JUSTICE FOR ALL: A CASE FOR GENDER-NEUTRAL LAWS IN THE WAKE OF ATUL SUBHASH'S TRAGEDY

This case once again raises the issue of gender-neutral laws. It is not always the husband's family demanding dowry from the wife. What if the wife and her family demand money from the husband and his family members, as seen in Atul's case?

- DR. PYALI CHATTERJEE

I think by now everyone has heard about the tragic death of Atul Subhash, who committed suicide due to the unbearable torture he faced in his married life at the hands of his wife and in-laws. Facing multiple charges filed by his wife, he was forced to regularly attend court hearings, traveling all the way from Bengaluru to Jaunpur.

In this case, both the husband and wife were educated and worked in reputed companies. However, the situation took a horrifying turn when his wife allegedly demanded 30 lakhs as a condition for allowing him to see his child. For a father who genuinely wanted to take care of his child, such a demand was nothing short of a nightmare. This tragic case underscores how parenting and marriage have, in some instances, turned into a contractual arrangement, where emotional bonds and responsibilities seem to carry a financial price tag. If the relationship breaks, one must "pay" to meet basic parental rights, and even to express love and care; additional costs may be imposed.

The demand for Rs 3 crores to settle false cases from a man belonging to a middle-class family created unbearable mental pressure. No son would want his parents and siblings to endure the humiliation and harassment caused by baseless legal cases filed against them.

In his suicide note, Atul reportedly requested the authorities to prevent his wife and in-laws from viewing his body and stated that his last rites should not be performed until justice was served. In his final video, he remarked, "If the accused walk free, dump my ashes in a gutter near the court. Let it be a testament to how life is valued in this country."