The recent criminal law amendment in India has officially classified harming a woman’s mental health as an act of cruelty, marking a significant step towards women’s protection. The government has introduced two new sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita criminal bill, which is set to replace the existing Indian Penal Code and other criminal laws.
The latest addition, Section 86, explicitly criminalizes actions that harm women’s mental health and physical well-being as acts of cruelty. This amendment serves to refine the definition of cruelty and clarify its scope. In the earlier version of the bill, Section 85 stipulated a three-year jail term for husbands or in-laws found guilty of committing cruelty against women.
Key Inclusions in the New Bill
Protection of Sexual Assault Survivor’s Identity: The new criminal bill incorporates measures to prevent the disclosure of the identity of sexual assault survivors. Unauthorized disclosure of the survivor’s identity is now punishable by a two-year jail term.
Introduced in Lok Sabha on August 11 alongside the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam bills, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill aims to modernize and replace existing criminal laws.
This development aligns with the current data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), revealing an alarming increase in suicides among homemakers. The data indicates a rising trend in suicide cases among housewives each year from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, the reported suicides among housewives reached 25,309 cases, constituting 14.8% of the total suicides in the country.
Addressing the Issue
While factors like constant abuse contribute to the concerning suicide rates, clinical psychologist Dr. Prerna Kohli emphasizes that conditions like premenstrual dysphoric disorder or postpartum depression may also play a role. Dr. Kohli underscores the seriousness of these issues, stating that they pose a risk of suicide, requiring prompt intervention.
In many cases, emotional and mental abuse of women often goes unnoticed or ignored in society. The criminalization of mental abuse represents a landmark step in aligning legal frameworks with the evolving understanding of societal norms and prioritizing women’s well-being.
