In an another notable effort by the judicial system of our country towards women safety and empowerment, Supreme Court advocated the right of a woman to love somebody and maintained that no one, NO ONE can force her to love somebody.

The statement was made during the SC hearing bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra was hearing an appeal filed by a man who was sentenced to seven years in jail by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for allegedly teasing and compelling a 16-year-old girl to take the extreme step of committing suicide.

“Why can’t women live in peace in this country,” the apex court said while reserving its verdict on the appeal.

Maintaining that no one can force a woman to love someone as she has her own independent choice, the bench, which also comprised Justices AM Khanwilkar and MM Shantanagoudar, said “a woman has a choice to love or not to love a person. No one can force her to love somebody. There is a concept of love and man has to accept it.”

Even when the counsel, appearing for the man raised doubts, raised doubts over the girl’s dying declaration, saying that as per the medical report, she was unable to speak or write after being hospitalized, the man said sternly to the man, “you had created a situation which had compelled her to commit such act.”

The man was initially acquitted by the trial court in July 2010 after which the state had approached the high court.

It had alleged that the accused used to threaten and eve-tease the girl and in July 2008, she set herself ablaze when her parents were not at home. She was taken to a hospital where she died during treatment.

Supreme Court has indeed raised an important question and it wasn’t just for the accused.  It is for every person who thinks that woman is an object of use for the men. It is for every person who thinks that woman is a commodity which can be sold and bought in the name of marriage, family’s shame, and honor. It is for every person who thinks that woman is inferior to men. And, it is for every person who thinks that the life of a woman belongs to the men of the family!

Why can’t women live in peace in this country?

Think about it!