Listen to whatever your wife says...

The Times of India   reports that  Supreme Court justices Markandeya Katju and Deepak Verma in a divorce case  observed:

"Bibi joh boltee hai woh sunno (listen to whatever your wife says), as otherwise it could land you in trouble. Because if you do not listen to her, you will suffer the consequences."

"Hum sab bhogi hai (we are all sufferers)," the bench said in a lighter vein.

The bench further said that a husband has to accept the suggestion of a wife irrespective of the fact whether it is sensible or not.

"If your wife asks you to put your face that side, put it that side. If she says, put it this side, then put it this side. Otherwise you will face trouble. Hum sub bhogi hai," the bench remarked again. 

The case itself seems tragic enough, even without sexist humour such as this. I don't have anything against the learned judges, but surely when someone wants divorce saying that his wife has falsely charged him with habits of sodomy and is willing to pay Rs.10 lakh to get out of wedlock, humour such as this is more like turning a butterfly on a wheel or something like that?

There is an anguished voice that responds to this, and I found it in the blog,  Stop Legal Terrorism :

In this country even a animal have right to get Justice, Protection, well fare but not for Indian Husbands. Supreme court of India opnely said the hard reality, Indian Husbands are Just Like a "Free ATM Machine".

And then the blogger asks,

We wonder Whose life is in More Danger in India: Men or Women?

1. Crime Bureau data 2005: Married Men Suicide : 52k vs Married Women Suicide 28K.Still there is no LAW to Protect Men why?

2. 2006 Crime Bureau Data: Married Men Suicide: 55452 vs. Married Women Suicide:29869.

3. 2007 Crime Bureau Data : Married Men Suicide: 57593 vs. Married Women Suicide:30064.

Now, if I were someone younger, taking these statistics together with the remarks of the judges, I certainly will not want to take the fateful step of getting married, and I would feel justified to fear the awful act and its terrible consequences: "Hum sab bhogi hai (we are all sufferers)", as honourable judges rightly observed.

But for some of you, it need not be so.

Don't get married.