Supreme Court declines to entertain PIL on misuse of women-centric laws

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a PIL for declaring provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act as unconstitutional, and asked the petitioner to approach the Parliament to address her issue.

"Sorry. We are not inclined. Dismissed. Go and tell the Parliament," a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran told the petitioner.

The petitioner Rupshi Singh contended these laws adversely affect men.

"The laws are invalid and I am a public spirited person. Please issue appropriate directions and/or orders," she said, asking the court to declare Sections 2, 3, 4 and 8A of the Act as unconstitutional.

The PIL alleged misuse and abuse of the women-centric laws.

The petitioner cited malice in law and the unreasonableness contained in the provisions.

She also questioned the validity of the laws related to Dowry Prohibition Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, and the provision on cruelty to women in the IPC, claiming these laws are being misutilised.

She sought a direction from the apex court to the central government and other authorities for protection of men against the atrocities committed by women in filing false complaints, abusing the very laws that were meant to protect them from harm.

The PIL said that the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 is discriminatory on the ground of religion and further assailed the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 as being women-centric and discriminatory against men.