New Delhi: Justice B.V. Nagarathna of the Karnataka high court recently made strong remarks about systemic patriarchy in India, saying the country “does not know how to treat an empowered woman”.
According to Bar and Bench, a division bench also comprising Justice Natraj Rangaswamy was hearing a joint divorce petition when these remarks were made.
“The society always looks down upon the woman. Ours is a patriarchal society. People always say woman empowerment, but the society does not know how to treat an empowered woman. Parents don’t teach their sons on how to treat an empowered woman… That is a problem with men, I will say that,” Justice Nagarathna said.
Also read: There Can Be No Interference If an Adult Woman Marries, Converts With Consent: Calcutta HC
At the same time, however, the bench said financial independence and education should not mean women no longer know how to deal with their families. The judges also said that the women’s submission, that she had a hard time adjusting to her husband’s family as an only child, did not mean she could “ignore her husband”.
The court also said the couple should try marriage counselling and learn how to communicate better. “Marriage is all about adjustment. It is ultimately only between two people,” the bench said, while adding that the mother-in-law should not “interfere unnecessarily” once the wife comes into the picture.
