Domestic Violence Among Spouses Normalised In India

Pooja K & Suruthi Sundari N, School of Excellence in Law, Chennai

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence among spouses is prevalent in India. Post-Vedic period, the institution of marriage which was once considered sacred and uniting the parties in an indissoluble union has gradually lost its object. During Vedic period, both the husband and the wife had equal footing, the wife had an honored position in the household. In the present scenario, although the provisions for protection of women, their equality, their welfare, their growth and development and the remedy for the depletion of which is said to be easily available, is it actually?

In India, the concept of domestic violence, whether mental or physical abuse, amounts to cruelty, but is being normalized and the extent of hurt is calculative. Everything between the married couple stays between them is what the society would expect, the fact that intervention by any other party not involved in the marriage is considered unethical but not the part where the act of inflicting violence, it is justified in the end. Even after 77 years of independence, women still struggle to fit in society and have to live by the standards set by it. Divorced women are always considered culpable, even if it is not their fault, once a woman is divorced the society would hold her accountable and criticize her for being unorthodox. So, women are usually supposed to endure and remain in the failed, abusive marriage until either of them is dead.

Abuse is still abuse, no matter the extent of hurt, the remedy must be utilized exhaustively, the aggrieved party must be awarded justice and the country must uphold their virtue. Violence against women reflects the pathetic reality that women are just not safe and secure.