In an outlandish opinion of domestic violence in India, a Karnataka High Court judge reportedly said that a husband bashing the wife is acceptable as long as he takes good care of her.
Justice Bhaktavatsala has come under intense criticism for his so-called sexist remarks in a divorce case. An online campaign has been launched against him and online protesters have sought the Chief Justice of Karnataka to take serious action against Bhaktavatsala besides having him removed from his post.
More than 500 people have signed an online petition supporting the activists demand for striping Bhaktavatsala off his Justice position. An activists in their petition said, "The comments made by Justice Bhaktavatsala in various domestic violence and divorce court proceedings recently are perpetuating the myth of patriarchy and his opinions going beyond the legal scope.."
"The judges are supposed to protect and enforce human rights of the citizens, but here we have a judge who is against women rights and even encouraging them to continue to stay in a violent relationship. Such views are retrograde and against the tenets of the Constitution of India," the petition read.
The High Court judge reportedly made it worse by suggesting the woman to ask whether her father didn't resort to beating her mother. "Ask your father if he has never beaten your mother!"
Each blow from Bhaktavatsala was painful than the other, until he concluded by asking the woman petitioner to "adjust" to her condition keeping her children's future in mind.
Going by the content in online petition, Bhaktavatsala seems to have had allegedly given similar advices to couples who seek divorce for several reasons.
According to the activists, when a woman sought divorce from her husband on grounds of domestic violence, Justice Bhaktavatsala counsels the petitioner to endure the barbaric treatment in a bid to keep the family intact.
"Women suffer in all marriages. You are married with two children, and know what it means to suffer as a woman. Yesterday, there was a techie couple who reconciled for the sake of their child. Your husband is doing good business, he will take care of you. Why are you still talking about his beatings? I know you have undergone pain. But that is nothing in front of what you undergo as a woman. I have not undergone such pain. But madam (Justice BS Indrakala) has," the online petition explained Justice Bhaktavatsala suggestion.
