SC to Hear PIL for National Commission for Men Amid Rising Suicide Rates among Married Males

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on July 3, which seeks guidelines for addressing suicides by married men facing domestic violence and the establishment of a ‘National Commission for Men’ to protect their interests.

The PIL, filed by advocate Mahesh Kumar Tiwari, refers to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) stating that in 2021, out of the 1,64,033 suicide deaths in India, 81,063 were married men and 28,680 were married women. The plea highlights the need for attention to the 33.2% of men who took their own lives due to family problems and the 4.8% related to marriage issues.

The petition also urges the National Human Rights Commission to address suicides by married men and accept complaints regarding male victims of domestic violence.

Additionally, it requests the issuance of proper guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs for police authorities to receive and refer complaints from victims of domestic violence and those under stress due to family and marriage-related problems to the State Human Rights Commission.

The plea further recommends that the Law Commission of India conduct research on suicides by married men facing domestic violence or family problems and produce a report for the formation of a forum similar to the National Commission for Men.