Mumbai Court: ‘Natural’ For Women From Economically Weaker Classes To Do Household Chores And Work. Can We Stop Normalising Double Burden?
Women who belong to the economically weaker section of society have the double burden of doing house chores and even working outside to provide for the family. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it must be for them to fulfil all responsibilities and not get any support from their families. A hearing in one such case was given by a Mumbai sessions court, wherein the judge said that it is ‘natural’ for the woman of the economically weaker household to fulfil household chores and even work outside.
As per reports, the case is such that a 30-year-old man and his mother were charged with abetting his wife to suicide and domestic violence as well. But they were acquitted by the court saying that the reason why the deceased, Priyanka Shelar, decided to die by taking this ‘extreme step’ is not clear. Furthermore, the court also went on to say that the things a mother-in-law says to her daughter-in-law cannot be termed as of ‘cruel’ nature and also that the former complaining to the latter is a ‘natural phenomenon’.
An FIR was also filed against Prashant and his mother after Priyanka died by suicide. It was alleged that Priyanka was made to walk to her workplace and she was also not allowed to talk to her family members. Apart from this, Prashant and his mother also passed comments on her complexion and also suspected her. Furthermore, Priyanka was also expected to wake up at 5 AM and complete the household chores before she left for her work and was also expected to finish housework after she returned home.
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The court also went on to say that insults and taunts do not generally drive a person to die by suicide unless there are permanent problems or mental torture with criminal intent. The court said that the records do not show that Prashant and his mother instigated Priyanka to die by suicide.
