VIJAYAWADA: “People have become intolerant in their marital relations. Everyone will have their share of problems. If you adjust, life will be beautiful,” said Justice Lavu Nageswara Rao, Supreme Court of India, at a memorial lecture of C.Padmanabha Reddy and P.N Bhagavathi organised by Indian Association of Lawyers, here on Sunday.
Addressing the gathering, he drew the differentiation between the criminal laws in India and other Commonwealth countries. He also narrated the eminence of Justice Padmanabha Reddy and Bhagavathi.
“The highest reporting of domestic violence cases are from the Andhra Pradesh as because the people are aware of their rights. In other states, domestic violence is more prevalent but not reported. Now-a-days, women lodge a complaint against their husbands on minor issuadded that domestic violence act is not a criminal act, it is act for the protection of women. He raised a pertinent questiones,” said Rao.
He further , “have the laws been enforced? If yes, have they brought the desired results?”
Rao said that from the last eight months, he has come across atleast five cases of marital discord cases in the Supreme Court on a daily basis. “Many a time, I end up becoming a mediator for husband and wife considering their children’s future.” He directed the advocates to help their clients to get reunited.
Speaking about the misuse of 498A of the Indian Penal Code, he recounted the verdicts of Delhi and Madras High Courts.
He noted that, “Preliminary inquiry can be conducted in the domestic violence cases.” Rao disagreed with Justice J S Verma’s recommendation of punishment for marital rape. Pointing out Justice P Choudary observations in T. Sareetha vs T. Venkata Subbaiah case, in which Chowdary observed that Section 9 of Hindu Marriage Act is violating Article 14 (Equality before law), he said “We cannot take down the existing laws giving excuses. We have to find a way to overcome complexities in judiciary system.”