Nishant Tripathi, a 41 years old man with a promising future, ultimately took his own life. What makes this case even more ironic is that his own mother, Neelam Chaturvedi, is a well-known women’s rights activist—yet, even she could not saved her son from the very system she advocated for.

What his mother achieved as a women’s rights activist raises question that “did she truly succeeded as a women’s rights activist”.

The Story of Nishant Tripathi

Nishant accused his wife, Apoorva Parikh, and her aunt, Prarthana Mishra, of pushing him to take the extreme step. The Indian legal system, known for being skewed in favor of women, became a weapon against him. His cries for justice fell on deaf ears. Society, which is quick to believe accusations against men, refused to hear his side of the story.

His mother Neelam Chaturvedi, despite her influence in feminist circles, could not prevent the damage that false allegations and biased laws inflicted on her son. This tragic incident proves what Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs) have been saying for years—men are not just ignored but actively disadvantaged in legal and social systems designed to be “protective” only for women.

“His mother, Neelam Chaturvedi, claims to have ensured justice for 37,000 women. Now, after this incident, she should introspect—did she ensure justice, or did she contribute to the harassment of 37,000 accused men?” says Kumar S. Ratan, founder of Men Helpline.

The Hypocrisy of Gendered Laws

For years, feminists have fought for women’s rights, arguing that women need special protections. But what happens when men need protection? Cases like Nishant’s expose the dangerous misuse of gender-biased laws, where a simple allegation can destroy a man’s career, reputation, and life without the need for substantial evidence.

If a prominent women’s rights activist like Neelam Chaturvedi could not prevent this from happening to her own son, what hope do ordinary men have? This should be a wake-up call for everyone.

Men Also Deserve Justice

• False Allegations Ruin Lives – The presumption of guilt against men is destroying innocent lives.
• Mental Health and Suicide Rates – Men face extreme emotional and legal pressure but have little support.
• Legal Reform is Urgent – Gender-neutral laws are necessary to ensure fairness in justice.

We Call for Change

Men’s rights organizations, including Men Helpline, have been working tirelessly to highlight these issues. We are constantly demanding gender-neutral laws to ensure justice for all, regardless of gender. The Nishant Tripathi, Atul Subhash, Puneet Khurana, Manav Sharma and many more such cases underscores the urgent need to recognize male victims of domestic abuse and provide them with legal safeguards.

The debate is no longer about men versus women but about ensuring fair treatment under the law for every individual. Without urgent legal reforms, more men may continue to suffer in silence, leading to preventable tragedies like Nishant Tripathi’s.

We urge policymakers, activists, and the public to recognize that men, too, are victims of societal and legal oppression. Justice should be for all, not just for one gender.

Our Tweet

Agra, India – On February 24, Manav Sharma, a 30-year-old recruitment manager at TCS in Mumbai, allegedly took his own life by hanging himself. His family claims that he was harassed by his wife, whom he married just over a year ago. Before his death, Manav left behind a 6.57-minute video.

In this video, Manav appears calm, happy, and composed, pleading for the safety of men. He says, “Please think of men too… Poor guys are very lonely… everything would be fine once he was gone.”

This raises questions about why Manav seemed so happy in his final moments. Did he felt relieved from the pressure and legal bias that he faced?

While Manav was seen calm, and composed but Manav’s wife has alleged that he was an alcoholic. This incident highlights the need for a safer and more supportive system for men.

Manav’s message to society was, “Everything will be fine after I leave this world.” However, the reality is that his death has shifted the burden to his elderly parents.

This raises concerns about the well-being and safety of men in India.

We urge men’s rights activists to come together and protest consistently, possibly every weekend, to demand a more just and supportive system for men.

Some questions that arise from this incident are:-

• How many more lives will be taken due to the lack of support for men?
• When will the system become a safe place for men?
• How many more deaths can the government afford to ignore before taking action?
• Is the government waiting for things to escalate before intervening?

In a deeply tragic the case of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhas brings to light the severe flaws and bias in our legal system that allow misuse of laws against men. Atul, a young man, became a victim of systemic bias and legal harassment by his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania.

Bengaluru Police has sincerely arrested Nikita where we observed that

• Nikita appearance and expression was not of a widow
• Nikita Mother carrying a mineral-water bottle, which is unusual

No sign of sindoor, no indication of widowhood, and not even an expression of sorrow or pain.

“As she herself not considering Atul’s widow, she should not be allowed to exercise her right as wife.”, Kumar S Ratan.

As per Nikita appearance, if she did not consider herself Atul’s wife then with WHAT RIGHTS she was begging money in court. In the case, for over 3 years, Nikita Singhania pursued many legal battles, demanding an exorbitant sum of ₹3 crore as alimony which we call it extortion by legal means. Her lack of mourning attire and indifferent demeanor, raising questions about her sincerity in the relationship and her legal claims.

In the Atul’s last note he revealed various facts that Nikita leveraged gender-biased laws as a weapon. Her demands and relentless litigation drained him emotionally and financially which led Atul to take the drastic step of sacrificing his life.

“how many more men has to be sacrificed for women empowerment.”, Kumar S Ratan

The question arises here that why laws continue to treat men as default perpetrators and women as default victims. If Nikita herself did not recognize Atul as her husband, as her actions suggested, why was she allowed to pursue such massive claims in court?

This case highlights:

• Misuse of Legal Provisions: Nikita used alimony claims as a tool of harassment rather than a genuine need for support.
• Lack of Accountability: The law enabled Nitika to harass Atul for years without substantial proof of a legitimate marital relationship. The bias inherent in matrimonial laws left Atul with no viable legal or emotional recourse.

Atul’s case is just not a single case, but it reflects a growing trend where men are subjected to false accusations, excessive demands, legal extortion, and emotional abuse under the guise of legal battles.

Key Demands:

• She should not be allowed to exercise her right as wife.
• Gender-neutral matrimonial laws to ensure fairness for both parties.
• Stricter penalties for misuse of legal provisions to harass individuals.
• Mechanisms to evaluate the authenticity of alimony claims before burdening individuals with prolonged legal battles.

Atul Subhas’s sacrifice should not be in vain. This case calls for urgent attention to the flaws in our legal system and for reforms to prevent further tragedies like his.

Also Read: newsofx2.com

The extensive documentation left by Atul, including a 24-page suicide note and a video, provides a chilling insight into the emotional and financial toll inflicted upon men in prolonged legal battles stemming from personal disputes. The situation highlights several critical issues:

Key Concerns

Abuse of Legal Provisions

Atul’s case underscores the misuse of laws intended to protect women, such as domestic violence and dowry-related laws, which are sometimes exploited to harass men and their families. Multiple false accusations drained him emotionally, financially, and socially.

Judicial System’s Shortcomings:

• 120 court hearings in two years reflect inefficiencies in the judicial system, where cases drag on endlessly with minimal resolution.
• Allegations of corruption, bribery, and insensitivity on the part of judicial officials exacerbate the suffering of individuals like Atul.

Mental Health Neglect

Prolonged legal harassment without institutional support for mental health led Atul to despair. Despite evident distress, his cries for justice were unheard.

Lack of Support Systems for Men

There are inadequate mechanisms to address the grievances of men facing false accusations. We as an NGOs provide limited help, but systemic changes are necessary.

Urgent Questions

• How many more men will succumb to despair before the judicial system takes their issues seriously?
• Why are there no stringent penalties for filing false cases that ruin lives and families?
• Is the judicial system designed to uphold justice, or is it merely enabling one-sided empowerment?

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) leaves men and LGBTQ+ individuals vulnerable and unprotected, hence there is a need of gender-neutral laws for harassment at workplace

This bias in the law not only perpetuates stereotypes but also deters men from reporting harassment.

Men Don’t Report Sexual Harassment

Men rarely report instances of sexual harassment, and the reasons are deeply rooted in both legal and societal biases. First, India’s legal framework heavily favors women in harassment cases. A man who reports harassment risks facing a counter-allegation from the accused woman. In such situations, the law often presumes the woman to be the victim, leaving the man vulnerable to arrest without a thorough investigation.

Secondly, societal attitudes make it difficult for men to speak up. Claims of harassment against men are often dismissed as humorous or unimportant. Victims are ridiculed and told to “man up,” further discouraging them from seeking justice. The fear of being mocked or labeled weak forces many male victims to suffer in silence.

The Prevalence of Male Victimization

Contrary to popular belief, sexual harassment against men is not rare. The Indian National Bar Association conducted as survey in year 2016 which revealed that 22% of harassment victims in workplaces were men. Despite this, India’s legal system and workplace policies remain silent on the issue.

Legal Bias That Need Addressing

The POSH Act explicitly identifies only women as victims. The Indian Penal Code, too, fails to address sexual harassment against men. This leaves male victims with little recourse, violating their constitutional right to equality under Article 14.

Gender-neutral laws are the need of the hour. By replacing the word “woman” with “person” in the POSH Act, and adopting inclusive language in the Penal Code, India can ensure justice for all victims of workplace harassment, regardless of gender.

Global Examples

Countries like Australia, Denmark, and the UK have successfully implemented gender-neutral workplace harassment laws. These frameworks prioritize the dignity of individuals over gendered assumptions, offering equal protection to all. India must take a cue from these nations and modernize its laws.

Conclusion

Workplace harassment is not a gendered issue; it is a human rights issue. Men deserve the same protection as women under the law. Until India implements gender-neutral laws, male victims will continue to suffer in silence, perpetuating a cycle of injustice and inequality.

The day 19 November 2023, is to encourage institutions, organizations, and individuals to identify the causes for male suicide and try to find solutions to create a protective environment for men in all nations.

“The International Men’s Day has also created and supported initiatives which improve the manner in which the world addresses and resolves their unique mental and physical health issues for men and boys”, Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, Founder, International Men’s Day

This year theme for IMD is “Zero Male Suicide”, is to bring focus of the authorities to work in the are which has been ignored.

“A safe environment is essential for nurturing, growth and development of men”, by Men’s and Child rights activist Kumar S Ratan

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the trend of suicide among men are growing year-on-year. India has recorded highest suicide (51,477) in year 2020 due to “Family Problem”, where 35333 were male and 16140 were female.

“Due to family problems, the suicide rate in men is twice that of women”, Vivek Singh founder of NewsOfX.

In order to prevent suicide, Men’s mental well-being became an important concern, on which MenTalk organization has planned multiple activities.

“Government need to put focus on Men’s mental health and awareness”, by Founder of MenTalks Advocate Roopenshu Pratap Singh

International Men’s Day celebrates and honors the contributions and sacrifices of men — “everyday men”.

Themes of IMD 2023 are:

• Zero Male Suicide
• To focus on men’s health and well-being; social, emotional, physical, and spiritual
• To highlight discrimination against males in areas of social services, social attitudes, and expectations, and law

There has been a significant increase in suicide among men during the decade (2010-2020) revealed in the NCRB Suicide data 2020. NCRB recorded 87180 suicide among men in year 2010 and 108532 in year 2020.

The NCRB data shows that the number of male suicides due to ‘family problem’ in 2020 is more than the total number of suicides recorded in the year 2010 under ‘family problem’ alone. In year 2010, total 31856 suicide was reported out of which 19828 were male.

After having such an alert, men are still not have any protection of law to protect them from false accusations of women.

After having such an alert, men have no protection of law to protect from false accusations by women. We have interacted with thousands of male victims, all of them share the similar concern that ‘the system treats them guilty’ and they feel lonely, upset and hopeless in such a negative situation.

The law believes in the testimony of women, and if the husband fails to reconcile the circumstances with the wife, it leads to many legal cases against the husband and relatives, which in turn lead to multiple levels of harassment to the men and family. The major reason for getting upset is that men try to settle the situation for the sake of their family and children, but women have the protection of laws and they humiliate men in such circumstances.

We urge the government to look deeply into the data and take a stand that will help men in such a difficult situation and also issue guidelines to protect men from the abuse of the process of law. We also demand that the arrest should be on the basis of physical evidence and not on the basis of which is not mentioned in the book of law, such as on sentimental grounds.

We strongly believe in the Constitution of India that “everyone is equal before law”, so our system should be designed in a way to ensure “Justice for All”.