the issue of suicide by married men

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea which sought framing of guidelines to address the issue of suicide by married men due to domestic violence. In the plea, formation of a national commission for men was requested. 

—

ON Monday, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the formation of a national commission for men in order to deal with suicide by married men subjected to domestic violence. 

The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta observed that the petition portrayed a one-sided picture.

Also read: The Indian domestic violence scenario is chilling

The Bench was hearing a petition filed by advocate Mahesh Tiwari under which the petitioner had also sought directions to the concerned departments of the government of India like the National Human Rights Commission to look into the incidents of suicide by married men subjected to domestic violence.

Citing data published by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in 2021, Tiwari stated that as many as 81,063 of the 1,64,033 people who had committed suicide were married men, while only 28,680 were married women.

Also read: Allahabad High Court's comments on interfaith live-in relationships a step in the wrong direction

The Bench questioned the justiciability of the petition and inquired if Advocate Tiwari could provide similar data to the court regarding young girls dying soon after marriage.

It was also stated by the Bench that such aggrieved persons are not remediless and there are several other laws to take care of such situations.

However, the court granted liberty to Tiwari to pursue his arguments before the government of India and accordingly the petition was withdrawn.

Tiwari, through his petition, also urged the court to ask the Law Commission of India to look into the issue raised by him. He alleged that he has submitted a representation to the Union home ministry on the matter but no action has been taken till now.