Suicide by married men: SC refuses to entertain PIL for setting up of 'National Commission for Men'

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking direction to frame guidelines to deal with suicide by married men due to domestic violence and set up of a 'National Commission for Men' to safeguard their interests.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Dutta, however, granted petitioner-advocate Mahesh Tiwari liberty to pursue a representation sent to the Union government.

The petitioner sought a direction also to carry out research on the issue of suicides of married men suffering from various issues including domestic violence.

"If you expect us to hold that these husbands have committed suicide due to harassment by their wife, you are sadly mistaken," the bench told the petitioner.

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The court, however, said that no one wanted to commit suicide and it depended on the facts of the cases. There are adequate provisions to address such issues, it added.

The court also said that there should not be misplaced sympathy for anyone as it asked the petitioner if he would be able to give data of young girls dying soon after marriage.

"You just want to portray a one-sided picture. Can you give us the data of young girls dying soon after marriage? Nobody wants to commit suicide, it depends on the facts of an individual case," the bench told the petitioner.

Tiwari, in his plea, sought a direction to the Centre to issue proper guidelines to authorities concerned to address the complaint of victims of domestic violence.

He pleaded for a direction to the Law Commission India to carry out research on the issue of suicides of married men who are suffering from domestic violence or family problem and marriage related issues.

Referring to the rapid increase in the suicide ratio of the men in the country due to family problems, the petitioner submitted that about 80,00,000 people died by suicide worldwide every year.

In the year 2021 in India, 1,64,033 people have committed suicide according to the data provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The rate of suicide is 12 in per one lakh population which is highest rate of deaths from suicide since 1967, the petition said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, suicide is an emerging and serious public health issue in India, his plea said.

The petitioner claimed suicides during the year 2021 increased by 7.2% in comparison to previous years with India reporting highest number of such deaths in the world.