NEW DELHI: BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, urged the government to make domestic violence and harassment laws gender-neutral.
“There is a need for a balanced law for both men and women,” he said.
Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, he highlighted that 72% of suicide victims in 2022 were men, with a sharp rise in those citing domestic reasons. “As per National Crime Records Bureau, of those who died by suicide in India in 2022, 72% were men – more than 1,25,000 men died by suicide. Around 47,000 women had died by suicide. Between 2014 and 2021, there was a rise in the ratio of men and women dying by suicide. In this duration, 107.5% more men mentioned domestic reasons as the reason for suicide,” he said, justifying his stance.
“Our laws have made progress in protecting women domestic violence and harassment. But the lack of such laws for protecting men is a matter of concern,” he added.
Sharma also referenced the recent case of Atul Subhash from Bihar, stressing the lack of legal and emotional support for men facing false allegations. “This incident highlights that there is not enough legal and emotional support for men facing false allegations. The misuse of sections like Sec 85 of BNS is a matter of concern too. I urge the Minister to make laws related to domestic violence and harassment gender-neutral so that everyone gets justice,” he said.
The mentioned case reference points to 34-year old techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide at his residence in Munnekolalu, Marathahalli on December 9 last year. He left behind a detailed 24-page suicide note and a video recording, where he held his wife and her family responsible for tormenting him. The accusations included lodging eight fabricated police reports against him and seeking Rs 3 crore for divorce settlement, plus an additional Rs 30 lakh to allow him to meet his son.