PATIALA: Members of the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF) today opened the Patiala  chapter for the families who have been implicated in false dowry. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Red Cross Bhawan, here today.

The Chapter will be headed by a local resident of Patiala Abhishek, who is also a victim of this gross injustice and abuse that happen in Indian Legal system. A meeting will be held every Sunday at the Baradari Gardens (Near Sheranwala Gate) from 5 P.M. The Patiala Chapter will be having a separate helpline for the families in order to seek family and guidance.

The Helpline numbers are: 9780911550. 9855771507, 9888009199, 9988293457.

A team of Chandigarh Chapter of the Save Indian Family who felt that there is an urgent need of opening a Chapter in Patiala was present at the conference.

Several authorities have noted that in close to 98% of cases filed under Section 498A, there no conviction, which means that this law is misused and grossly ineffective (Reference CSR research report) and that the complaints were only filed with ulterior motives.

Renowned former IPS officer Kiran Bedi admitted that many poor and illiterate mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, who are falsely charged under IPC Section 498A, are languishing in prison every year.

The Supreme Court of India has labeled the misuse of IPC Section 498A as “legal terrorism” (Reference: Writ Petition (civil) 141 of 2005, Sushil Kumar Sharma Vs Union of India and Ors.).

The Delhi High Court recently stated that IPC Section 498A is the most abused provision. The World Health Organization, in its report on India clearly cited Section 498A as one of the major reasons for the “Increasing Abuse of the Elderly in India”.

Recently, the National Human Rights Commission noted that the Tihar jail is overflowing with people falsely accused under dowry cases.

More than two-thirds of married Men in India between the ages of 15 and 49 are victims of forced sex by their girlfriends and in more than 78% cases the men had been booked under Rape cases, as they refused to marry their girlfriends.

Crime against men is increasing with a Growth rate of 42% in last 5 years, whereas the media and government have never even bothered to disclose the same in front of Public. Sexual harassment and refusal of sex has happened with more than 82% Indian men as their wives refused for physical union at least once in 6 months and 42% have faced once in 3 months.

“There is a provision, wherein taking and giving dowry is an offence. However, police are quick to register an FIR against husbands and their families for seeking dowry, but not a single FIR has been registered against girls or their families for giving dowry”, said Arun Kumar , coordinator, Chandigarh chapter.

“Misuse of anti-dowry laws and other woman-protection laws has now become a well recognized problem in India. Increasing number of aged parents, sisters and children in the husband’s family are falsely accused and arrested under these in-humane’ laws, and find them defenceless against the harassment unleashed thereafter”, said Vikas Kapur , coordinator , Chandigarh Chapter.

More than 98% of Indian husbands face Domestic violence at least once from their wife on an average 3 Years of Marriage in terms of economical abuse, mental harassment, relationship cheating. More than 22,000 Indian Men have ended their life in reverse dowry Harassment by their wives against 6800 wives who ended their life due to dowry harassment by their husbands.

In all the 6800 cases the Indian husbands had been sent behind bars without any investigation and more than 68% found to be innocent, where as in the 22,000 cases only 6 cases had been registered and not a single woman has been questioned as to why their Husbands ended their life, let alone any punishment.

Crime against men is increasing with a Growth rate of 42% in last 5 years, whereas the media and government have never even bothered to disclose the same in front of Public. Sexual harassment and refusal of sex has happened with more than 82% Indian men as their wives refused for physical union at least once in 6 months and 42% have faced once in 3 months.

“The World Health Organization identified misuse of IPC Section 498A as the prominent reason for elder abuse in India. The Supreme Court of India has described the misuse of IPC Section 498A as ‘Legal Terrorism’, and stressed that the law must be amended in order to protect the innocent, and to ensure justice to the genuinely aggrieved. Rational and responsible citizens from all over the country and abroad have repeatedly warned that these laws in their present form are detrimental to family harmony, and left unchecked, these laws have enormous potential to shatter marital and family stability in years to come”, added Arun.

Due to lack of social support and legal protection many male victims of domestic abuse are taking their lives every day. Recently, the increasing threat of false cases is also driving many married men to commit suicide.

“False cases are severely hampering the personal and professional lives of the most productive section of the Indian population. Aspirations of young men and women are being crushed, and their most fruitful years are being wasted in litigation. Many men have lost their jobs or have had to quit their professions as a result of the never-ending legalized harassment”, said Vikas.