New Delhi, Nov 11: Dismissing criticism that the
new domestic violence law was too harsh on men, Minister for
Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury has said women
lived in dangerous situations and ruled out any immediate
amendments to it.
"Women live in dangerously self-embracing situations.
Even if you see it as a ferocity in the act or the ambit is
too wide, please understand that women are burnt to death,
beaten to insensitivity," Chowdhury told a Tv channel.
Asked whether she would consider amendments to the law
in the light of the criticisms, she said she was open to doing
it but not at the moment.
"There''s always need for corrections and amendments in
any law as we progress, as a society develops and the needs
arise. But for what? Hypothetically, before we reach the
bridge and cross it if you want me to make amendments, I
won''t," Chowdhury said.
To a question on whether men should suffer before the
act undergoes changes, she said in a lighter vein, "that''s not
a bad idea except I have such pity for men."
"Any law is better than no law at all" when protecting
women are concerned, she said.
Questioned about the concept of verbal abuse, which
has been criticised by former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee,
as being silly to convert sarcasm into an offence, Chowdhury
said, "What you deem as silly is really not something I''ve
created today. Under the IPC speaking in a vein that is
denigrating to the status of women, which removes her from
dignity, is very much an act (offence)."
Bureau Report
