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Time of India
12-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Misogyny, not malice': HC reduces jail term of women facing suicide abetment charges
Chennai: Holding that certain harsh words spoken by two women that led to the suicide of a 15-year-old girl were out of misogyny and not malice, Madras high court has reduced the three-year imprisonment awarded to them to the period already undergone in prison. The issue pertains to a relationship between the girl and her neighbour, a 19-year-old boy. When their relationship came to light, both families decided to get them married. Kayar Nisha and Rafia, aunts of the boy who were against the marriage, barged into the girl's house when her parents were not around and verbally abused her, threatened her and told her that she should die by suicide. Unable to bear it, the girl ran inside the house, poured kerosene, and set herself on fire. She died on Sept 2, 2011, after giving a dying declaration before a magistrate that the two women abetted her suicide. On July 27, 2016, the trial court convicted the women and sentenced them to three years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of 2,000 each. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Aggrieved, the women moved the present appeal. While holding that their conviction under Section 305 of IPC was justified, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, said: "Their behaviour (admonishing the girl instead of the boy) stems from internalized misogyny, which is a product of our male-dominated society. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo They are conditioned to question the woman without realising they themselves are victims of such a mindset. In doing so, they harmed a girl and made themselves liable for punishment. " They have shown remorse and are only eking out their livelihood in their respective families and need not be committed again to prison for reformation, he said. In total, the first appellant served 90 days in prison, and the second appellant served 83 days. Therefore, I believe the sentence should be modified to the period already undergone, the judge concluded. The judge further said: "However, the appellant shall also continue to feel the pinch of their action, and it would be appropriate to increase the fine from 2,000 to 20,000."
News18
11-07-2025
- News18
'Conditioned To Blame Girl': Madras HC Cuts Jail Term Of Women Who Abetted Teen's Suicide For Love Affair
The HC said the women, though from the boy's family, targeted the girl, a response rooted in internalised misogyny, without realising that they were victims of the same mindset The Madras High Court recently upheld the conviction of two women accused of abetting the suicide of a 15-year-old girl but significantly reduced their prison sentence, citing their socio-economic hardship and internalised misogyny. In 2011, in Kuniamuthur, Coimbatore, a minor girl set herself ablaze after facing humiliation from her lover's aunts, Kayar Nisha and Rafia. The girl had fallen in love with her 19-year-old neighbour Saddam Hussain, and their families had consented to their marriage. However, the two aunts vehemently opposed the alliance. On August 18, 2011, the accused confronted the girl outside her house, hurled sexually coloured abuses, and even told her to go and die. The girl, distraught and alone at the time, ran inside, poured kerosene on herself, and set herself on fire. She succumbed to her burn injuries on September 2, 2011. The police initially registered a case under Section 309 IPC (attempt to suicide), but after her death and a detailed investigation, including a dying declaration, the charge was altered to Section 305 IPC (abetment of suicide of a minor). The Mahila Court convicted both women in 2016, sentencing them to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 each. On appeal, the bench of Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy of the high court upheld the conviction, noting that the accused's words were 'excessively harsh and sexually charged" and would have had a deep psychological impact on a minor. 'Their conduct of going to the girl and admonishing her is inherently unacceptable, and the words spoken by the accused are excessively harsh and extremely sexually charged, likely to drive any 15-year-old child to suicide," the judge held. However, the court chose to reduce their sentence, citing their background. Kayar Nisha, 64, is a widow who works as a domestic help and suffers from hypertension. Rafia, 40, is a daily wager with two young children. The court also highlighted that the women's actions were influenced by internalised misogyny, conditioned by a patriarchal society that often blames the girl in matters of relationships. 'Their behaviour stems from internalised misogyny, which is a product of our male-dominated society. They are conditioned to question the female without realising they themselves are victims of such a mindset. In doing so, they harmed a girl child and made themselves liable for punishment," the judge observed. The sentence was reduced to the time already served, 90 days for Kayar Nisha and 83 days for Rafia. However, their fine was increased to Rs 20,000 each, to be paid within four weeks or face two months' simple imprisonment. Suicide Prevention: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
