A PETITION BEFORE SC SEEKING GENDER-NEUTRAL LAWS

Two law students named Anam Kamil and Shrikant Prasad moved before the Supreme Court seeking directions for reconsiderations and amendments of few provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including sexual harassment (354A - 354D), rape (376), cruelty to women (498A), criminal intimidation (506) and insulting modesty of women (509), to make them gender-neutral.

The Petitioners argued that Men's Lives Matter and such provisions are discriminatory in nature on the ground of gender. It also affects the fundamental right to equality and hence violates Articles 14 and 15 (1) of the constitution.

The Petition made further statements such as:

1. Fake feminism has polluted India. Women perform acts in the name of fake feminism by attacking innocent men.

2. Women intentionally destroy a man's dignity and respect with fake feminism.

3. Law has given sharp-edged weapons like power without any reasonable restrictions.

The Petitioner further referred to the recent Lucknow case, where a girl was seen slapping a cab driver. The trend of misusing sexual offences law is on the rise and sabotages men's dignity and honour. These laws were made 150 years ago when there was actually a need for the upliftment of women, but now women are developed and empowered. The Petitioners compared with decriminalisation of consensual gay sex and homosexuality in 2018, in the same way, the legislature should recognise that the Crimes of cruelty is being committed against men. 

The Petitioners lastly remarked and questioned, "What about a man who is proved innocent after being charged with the offence of rape. Does society treat a man the same as they did before? The answer is no".

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Author: Papiha Ghoshal