How this verdict of Madras High Court encourages racism

By Newsgram Staff Writer

Our judicial system has a very different view on the racism and its impact on human life. In a recent case, the Madras High Court in Madurai said in a judgment that a man calling his wife 'dark colour' cannot be convicted of instigating his wife to commit suicide.

According to the Justice M Sathyanarayanan of the High Court's Madurai Bench, a man criticizing his wife for being dark is not harassment.

Allowing a petition filed by Paramasivam against a lower court order, Justice M Sathyanarayanan of the High Court's Madurai Bench, had said, "Criticizing the wife for being dark in colour does not amount to harassment or torture, and it cannot be said that the husband instigated the wife to commit suicide."

After being convicted and sentenced for seven years of imprisonment by a lower court in Tirunelveli District, in Tamil Nadu's deep south, Paramasivam had then filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence in the High Court. He was also sentenced to three years imprisonment under the Dowry Harassment Act on October 27, 2006.