Shameful assault

The recent surfacing of the chilling CCTV footage of domestic violence, allegedly by retired High Court judge Nooty Ramamohana Rao, his wife and his son, against daughter-in-law Sindhu — even as the victim’s two horrified toddlers look on — has sparked outrage. Ironically, Rao has argued and decided cases in favour of women during his career, both as a lawyer and a judge.

The shocking case is a shameful reminder that patriarchy is rampant in our households and women continue to suffer cruelty, abuse and subordination at home. As per the National Family Health Survey-4, every third woman, since the age of 15, has faced some form of domestic violence in the country. Only 14 per cent of the violated women have felt emboldened enough to seek help to stop physical and mental abuse being inflicted on them. Also, education or higher socio-economic status is no safeguard against the incidence of assault. Recently, former Delhi AAP MLA Somnath Bharti and cricketer Mohammed Shami have been accused of torture by their wives.

While the video clip would hopefully provide much-needed impetus to Sindhu’s fight for justice, the case should trigger a debate among the stakeholders as to why efforts to raise awareness against violence and laws strengthened to protect women have yielded little result. Misogynistic attitudes as well as social stigma attached to women victims are major stumbling blocks. Women who are abused at home often lack the confidence to speak up for fear of being disbelieved, humiliated or abused further. The combined effect of lax law enforcement, shoddy investigation and tardy trials in courts is back-breaking even for the most resolute. Low conviction rates are a further disincentive. What can really make a difference is a change in the mindset that sees the woman’s body as a man’s property, and that he can batter her at will. The onus is on families to teach their sons to respect women.