LAWS(SC)-1997-8-4

AJIT SAVANT MAJAGVAI Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

Decided On August 14, 1997
AJIT SAVANT MAJAGVAI Appellant
V/S
STATE OF KARNATAKA Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Padmavathi, a housewife, in this case, has been strangulated to death, of all persons, by her husband, the appellant before us.

(2.) BATTLE OF SEXES has always been a battle of wits. Today it is denuded of its charms. It has degenerated into a WAR involving physical violence, torture, mental cruelty and murder of the female, including, pcicularly, the WIFE.

(3.) Social thinkers, philosophers, dramatists, poets and writers have eulogised the female species of the human race and have always used beautiful epithets to describe her temperament and personality and have not deviated from that path even while speaking of her odd behaviour, at times. Even in sarcasm, they have not crossed the literary limit and have adhered to a particular standard of nobility of language. Even when a member of her own species, Madame De Stael, remarked "I am glad that I am not a man; for then I should have to marry a woman", there was wit in it. When Shakespeare wrote, "Age cannot wither her; nor custom stale; Her infinite variety", there again was wit. Notwithstanding that these writers have cried hoarse for respect for "Woman", notwithstanding that Schiller said "Honour Women! They entwine and weave heavenly roses in our earthly life", and notwithstanding that Mahabharat mentioned her as the source of salvation, the crime against "woman" continues to rise and has, today undoubtedly, risen to alarming proportions.