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Market Watch
📈The Sensex rose 0.02% to close at 81,526.14 points, while the Nifty gained 0.13% to end at 24,641.80 points
📈Defensive sectors, including FMCG and pharmaceuticals, experienced an uptick. Additionally, the metals sector saw gains driven by optimism surrounding potential stimulus measures from China.
📈Sectoral trends were mixed, with FMCG, auto, and IT posting modest gains, while energy and banking saw slight declines. Notably, broader indices extended their upward momentum, with the small-cap index hitting a fresh record high
ICYMI
📜 Scammers have earned over ₹1 crore by abusing Myntra's refund feature, exploiting loopholes in the e-commerce platform’s return policies.
🏏 Team India has been warned to be cautious about a pre-Christmas Gabba Test as challenging conditions at the venue could impact their performance.
🛡️ South Korea's ex-defense minister reportedly attempted suicide in custody following allegations of plotting a failed martial law bid.
📰 Journalist associations have condemned Mohan Babu's actions, demanding an apology for behavior deemed unacceptable towards the press.
💼 Zepto's HR head has resigned amid toxic work culture accusations, with the company CEO now overseeing hiring processes.
💡 LIC's Bima Sakhi Yojana, launched by PM Modi, aims to empower women through insurance benefits tailored to their needs.
‘They don’t care about us‘
Following the tragic suicide of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, allegedly driven by his wife's harassment, a significant social media outcry has emerged, demanding justice for the deceased and the establishment of a National Commission for Men, akin to the existing commission for women.
This demand finds its roots in National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on suicides, which Atul himself referenced in court, highlighting that married men also face substantial mental harassment.
In today’s newsletter, we delve into the findings of this study and recent judicial pronouncements that shed light on the misuse of Section 498A, which pertains to the criminal offence of cruelty against a married woman by her husband or his relatives.
Notably, this provision has now been incorporated under Article 84 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
Suicide rates and the reason: The NCRB report on suicides in India for 2022 has brought attention to a concerning trend: the disproportionately high suicide rates among married men compared to married women.
Out of the 170,924 total suicides reported across the country, 83,713 were married men, a figure nearly 1.73 times higher than the 30,771 suicides recorded for married women.
This stark difference is reflected in the overall male-to-female suicide ratio of approximately 72.5:27.5, with married men representing a particularly vulnerable demographic.
Leading causes: The leading cause of suicide among married men is family-related issues, accounting for 31.7% of cases. These include conflicts within the household, marital discord, and other relational stresses that can take a severe toll on mental health.
Illnesses, both physical and mental, are another significant factor, contributing to 18.4% of these suicides.
Relationship issues, including extramarital and love affairs, also factor into the crisis. For instance, 872 male suicides were specifically linked to extramarital relationships, highlighting the emotional and societal pressures associated with such situations.
Economic pressures also play a critical role. As primary breadwinners, many married men face immense financial stress, especially during periods of job loss or instability, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and failure.
Additionally, mental health conditions, particularly depression, remain a significant yet under-addressed contributor to these statistics. The lack of adequate mental health support and the stigma surrounding seeking help further aggravates the situation.
Age group among men: 2022 data reveals alarming trends in the age distribution of victims, with young adults bearing the brunt of the crisis. Out of the record-high 171,000 suicides reported that year, individuals aged 18 to 30 years made up the largest demographic, accounting for approximately 35% of the total cases.
The next most affected group was individuals aged 30 to 45 years, comprising about 32% of the total suicides. Together, these two age brackets—spanning from 18 to 45 years—represented a staggering 67% of all suicides in the country.
Supreme Court comments on misuse of Article 498A: The Supreme Court of India has raised alarm over the growing misuse of Section 498A of the IPC, particularly in marital disputes, a concern highlighted by cases like the tragic suicide of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who accused his wife and in-laws of harassment.
Originally intended to shield women from cruelty, the provision is increasingly exploited as a tool for personal vendetta.
The court noted that vague allegations are often used to pressure husbands and their families, leading to the misuse of legal processes. Emphasizing the need for evidence-based accusations, the court cautioned against implicating distant relatives without substantial proof.
"In recent years, as there have been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A of the IPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife. Making vague and generalised allegations during matrimonial conflicts, if not scrutinized, will lead to the misuse of legal processes and an encouragement for use of arm twisting tactics by a wife and/or her family," the judgment said.
"We are not, for a moment, stating that any woman who has suffered cruelty in terms of what has been contemplated under Section 498A of the IPC should remain silent and forbear herself from making a complaint or initiating any criminal proceeding. That is not the intention of our aforesaid observations but we should not encourage a case like as in the present one, where as a counterblast to the petition for dissolution of marriage sought by the first appellant-husband of the second respondent herein, a complaint under Section 498A of the IPC is lodged by the latter," the Court observed.
Karnataka Judge says, ‘Let her earn’: The Karnataka High Court recently scrutinized a high-profile case where a woman demanded ₹6.16 lakh per month in maintenance from her estranged husband, sparking debate over the fairness of such claims.
Justice Lalitha Kanneganti, presiding over the matter, strongly questioned the reasonableness of the woman's expenses, which included ₹50,000 for legal fees, ₹60,000 for food, and additional costs for clothing and medical treatment.
The court emphasized that maintenance should address genuine needs and not serve as a financial penalty for the husband.
Justice Kanneganti remarked that if the woman wished to sustain such a high standard of living, she should consider earning it herself, especially as she had no dependents or familial obligations.
Editor’s PoV: The growing demand for a National Commission for Men stems from the alarming data on suicide rates among married men, the misuse of legal provisions like Section 498A, and the absence of institutional support to address the unique challenges faced by men.
Such a commission could serve as a platform to highlight issues like mental health, economic pressures, and harassment, ensuring a fair and balanced approach to gender justice.
It is important to clarify that advocating for this initiative is not intended to undermine the National Commission for Women or dismiss the genuine struggles faced by women.
Rather, it seeks to complement existing mechanisms by recognizing and addressing the vulnerabilities of men in a rapidly changing social framework.
Clip du jour
LoP Rahul Gandhi asks Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to be punctual, Randhawa hits back, “Sir, we come on time, you do not.”
What’s happening | Winter session of the Parliament
The Lok Sabha is scheduled to hold a two-day debate on the Constitution, starting tomorrow i.e. on December 13 and 14, 2024, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the session on the final day. This discussion coincides with the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution and reflects a significant demand from opposition parties during the winter session.
A similar debate will follow in the Rajya Sabha on December 16 and 17, initiated by Home Minister Amit Shah. The decision to hold these discussions was reached after an all-party meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, following disruptions in parliamentary proceedings since November 25.
Hi, I’m Aniket Mishra, the editor of this newsletter. I’d love to hear some feedback on the newsletter. WhatsApp me directly and tell me what you think.
