Pune: Men’s Rights Activists Protest Against Misuse of Gender-Based Laws

Swargate, 17th August 2024: Men’s rights activists, under the banner of the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), gathered at Swargate Chowk in Pune, to protest against what they describe as a growing gender war waged against men by society, the government, and the judiciary.

The protest was organized to highlight the alleged misuse of various gender-specific laws, including rape laws, the new BNS 69 law, the Molestation Act, the POCSO Act, POSH regulations, and the Marital Rape Law by women, particularly feminists. The activists argue that these laws are being weaponized, leading to a rise in false cases against men.

The SIFF activists emphasized their concerns about the increasing number of false cases, including those related to rape, BNS 69, molestation, and POCSO, which are flooding police stations and courts. They also voiced their opposition to the recent ‘ALL MEN’ trend on X (formerly known as Twitter), which began on August 15, 2024, and was initiated by a group of feminists. This trend, they claimed, aims to incite gender conflict by portraying all men as perpetrators of sexual violence.

According to the protesters, draconian laws against men have resulted in numerous innocent men being unjustly imprisoned, losing their jobs, assets, and social reputations. Many men, they asserted, are severely traumatized, and a significant number have been driven to suicide. The activists further contended that the legal system in India has failed to address the issue of false cases effectively, often leaving the accused with little recourse to justice.

While SIFF is firmly against any form of violence, whether sexual, physical, or domestic, they argue that the issue of sexual consent, particularly among intimate partners, is a complex and grey area. The activists believe that the current legal system and police forces are not adequately equipped to distinguish between genuine and false allegations.

Anil Murty, Co-Founder of SIFF, emphasized the need for the Parliament to discuss and create a legal framework that can effectively separate genuine cases from false ones. “The need of the hour is to amend the CrPC and BNS laws to filter out false allegations during the investigation stage at police stations,” he said. “Had the government and judiciary acted on this earlier, much of the current turmoil could have been avoided.”

Sameer Goel, National Coordinator of SIFF, criticized the Indian courts and police for their inability to filter out false cases during investigations. He pointed out that the failure to address corruption and incompetence at the police level has led to a significant number of false cases going unchallenged. Goel highlighted the fact that when cases result in acquittal, no action is taken against the investigating officers, leaving the accused to navigate a lengthy and costly legal process. “Lakhs of victims of false cases fall into depression, and many thousands commit suicide each year,” he stated.

The protesters also expressed their concerns about the new criminal law, BNS 69, which they claim imposes a 10-year prison sentence on men who attempt to end a relationship with a woman, while allowing women the freedom to end relationships without consequence. This gender-biased law, they argue, will lead to a surge in false cases, with women using the threat of rape allegations to manipulate their partners.

Murty voiced his concerns about the impact of this law on male victims of domestic violence. “Male victims of domestic violence will live in fear of false accusations and have no means to escape their abusers,” he said. “Men whose live-in partners engage in adultery may also face threats of false rape charges if they confront these women.”

The activists also called for strict action against women who misuse their legal protections to conceal their own criminal activities. They cited examples such as the case of Puja Khedkar, a fake IAS trainee from Pune, who filed a molestation case against the Pune district collector after being exposed for other offences.

The protesters strongly opposed the ‘All Men Are Rapists’ movement, which they believe will lead to an increase in false cases. “If ALL MEN are rapists, men should not help women or show any empathy towards them,” Murty declared. The activists called for a more balanced approach to addressing sexual violence, one that does not demonize an entire gender.

Sagar Gunthal, State Counselor at SIFF, warned that history is repeating itself, with the current misuse of laws echoing the aftermath of the Nirbhaya case in 2012. He argued that rather than enacting new laws, there should be stricter policing by the judiciary and government to prevent both crimes and the misuse of legal protections.

The activists presented alarming statistics to support their claims. According to their data, 74% of all rape cases filed in India have turned out to be false. They also cited figures from the Crime Records Bureau, which reported that 122,724 men committed suicide in India in 2022, with 65% of these suicides attributed to family reasons, matrimonial disputes, and live-in relationships. Additionally, they claimed that an estimated 3 to 3.5 crore men in India have faced domestic violence, with many suffering from trauma, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, they highlighted the plight of approximately 250,000 children who are separated from their fathers each year due to matrimonial disputes or divorce.

SIFF Demands:

▪ Instead of creating new criminal laws and blaming men, strict policing by the police, judiciary, and government is required to address and prevent crimes and the misuse of laws.

▪ False allegations need to be filtered out during investigations at police stations. Statistics on the closure of false cases should be displayed at each police station, and annual audits must be conducted.

▪ All laws should be made gender-neutral. Male victims of domestic violence must receive protection from the courts.

▪ Lawyers and police officials who effectively address false cases should be rewarded, while those who contribute to the culture of false cases should be penalized or denied promotions.

▪ Mental health support systems should be integrated into every court to address the mental health challenges faced by individuals involved in legal cases. Legal Services Authorities should be funded to establish mental health screening and counseling services.