Supreme Court Urges Women Not to Misuse Protective Laws Against Husbands

The Supreme Court of India has advised women not to misuse stringent laws meant for their protection against harassment by in-laws as weapons against their husbands. The court emphasized that these legal provisions are designed to safeguard women, not to target spouses unfairly. It also remarked that marriage should not be treated as a commercial venture.

Delivering a verdict in a divorce-related case on Thursday, Justice Nagarathna of the Supreme Court made significant observations, stating that maintenance should be reasonable and not intended to impoverish the ex-husband. The court explained that alimony aims to support a wife who depended on her husband during marriage, ensuring she is not left destitute after divorce. However, it clarified that maintenance cannot be fixed to match the ex-husband’s financial status but must be reasonable, based on social conditions and lifestyle.

The court’s remarks gained prominence in the context of the recent suicide of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who reportedly faced severe emotional distress due to alleged harassment by his wife, including demands for hefty alimony and repeated legal complaints. His suicide note and self-recorded video became a nationwide sensation, sparking widespread discussions on social media about the misuse of protective laws against men.