New Delhi: A charged and thought-provoking debate on the misuse of women-protection laws took centre stage at the We Women Want 2025 Conclave and Shakti Awards, with panelists urging reforms to ensure gender neutrality in legislation like the Domestic Violence Act and Dowry Prohibition Act.
Moderated by NewsX Editorial Director Priya Sahgal, the session brought together activist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj, senior legal practitioner Dr. Alka Chaturvedi, and Rupam Mishra, whose brother died by suicide after allegedly facing false domestic violence charges. The discussion challenged one-sided narratives and questioned whether current laws, while enacted with noble intent, risk undermining justice when misused.
Bhardwaj cited rising cases of false accusations under Section 498A and rape charges linked to failed relationships, stressing the devastating personal, financial, and social fallout for accused men and their families. Mishra’s emotional testimony described her family’s ruin following her brother’s ordeal, calling for legal accountability for false complainants.
Dr. Chaturvedi criticised systemic flaws in the judicial process, from overburdened courts to inadequate training, and flagged Section 69 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—which criminalises men for not marrying after consensual relationships — as “gender-biased and absurd.”
