Press Release : Trial By Media is Violation of Human Rights

  P R E S S R E L E A S E

 

NGO SUBMITS PETITION

TO

Karnataka State Human Rights Commission

Trial By Media is Violation of Human Rights

About National Family Harmony Society®: “National Family Harmony Society®” NFHS is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) promoting the cause of “family harmony” and “gender equality”. It is registered under “The Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960” and is based in Bangalore. We have branches in more than 16 states and in abroad too. We have approximately 14500 members all over India. To know more about us please visit http://www.family-harmony.org / http://www.498a.org.in.

Subject: Members of “National Family Harmony Society® today met officials of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and submitted a petition regarding print and electronic media telecasting/publishing lies and half-truths about family disputes between husbands and wives in the name of news, and resorting to defamation of husbands and their family members by calling them criminals, crooks, cheats, frauds, blood-thirsty demons, money-hungry wolves, and similar terms merely based on the self-serving statements of a complainant wife, thus damaging to the dignity of accused persons. 

“It has become a regular practice for Newspapers and TV News Channels to publish/telecast disputes between wives and husbands and matters which are subjudice or under investigation, in the name of news” said president of NFHS, P Suresh. 

Every news story of this nature has certain common elements – 

“Portraying the wife as weak, helpless creature having low self-esteem, but flawless in their interactions with the husband and his family members, and as innocent victims of the evil practice of dowry. Portraying the husband and his kin as criminal-minded, sadistic persons who constantly harass the young wives for dowry.” said General Secretary of NFHS, M Mahesh.   

“Channels are competing with each other to invent new terms to paint the husband and his family members as the worst villains and making assumptions about the guilt of the husband and his family members merely based on allegations of the complainant wife. They are also passing generalized remarks demeaning all men and passing verdicts about the appropriate punishment for the accused husband and his family members.” said Executive member of NFHS, Ragenvendra Naik.  

“News Channels have been pitching a wife as a damsel in distress and the husband and his family members as crooks and pitting them against each other for jerking the last drop of tear out of the viewers’ eyes and to arouse unjustified anger against the accused, to keep the viewers glued to their TV sets and boost the TRPs of the respective Channels. Newspapers and News Channels, through their gut-wrenching commentary, are building unnecessary pressure on the Police and Judiciary, prejudicing the viewers and making the society arrest-hungry.” said Executive member of NFHS, Kiran.  

“Such irresponsible reporting of sensational lies and half-truths on disputes between a married couple, in the name of news, causes immeasurable damage to the accused, most of whom are decent, law-abiding citizens, and also have their version of the story which they may or may not want to share with the media. The media, emboldened by the dysfunctional judiciary brazenly resorts to damaging the reputation of the accused knowing well that a person already embroiled in court cases which will take years for disposal, may not take a chance and file a case of damages or defamation.” said Executive member of NFHS, Uday Reddy.  

“Conducting trial by media by publishing/telecasting one-sided versions or forcing the husband and his family to face the TV camera under the threat or risk of being discredited, making unsubstantiated allegations and defamatory statements against the accused, giving derogatory titles to the accused, conducting media trial and passing one-sided verdicts, thus discrediting the accused before the case has been heard or concluded in the Court, all amount to violation of the human rights of the accused. In addition, making generalized statements demeaning all men also amounts to blatant violation of the human rights of fifty percent of the country’s population.” said Executive member of NFHS, Hussain. 

“The physical and mental health of many accused individuals, especially elders, are affected because of maligning their personal and family reputation and many young men, their sisters and their aged parents have committed suicides unable to withstand the trauma caused by media trial and defamation in addition to prolonged uphill legal battles.” says Executive member of NFHS, Umesh. 

National Family Harmony Society® Appeal to KSHRC: 

NFHS appeal to the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission to please render justice to victims of media malice by 

v  Directing all newspapers and news channels to stop publishing/telecasting of family disputes between wife and husband as news. 

v  Directing all newspapers and news channels to stop making one-sided statements and conducting media trial on an accused husband and his family members. 

v  Directing all newspapers and news channels to render a public apology for giving horrendous titles to an accused husband and his family members. 

v  Directing all newspapers and news channels to stop making derogatory statements on men as a group and to render a public apology for the damage already done to the reputation of men as a group. 

v  Issuing directives such that in case the accused husband or his family members commit suicide unable to bear the trauma of media trial and public humiliation, the respective Newspapers and TV Channels will be required to compensate and pay for the defamation and damages, without the need for the victims of media-trial having to fight another tedious losing legal battle against powerful media houses. 

v  Issuing directives to stop media Discussions on ANY matter which is subjudice or under investigation, especially those related to family disputes, and the Hon’ble Forum may make provisions to file suo moto cases of contempt of court in case of violation of this directive. 

Helpline operated by NFHS in Bangalore 

• 9880141531, P Suresh, President, National Family Harmony Society
• 9731569970, M Mahesh, General Secretary, National Family Harmony Society

For more information please contact 

P Suresh, President,                                           M Mahesh, General Secretary, 

9880141531                                                     9731569970 

National Family Harmony Society                        National Family Harmony Society 

You are also requested to visit 

www.498a.org.in / www.family-harmony.org / http://498amisuse.wordpress.com/

False case against hubby, in-laws ground for divorce: HC

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Mumbai, Apr 18 (PTI):

Sunday, April 18, 2010

In a significant order, Bombay High Court has held that a false criminal case filed by an estranged wife for harassment against her husband and in-laws amounted to cruelty and was sufficient ground to seek divorce.

“In our view, embarrassment, humiliation and suffering that is caused on account of arrest of a husband and his family members in a false case constitutes mental cruelty to enable the husband to seek divorce on this sole ground”, a bench observed recently while granting divorce to a couple. Justice A P Deshpande and Justice R P Sondurbaldota, however, disagreed with a family court’s order that a single complaint filed by a wife against her husband and in-laws does not indicate tendency of the wife to make false allegations. “We fail to understand the logic behind the reasoning adopted by the family court to hold that a singular complaint of this nature under section 498A IPC resulting in arrest and detention of family members and relatives thereby causing embarrassment, humiliation and suffering does not constitute mental cruelty. It is illogical that more than one complaint is necessary to constitute mental cruelty”, the bench noted. “In our opinion, the approach of the family court is wholly perverse and its reasoning cannot be sustained in law. We are of the view that cumulative effect of the behaviour and conduct of the wife is good enough to draw an inference that she has caused utmost mental pain and suffering which amounts to mental cruelty to the husband and hence he is entitled for divorce on the ground of cruelty,” they said.

Court asks police to lodge FIR against bride for giving dowry

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/58931/court-asks-police-lodge-fir.html

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New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI)

Friday, March 19, 2010

A Delhi court has directed the police to register an FIR against a woman and her family members, who alleged dowry harassment by her husband and in-laws, for meeting their demands during the marriage.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Bansal directed the police to proceed against the woman and her parents under the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act.”In my considered view at this stage, it appears that the accused persons (woman and her parents) are accomplice and the present complaint discloses the offence under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961. Thus, the SHO concerned is directed to register the FIR and conduct investigation as per law,” ACMM Bansal said. Sameer Saxena and his family members were accused of committing cruelty with his wife by harassing her for dowry. The wife, in an FIR with Roop Nagar police station, claimed her family members had given huge dowry to Saxena at the time of their marriage. Saxena’s counsel Ganganpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh submitted that in the FIR the woman had herself admitted giving huge dowry, which was an offence under the statute. They filed an application in the court seeking registration of the FIR against the woman and her family members. The counsel also referred to a Delhi High Court judgement support their contention, besides a circular issued by the Commissioner of Police, which stated that a woman can be prosecuted if she allegedly gave dowry.

Judges Accountability Bill ready: Moily

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/73938/judges-accountability-bill-ready-moily.html

 

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New Delhi, Jun 7, (PTI):

Monday, June 07, 2010

A long-delayed controversial bill on accountability of judges will be taken up by the Union Cabinet at its next meeting amid the government’s assertion that the proposed law was aimed at ensuring that no fingers are pointed at the judiciary.Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily told reporters in an interview that the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010, had been finalised after exhaustive studies and examination of such legislations existing across the world. It has been cleared by Group of Ministers, to which it was referred in March this year following differences of opinion in the Cabinet. The bill would now come up before the Cabinet for approval, Moily said. Asked whether the Cabinet would take up the bill this week, he replied in the affirmative. “Once cleared by the Cabinet, we hope to table it in the coming Monsoon session of Parliament,” Moily said. Moily said the bill will “facilitate the judiciary to ensure that nobody points any finger at them…it is a result of an exhaustive study of eight months and we have examined various legislations of the world (to draft it).” Terming the bill as “state-of-the-art”, he said it would make judiciary “accountable” for its acts of omission and commission and “clear clouds over corruption”. Several Cabinet members had found flaws in the Bill when it came up before the Union Cabinet in March this year. Home Minister P Chidambaram and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, both lawyers, had found flaws in the bill like the quantum of punishment for a judge if found guilty of misconduct. Subsequently, the GoM, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and including Chidambaram, Sibal and Moily, was formed to deliberate on the contentious legislation. One of the contentious clauses in the bill was the provision for “minor reprimands” for judges for acts of omission and commission. When the bill came to the Cabinet on March 15, Chidambaram and Sibal had reportedly expressed reservations about the particular clause. They had reportedly said that a judge can either be guilty or not guilty and there was no justification to have a clause on minor reprimands. The bill proposes that a judge can be warned, taken off work, censured or admonished, depending upon the misconduct. But if the violation is serious in nature, the judge can also be impeached. There was also disagreement on whether the Judges Enquiry Act, 1968 should be repealed altogether as the proposed bill seeks to do. The bill, in its present form, lays down a code to deal with cases of corruption against judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts. It also seeks to repeal the four decade-old Judges Enquiry Act,1968 which deals with the process of impeachment of senior judges. The bill provides for a series of committees to probe the allegations against judges before an impeachment motion is introduced in either house of Parliament. While there will be one Scrutiny Committee for the Supreme Court, the other will be for the 21 high courts. The bill proposes to set up a National Judicial Oversight Committee, likely to be headed by the Vice-President in his capacity as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha with distinguished jurists as members that will receive the complaints against the sitting judges.

Gagged, framed, fined and punished

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/24651/else-where.html

Sharon Verma examines how laws meant to empower women sometimes serve as weapons that perpetuate large-scale human rights abuse against men, women and children 

 
Laws designed to protect some women (read wives) often bring suffering to other women (read mothers and sisters). That’s why Hyderabad-based Uma Challa set up a forum called All India Forgotten Women (AIFW) in 2005. AIFW, Challa says, was “launched in response to the large-scale arrests of women, falsely accused, under IPC Section 498A”.

Section 498A was made part of the Indian Penal Code in 1983 and it reads: ‘Whoever being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be imprisoned for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.’

Section 498A is non-bailable and cognizable (i.e., the person(s) can be arrested without investigation or a warrant on a report from a woman or her close relative).
AIFW was formally registered in 2008 after Challa saw “how women were being victimised by the very laws that claim to protect them”.

Her forum fights the misuse of  the Domestic Violence Act, adultery laws, laws against rape and sexual harassment, family laws (divorce, maintenance and child custody) and, of course, IPC Section 498A.

AIFW also organises seminars, protests and awareness campaigns to highlight how laws actually meant to empower women sometimes serve as weapons that perpetuate large-scale human rights abuse against men, women and children. It counsels families that have been victimised by the misuse of such laws.

Women like Ashita have approached AIFW for aid and advice very often. Ashita’s former daughter-in-law slapped a case of dowry harassment on her and her son six years ago. The girl claimed that her in-laws had removed her jewellery from her bank locker. Ashita says she has enough evidence to disprove the allegations, but the case has been dragging on in a court in Kerala for the last six years.

In another case, Sushmita, a retired professor, and her 70-year-old husband have been accused of taking dowry from their former daughter-in-law. “My life has become hell after my former daughter-in-law accused us of demanding Rs 5 lakh a day before the wedding,” says Sushmita.

 Sreela’s brother and sister-in-law had a row soon after they got married. Her brother’s in-laws reportedly threatened her mother that they would file false cases against her if she did not give her son and daughter-in-law a share in her property. Sreela’s mother is  a widow and the mental torture she is facing, according to her daughter, is “unbearable”.
Sreela feels disturbed to see her mother suffer, but admits that there is nothing she can do. “Section 498A of the IPC was drafted to protect married women from being subjected to cruelty by their husband and in-laws. But with almost every other marital spat being turned into a dowry harassment case, the law is in constant danger of being misused,” says Challa.

According to Internet reports quoting National Crime Records Bureau figures, more than  1.2 lakh women have been falsely implicated under Section 498A. Challa says it is time the Indian government takes appropriate measures so that nobody is harassed unjustly in the future.

3 booked for dowry harassment

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=39084

Category »  Madhya Pradesh Posted On Sunday, June 20, 2010
By Our Staff Reporter
Dhar, June 20:
A case has been registered against three people in connection with the suicide by a woman in a dowry harassment case at Bicholi village, police said.
Rekha Bai (25) had committed suicide by consuming poison.
Investigation revealed that she was being harassed for dowry by her in-laws who were demanding one car and Rs one lakh.
A case was registered against her husband Anil, mother-in-law Ramubai and brother-in-law Prem Singh.

Ahlawat’s anticipatory bail plea rejected

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=38758

Category »  Nation Posted On Wednesday, June 16, 2010
United News of India
Yamunanagar, June 16:
A local court today rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) M S Ahlawat, accused of outraging the modesty of a woman lawyer in 2002.
Mr Ahlawat had applied for anticipatory bail in the case on June 10 which came up for hearing today in the court of Sessions Judge R C Godhara.
The judge had earlier today, reserved his order after hearing the arguments of both sides. The details of the order are awaited. 
The police had registered a case on June 8 against Ahlawat at city police station here on the charges of sexual harassment of woman lawyer Arvinder Kaur in 2002 when he was the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Yamunanagar.
The victim, Arvinder Kaur, had alleged that she had to meet Ahlawat in connection with a dowry harassment case filed by her against her husband and his family. 
She alleged that Ahlawat called her to his camp office at his residence and tried to outrage her modesty.
On the earlier hearing on June 14, the complainant Arvinder Kaur’s lawyer had sought the copies of documents filed with the bail plea of Ahlawat.
The Court had provided him with the photocopies of these documents and set the next date of hearing for today.

State Pulse: MP: Crime against women declines

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=38696

Category »  Editorial Posted On Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The rate of dowry deaths has registered a 3.51 per cent decline. Only 743 such incidents occurred in 2009 against 770 in 2008. The rate of criminal intimidation has come down by 21 per cent- Ataullah Faizan
During the last many years, Madhya Pradesh has scored over other states in many respects. Latest in the series is the overall situation of crimes against women. It is heartening to note that according to the figures projected by the Crime Records Bureau, the rate of crime against women has declined considerably during the last three years. The figures show that In this respect, the situation of Madhya Pradesh is far better than many states. This is despite the fact that more complaints are registered in Madhya Pradesh.
An in-depth analysis of the National Crime Records Bureau shows that during the year 2007, twenty-eight thousand 279 crimes were committed against women in the state while the number of crimes against women came down to 27 thousand 111 in the year 2008 and 27 thousand 95 in the year 2009. Importantly, the number of serious crimes against women has also come down constantly. The number of such crimes was 1035 in 2007, 1025 in 2008 and 933 in 2009. The incidents of molestation have also come down by 0.76 per cent. Their number was 7 thousand 339 in 2007, 6 thousand 617 in 2008 and 6 thousand 567 in 2009.
What is significant is that the rate of dowry deaths has registered a 3.51 per cent decline. Only 743 such incidents occurred in 2009 against 770 in 2008. The rate of criminal intimidation has come down by 21 per cent. In the year 2007, six thousand 211 such incidents had occurred which declined to 5 thousand 619 in 2008 and 4 thousand 435 in the year 2009. Two thousand 896 rape cases were reported in the year 2007 which came down to 2 thousand 846 in 2009.
According to the figures released by Crime Records Bureau, Madhya Pradesh is far better than many states in respect of crime against women. Figures look different due to their placed under different heads in the national and state bureaus. According to the national bureau, 14 thousand 908 crimes were committed against women in Madhya Pradesh in 2008 at the rate of 21.4 per cent while such crimes were 15 thousand 370 in the year 2007 at the rate of 22.5 per cent.
A comparative study shows that during the same period 24 thousand 111 crimes were committed against women in Andhra Pradesh at the rate of 29.2 per cent while this rate was 27 per cent in Assam and 23.6 per cent in Kerala. During this period, 15 thousand 862 crimes were committed against women in Maharashtra, 23 thousand 569 in Uttar Pradesh and 20 thousand 912 in West Bengal.
It is also very satisfactory that constant efforts have been undertaken in Madhya Pradesh during the last many years for making police more sensitive about crimes against women and providing more security to them. At present, nine Mahila police stations are in operation in the state and proposals for setting up 41 more women’s police stations are under consideration. Women’s helplines have been started in big cities where a woman can registered her complaint without revealing her identity. The helpline centres are manned round the clock by trained personnel who try to solve the complainant woman’s problem and give her necessary guidance. At present, 51 women’s helplines are working in 28 districts. Crime against women belonging to scheduled castes are monitored by Scheduled Caste Welfare Police Stations and for this purpose two DSPs are posted in every district.

Dowry case registered against Judge, husband

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=38588

Category »  Madhya Pradesh Posted On Tuesday, June 15, 2010
By Our Staff Reporter
Tikamgarh, June 15:
A case of abetting suicide has been registered against a sitting Judge, her husband – a retired Additional District and Sessions Judge – and their son in a dowry-related matter here.
”A criminal case has been registered against Chief Judge of the Jabalpur Family Court Meena Bhatt, husband Purshottam and son Siddharth on Saturday at the Jatara Police Station,” Superintendent of Police Aakash Jindal said.
Jatara-resident Jagatnath Sharma (54) married his daughter Meena to Siddharth in July 2006 and subsequently, she was being harassed for dowry. After knowing about the harassment being meted out to his daughter, Sharma visited her at the house of couple Meena and Purshottam Bhatt, where he faced misbehaviour by them.
Pained by the treatment given to HIS daughter by her in-laws, Sharma committed suicide on April 7, 2009. Thereafter, a complaint was made in the Jatara Police Station by Sharma’s family against the accused but could not be registered due to the accused holding a judicial post.
The matter was sent for the approval of the High Court to be registered as a case in which the court ruled that it can be registered on the basis of the examination of the suicide note.
Subsequently, on the directives of Sub Divisional Officer (Police) B D S Bundela, a case was registered against the accused on June 12. Judge Ms Meena had been posted as an Additional District Judge in Tikamgarh district headquarters about a decade back.

Minister blows crores on mass wedding; breaks rules

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=37343

 Category »  Madhya Pradesh Posted On Wednesday, June 02, 2010
By Our Staff Reporter
Sagar, June 2:
Madhya Pradesh Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargav is again embroiled in controversy for spending crores while simultaneously solemnising the wedding of more than 1,000 women under the Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana.
Gifts worth crores, collected from government and other sources, were distributed on Monday when the mass marriage took place at the Minister’s native place Garhakota. Mr Bhargav represents Rehli and one of the conditions imposed was that at least one member of each couple must hail from there.
Entire Garhakota wore a festive look as brides, grooms, wedding parties, hoardings and posters were observed everywhere. Large-scale arrangements were made for boarding and lodging.
The Minister and his wife Rekha ceremoniously washed the brides’ feet while their son Abhishek was in charge of gifts’ distribution.
It was announced that gifts of Rs 51,000 would be presented to each couple and this figure was mentioned even in the government press note that followed the event while the ceiling is Rs 10,000 each.
”This is the eighth such wedding I have organised,” said Mr Bhargav who has so far united 7,000 couples in his constituency. A ‘Dahej Vitran Kendra’ (Dowry Distribution Centre) was set up for distributing gifts that had the Minister’s name printed on them and the wall clock had his photograph. Gifts included television sets, fans, compact disc players, chairs, cots, gold and silver jewellery, liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, watches, mattresses, sheets and copies of the ‘Ramcharitmanas’.
The couples included those from various castes, 26 Muslim pairs and 19 differently-able couples. As many as 250 priests were called and each given Rs 500, a shawl and coconut. Barbers, washer men and cobblers also offered services while a beauty parlour was set up to deck brides. Firecrackers and band music added to the charm.

Grooms to declare marriage gift list in Orissa

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=38255

Category »  Nation Posted On Friday, June 11, 2010
Agencies
Bhubaneswar, June 11:
Alarmed by the rise in dowry-related crimes, the state government has decided to strengthen the existing anti-dowry law by making it mandatory for grooms to notify list of gifts received during the wedding.
While all couples would have to declare the list of gifts including gold ornaments, cash and other items received during the marriage, grooms who are government servants need to declare that they did not accept any dowry, a government official said today.
Orissa recorded 3,376 dowry related cases in 2008 as against 2,966 in 2006.
“The declaration of the government servant will be submitted with the head of the department,” said the official working in the women and child development department.
The declaration to be submitted by the groom who is a government servant should have the signatures of his wife and her parents and also those of his parents, he added.

Personal Thought: Dowry Act misuse by women

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=36454

Category »  Editorial Posted On Monday, May 24, 2010
Quite often women file/ lodge First Information Report (FIR) allegedly of harassment and return of dowry / gifts at the time of marriage. (Though dowry is banned but gifts of items in marriage especially by bride’s side is still in vogue). In many cases the demand is in lakhs/ crores of rupees. Additionally charges are levied under The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The main idea is to get maximum financial benefit even without any base -just for revenge on not adjusting within new family atmosphere and wrongly blaming the husband and his family members including senior -old persons as this law is heavily in favour of women.
In the present materialistic world, most persons try to get the knot with rich persons having immoveable properties and lucrative salaries or wealthy rich parents. Their sole motive is all luxuries in life and to extract their wealth by women by making false claims on dowry and harassment etc and by man seeking such wealthy girl in question. Unfortunately in the eye of society women are treated as weaker section and most people take their side for most matters -they have a biased opinion that women are always correct in blaming the society or men folk. Who says women are more honest in their dealings?
All in all, it is the need of the hour to make Compulsory List of Dowry / gifts items including cash / other valuable items received as gifts from relatives and friends etc and get it registered along with Marriage Registration within 30 days of performing of marriage with appropriate authorities in the State where marriage takes place. Also all exiting couples whenever got married in the past must do with option that if they do not file such a list than in future their FIR/ case of Dowry / gifts etc shall not be entertained. The list of Dowry / Gift items must be made and signed by both bride and groom’s family heads and be Notarized and scanned copy be filed through E-mail -to make it simple and automatic acknowledgement be generated for it and that is sufficient proof of deposit made. One copy must be kept by groom’s family and other photocopy by bride’s family.
Above suggestions if implemented shall reduce number of court cases. And false cases of dowry and harassment of groom’s family members shall be minimum or just vanish.
All cases of Dowry/ Gifts less than Rupees Five Lakhs be exempted from above suggested changes in the laws. Also no case of Dowry return shall be accepted or FIR registered if the amount is below Rupees Five Lakhs.
On implementation of above suggestions, Lo bhaiya, the number of court cases and FIRs shall be reduced and life of people in the society shall be more peaceful to live in!, What more is needed?

Ex minister booked in dowry case in Haryana

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=36434

Ex minister booked in dowry case in Haryana
Category »  Nation Posted On Sunday, May 23, 2010
By Our Staff Reporter
Jagadhri, May 23:
Daughter of former Haryana Seed Corporation ex chairman Roshan Lal Arya has filed a dowry harrassment case against her father-in-law, Rustam Singh, ex-minister of Madhya Pradesh BJP cabinet, his wife and their son and her husband. According to police sources here today, Dipti, daughter of Arya, has lodged a complaint at police station Yamunanagar alleging that she was severely beaten and harrassed for dowry by her father-in-law Rustam Singh and his wife and her husband Kuldip Singh.
Dipti, who got married to Kuldip in February last year, alleged that Kuldeep and his family began harassing her soon after the marriage and were demanding Rs 50 lakh and a BMW car from her family. Police sources said they have registered a case against the ex-minister and were looking into the matter.

Sr journalist awarded for writing on women’s issues

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=32619

Sr journalist awarded for writing on women’s issues
Category »  Bhopal Posted On Wednesday, April 14, 2010
By Our Staff Reporter
Bhopal, Apr 14:
While economic empowerment of women is a basic tool, such empowerment has led to misuse of legislation against dowry and sexual harassment at workplace and such misuse – though minimal – simply has to cease, opines an expert.
”However, these laws are crucial as – when it comes to dowry cases – the daughter-in-law is benefited 95 per cent of the time,” senior journalist Annapurna Jha – who has written extensively on rights of women and children over the past 19 years – told media persons.
Jha, working as Special Correspondent at the United News of India news agency’s New Delhi headquarters, is in the Madhya Pradesh capital to receive the United Nations Population Fund-Laadli Award for Best Consistent Writing.
In her articles, she examines the stand taken by various political parties on the Women’s Reservation Bill. She also highlights, in various reports, the efforts of women’s organisations and individuals in taking up issues concerning the fairer sex. Jha is a member of the Indian Women’s Press Corps’ Executive Committee.
”When it comes to the workplace, the absence of anti-harassment legislation will lead to ill-intentioned superiors harassing lady colleagues at will. A woman cannot share such episodes with family as the latter will simply discourage her from going to work. Misuse of this law is minimal as, in a male-dominated setting, the complainant’s character is fist suspected,” said Jha.
Born as the third daughter in a Maithili brahman family in Bihar, she became acutely conscious of a set-up where the focus was always on a son’s education and a daughter’s marriage.
”I felt rebellious. My consciousness was dominated by the belief that women should have an identity of their own, not merely economic empowerment. We cannot have 50 per cent of our population confined just to household chores. If women are educated, more of our population will be productive,” she felt.
Pointing out that dowry continues to be a major problem, Ms Jha reminisced her initial years in the national capital when ‘stove-burst’ cases were all too frequent and it was always the daughter-in-law who was in the kitchen at the fatal moment.
”If a woman is empowered, her family and indeed entire society will be empowered,” she added.

Moily announces National Litigation Policy to reduce delays in cases

http://www.theindiapost.com/2010/06/23/moily-announces-national-litigation-policy-to-reduce-delays-in-cases/

23 June : Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has announced National Litigation Policy to reduce pendency and delay in cases which Central Government is a party.

The policy aims at reducing government litigation in courts so that the valuable court time is spent on resolving other pending cases so as to achieve the goal in national legal mission to reduce average pendency time from 15 years to 3 years.

The highlights of the policy include focussing on the core issues involved in the litigation, managing and conducting litigation in a cohesive manner.

It also ensures that bad cases are not needlessly pursued while good cases are won and cases are represented by competent and sensitive legal persons.

Law Minister also said Bhopal like tragedy would not be allowed to happen in future.

Now a Men’s Rights Organisation Supports Shoaib

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?678707

The Save Indian Family Foundation, a men’s rights organisation fighting against misuse of marital laws and domestic violence act, today voiced its concern over section 498 A (harassment) of IPC being filed against Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and reiterated its demand for scrapping it.

“Marriage disputes before, during and after marriage are civil disputes and they have to be tried under a civil court. It has become a regular habit for women and their families to invoke section 498A for every petty dispute in marriage”, the organisation said in a release here.

“It is dangerous if every marriage or relationship dispute is considered a crime by the Government and it sends police to interrogate, counsel or settle these marital disputes. What crime did Shoaib Malik commit that he is victimised in this way?” SIFF activists asked.

“Whether the claims by Ayesha Siddiqui are false or true, that is up to a family court or civil court to decide and give a judgement”, it said.

The Government must scrap section 498 A of IPC on April 16 as soon as Parliament meets for Budget session.

Section 498A is the most misused,it said. In 2008, more than 81,000 cases were registered under the section which resulted in arrest of 37369 women and 127492 men.

“So far as Shoaib Malik is concerned, section 498A against him has to be dropped immediately and his passport returned to him”, it said.

Harassed men want Centre’s help

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/harassed-men-want-centre%E2%80%99s-help/173680.html

Express News Service

First Published : 15 May 2010 06:31:23 AM IST

Last Updated : 15 May 2010 06:50:01 AM IST

 

BANGALORE: In an attempt to turn the tide of gender equality in favour of men, various pro-men organisations have asked the Centre to form a National Commission for Men.

In a joint press conference of the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) and All India Mother-in-law Protection Forum (AIMPF) on Friday, members vouched for a commission for men to address their issues.

CRISP president Kumar Jahagirdhar said even 63 years after independence, not a single rupee was allotted for men’s welfare in India.

“Every year, around 58,000 married men are committing suicides, which is double the number of married women as per the National Crime Records Bureau,” he added.

There are other issues such as unemployment, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dowry harassment, heart attacks and various ailments, which need to be studied in detail and addressed.

Other demands raised in the conference included scrapping section 498A (cruelty by husband and relatives) of the Indian Penal Code, scrapping the current form of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and to rewrite it by incorporating representation from husbands and their parents.

Vivek of SIFF said they would initiate a ‘Family breaking awareness month’ campaign from May 15. The campaign will create awareness about breaking of families due to laws and biases against husbands and fathers. 

Express News Service

First Published : 15 May 2010 06:31:23 AM IST

Last Updated : 15 May 2010 06:50:01 AM IST

 

BANGALORE: In an attempt to turn the tide of gender equality in favour of men, various pro-men organisations have asked the Centre to form a National Commission for Men.

In a joint press conference of the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) and All India Mother-in-law Protection Forum (AIMPF) on Friday, members vouched for a commission for men to address their issues.

CRISP president Kumar Jahagirdhar said even 63 years after independence, not a single rupee was allotted for men’s welfare in India.

“Every year, around 58,000 married men are committing suicides, which is double the number of married women as per the National Crime Records Bureau,” he added.

There are other issues such as unemployment, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dowry harassment, heart attacks and various ailments, which need to be studied in detail and addressed.

Other demands raised in the conference included scrapping section 498A (cruelty by husband and relatives) of the Indian Penal Code, scrapping the current form of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and to rewrite it by incorporating representation from husbands and their parents.

Vivek of SIFF said they would initiate a ‘Family breaking awareness month’ campaign from May 15. The campaign will create awareness about breaking of families due to laws and biases against husbands and fathers.

Despite protest by AIMWA/AIFWA, Lazy stubble campaign wins at Cannes after flak at home

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lazy-stubble-campaign-wins-at-cannes-after-flak-at-home/636797/0

Posted: Tue Jun 22 2010, 02:16 hrs New Delhi:

Posted: Tue Jun 22 2010, 02:16 hrs
New Delhi: Valentine Gift’sDiscount Shopping Discussion

It may have created a furore back home but consumer products company Procter & Gamble’s “integrated” marketing campaign War Against Lazy Stubble (WALS) — for one of its premium razors, the Gillette Mach3 — is being hailed in the global advertising and marketing community for its imaginative use of media.

WALS is the only Indian entry to have won a silver medal in the “integrated campaign led by PR (public relations)” category at the 57th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. The development also establishes the growing clout of PR agencies in the media business.

For those who came in late, here is how WALS was conceptualised and implemented: P&G was faced with a unique situation in India that men here shaved only once a week. It didn’t augur well for its razor portfolio, specially premium products such as the Gillette Mach3.

The company roped in advertising agency BBDO India to push razor sales. What followed was an interesting survey conducted by market research agency The Nielsen which found 77 per cent of Indian women preferred clean-shaven men. Public relations agency Webber Shandwick was then engaged to “drive the results of the survey across the country through a good use of media”.

It was a queer “co-incidence” that around the same time, three Bollywood actors Neha Dhupia, Mugdha Godse and Minissha Lamba launched WALS, under which they protested that since they waxed and shaved regularly to look presentable to men, they expected men to return the favour by shaving regularly. To drive home the point, they shaved men in public places such as malls and finally, a “Shaveathon” was organised in Mumbai where around 2,000 men were shaved as part of the campaign. P&G immediately adopted WALS and its PR agency made sure that every move of WALS got due coverage in the media, including newspapers and television news channels. “From sending out press releases, to suggesting stories to journalists, to providing interview opportunities with WALS celebrities to media were all part of our PR effort to make the campaign a success,” said Rhea D’Souza, an executive with Webber Shandwick. The results of The Nielsen survey and the protests organised by WALS were prominently covered by news organisations such as The Times of India and CNN-IBN.

In its nomination sent to the Cannes jury, BBDO India, however, has admitted that WALS was its own creation, which essentially means the Bollywood actors were engaged by P&G. The campaign was hugely criticised by media observers and even consumers for camouflaging a commercial initiative as a social development and also using the credibility of news media to build consumer confidence. A body by the name of All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) was set up in October to protest against the “sexist” campaign. Another body All India Forgotten Women’s Association launched a massive protest alleging the ad was “derogatory” and had the potential to create disharmony in families.

There were also allegations that a lot of media coverage was paid for by the PR agency. D’Souza, however, asserted that no news item was paid for. “We only gave the journalists the cue. What appeared in media was totally an editorial initiative,” she said.

The campaign, however, was a huge commercial success as it not only helped P&G build an immediate buzz about the product but, according to the note sent to the Cannes jury, also pushed its sales “by 500%”. Citing data from The Nielsen, the nomination note says after the campaign, the product’s “market share went up by 400%”. It further adds “the campaign got over $2.5 million worth of free media coverage.”

“Being shortlisted in the best integrated campaign led by PR at Cannes is like icing on the cake for us,” said Josy Paul, chairman, BBDO India.

Nationwide Boycott of the Family Courts

http://www.bizwireexpress.com/showstory.php?storyid=33110

NFHS is joining a Nationwide Boycott of the Family Courts called for by All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) on 18 June 2010 as a sign of protest against the Family Court system which blatantly discriminates against fathers, heartlessly separates them from and prevents their access to their own biological children.

June 16, 2010 /India PRwire/ — About National Family Harmony Society®: “National Family Harmony Society®” NFHS is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) promoting the cause of “family harmony” and “gender equality”. It is registered under “The Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960″ and is based in Bangalore. We have branches in more than 16 states and in abroad too. We have approximately 14500 members all over India. To know more about us please visit http://www.family-harmony.org / http://www.498a.org.in.

NFHS is joining a Nationwide Boycott of the Family Courts called for by All India Men’s Welfare Association (AIMWA) on 18 June 2010 as a sign of protest against the Family Court system which blatantly discriminates against fathers, heartlessly separates them from and prevents their access to their own biological children.

We concur with the recent observation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India that “the Hindu Marriage Act is breaking more families than uniting”. We would like to add that the worst sufferers of the Indian Family Court system are fathers and children.

Indian Family Courts have declared a war against fathers and are adopting every possible means to create a “Fatherless Society”. The modus operandi of the Family Courts includes:

 

• Depriving fathers of the right to love and care for their biological children.
• Forcing fathers to pay huge sums of money to support children they are not allowed to see.
• Encouraging false allegations of abuse to paint fathers as unfit parents.
• Permitting multiple legal battles by mothers to eliminate biological fathers from their children’s lives.
• Passing ex-parte orders based solely on the allegations made by a child’s mother.
• Allowing mothers to brazenly disobey visitation orders without legal repercussions to her.
• Allowing biological fathers to be labelled “kidnappers” for trying to make contact with their own children.
• Prolonging custody/visitation matters for years, thereby driving fathers into financial and emotional bankruptcy and forcing them to give up the desire to see their children.

It is time everyone recognizes that:

- Denying access to one’s own biological children is abuse of human rights.

- Depriving children of the love and care of their biological father is abuse of children’s rights.

NFHS hereby registers its vehement protest against the separation of fathers from their biological children, and the concomitant violation of Human Rights perpetrated by the Family Court system against fathers and children.

NFHS shall continue to agitate against the Family Court system until the following demands are met:

• Special fast-track courts should be set up at the earliest to deal with custody issues.
• Exclusive, fully functioning Divisional Bench should be set up in all High Courts and Supreme Court to hear appeals in matters of child custody.
• When a person or couple approaches court for divorce, counseling of the parents by professional counselors should be given first priority.
• Except in extreme cases of violence or unhealthy behavior by either partner, children should be given equal and meaningful access to both parents and grandparents on both sides.
• Both parents should be given financial responsibility of the child proportionate to their earnings and not based on demands made by either partner.
• If a partner prevents a child from having equal and meaningful contact with the other partner, they should be counseled first to understand the importance of equal parenting and the best interest of a child.
• If either partner repeatedly disobeys orders of equal access and meaningful contact with children, then the children should be placed in the full custody of the partner who will allow equal access to the other parent.
• Similar to the way the granting of maintenance to an estranged wife is made as a rule irrespective of whether she erred or not, granting 50% parenting should be made as a rule irrespective of whether the father is paying the maintenance or not, whether he has erred or not.
• 50% child custody should be a Right of the Father rather than an option. 50% child custody should be started from the 2nd year of the child. No father should be rejected of the 50% child custody even if he is a criminal.
• Maintenance should be denied to the wife if she rejects 50% child custody to the father.
• Family Courts should ensure that Child will not be used as a bargaining tool for maintenance & alimony by the wife.

NFHS hereby calls upon all fathers to

- Join our Nationwide Boycott of Family Courts on 18 June 2010 as a symbol of protest against the creation of a fatherless society!

- Sign our Petition listing out the changes we demand from the Family Court system in child custody matters!

- Refuse to pay maintenance and child support unless the aforementioned demands are met!

Settle for nothing less than free and fair access to their children and an equal opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with their children!

Helpline operated by NFHS in Bangalore…

• 9880141531, P Suresh, President, Family Harmony Society
• 9731569970, M Mahesh, General Secretary, Family Harmony Society

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

For more information please contact…

P Suresh, President, M Mahesh, General Secretary,

9880141531 9731569970

You are also requested to visit…

www.498a.org.in / www.family-harmony.org

For more information, please contact:
P Suresh (President, FHS) (L) 9880141531, (M) 9880141531

Nationwide Boycott Of The Family Courts

http://www.pr4india.com/news/3810.htm

Publish Date :June 19, 2010
Bengaluru, About National Family Harmony Society®: National Family Harmony Society® NFHS is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) promoting the cause of family harmony and gender equality. It is registered under The Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 and is based in Bangalore. We have branches in more than 16 states and in abroad too. We have approximately 14500 members all over India.

NFHS is joining a Nationwide Boycott of the Family Courts called for by All India Mens Welfare Association (AIMWA) on 18 June 2010 as a sign of protest against the Family Court system which blatantly discriminates against fathers, heartlessly separates them from and prevents their access to their own biological children.

We concur with the recent observation of the Honble Supreme Court of India that the Hindu Marriage Act is breaking more families than uniting. We would like to add that the worst sufferers of the Indian Family Court system are fathers and children.

Indian Family Courts have declared a war against fathers and are adopting every possible means to create a Fatherless Society. The modus operandi of the Family Courts includes:
* Depriving fathers of the right to love and care for their biological children.
* Forcing fathers to pay huge sums of money to support children they are not allowed to see.
* Encouraging false allegations of abuse to paint fathers as unfit parents.
* Permitting multiple legal battles by mothers to eliminate biological fathers from their childrens lives.
* Passing ex-parte orders based solely on the allegations made by a childs mother.
* Allowing mothers to brazenly disobey visitation orders without legal repercussions to her.
* Allowing biological fathers to be labelled kidnappers for trying to make contact with their own children.
* Prolonging custody/visitation matters for years, thereby driving fathers into financial and emotional bankruptcy and forcing them to give up the desire to see their children.

It is time everyone recognizes that:

1. Denying access to ones own biological children is abuse of human rights.

2. Depriving children of the love and care of their biological father is abuse of childrens rights.

NFHS hereby registers its vehement protest against the separation of fathers from their biological children, and the concomitant violation of Human Rights perpetrated by the Family Court system against fathers and children.

NFHS shall continue to agitate against the Family Court system until the following demands are met:

* Special fast-track courts should be set up at the earliest to deal with custody issues.
* Exclusive, fully functioning Divisional Bench should be set up in all High Courts and Supreme Court to hear appeals in matters of child custody.
* When a person or couple approaches court for divorce, counseling of the parents by professional counselors should be given first priority.
* Except in extreme cases of violence or unhealthy behavior by either partner, children should be given equal and meaningful access to both parents and grandparents on both sides.
* Both parents should be given financial responsibility of the child proportionate to their earnings and not based on demands made by either partner.
* If a partner prevents a child from having equal and meaningful contact with the other partner, they should be counseled first to understand the importance of equal parenting and the best interest of a child.
* If either partner repeatedly disobeys orders of equal access and meaningful contact with children, then the children should be placed in the full custody of the partner who will allow equal access to the other parent.
* Similar to the way the granting of maintenance to an estranged wife is made as a rule irrespective of whether she erred or not, granting 50% parenting should be made as a rule irrespective of whether the father is paying the maintenance or not, whether he has erred or not.
* 50% child custody should be a Right of the Father rather than an option. 50% child custody should be started from the 2nd year of the child. No father should be rejected of the 50% child custody even if he is a criminal.
* Maintenance should be denied to the wife if she rejects 50% child custody to the father.
* Family Courts should ensure that Child will not be used as a bargaining tool for maintenance & alimony by the wife.

NFHS hereby calls upon all fathers to
* Join our Nationwide Boycott of Family Courts on 18 June 2010 as a symbol of protest against the creation of a fatherless society!
* Sign our Petition listing out the changes we demand from the Family Court system in child custody matters!
* Refuse to pay maintenance and child support unless the aforementioned demands are met!
* Settle for nothing less than free and fair access to their children and an equal opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with their children!

Helpline operated by NFHS in Bangalore…
     9880141531, P Suresh, President, Family Harmony Society
     9731569970, M Mahesh, General Secretary, Family Harmony Society

Notes to Editor

For more information please contact…

P Suresh, President, M Mahesh, General Secretary,

9880141531 9731569970