Author: Krishika Yadav , Avantika University Ujjain (M.P)
To the Point
Across India, a quiet crisis is unfolding. Men young and old are dying by suicide or under suspicious circumstances, often after being entangled in legal battles, academic pressure, or social isolation. These aren’t just personal tragedies. They’re warning signs of deeper institutional failures that we’ve ignored for too long.
ABSTRACT
This article explores the rising number of suicides and suspicious deaths among men in India, especially in two areas: academic institutions and matrimonial disputes. It argues that systemic legal bias, misuse of protective laws, and institutional apathy have created a dangerous environment for men. The solution lies in legal reform, mental health support, and the creation of a National
Commission for Men to ensure fairness and accountability.
Use of Legal Jargon
- Institutional Murder: When a person’s death is caused not by a single act of violence, but by systemic neglect, discrimination, or legal abuse.
- Section 498A IPC: A law meant to protect women from cruelty in marriage, but one that courts have acknowledged is sometimes misused.
- Legal Terrorism: A term used by the judiciary to describe the malicious use of criminal law to intimidate or harass.
- Due Process Violation: When someone is denied a fair legal procedure like being arrested without proper investigation.
- Gender-Neutral Legislation: Laws that apply equally to all genders, increasingly demanded in cases of domestic violence and family disputes.
The Proof
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 1.2 lakh men died by suicide in 2023 more than 70% of all suicides in the country.
- Many of these deaths were linked to family problems, false legal cases, or financial stress.
- In elite institutions like IITs and NITs, male students especially from marginalized backgrounds have taken their own lives, often after facing discrimination or academic burnout.
- In family courts, men often face years of litigation, social stigma, and emotional trauma, with little institutional support or mental health care.
Case laws
1. Atul Subhash Case (2024)
Atul Subhash was a 34-year-old software engineer living in Bengaluru. On December 9, 2024, he died by suicide—leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 24-page note that shook the nation. In his final words, Atul detailed the emotional and legal torment he endured at the hands of his estranged wife and her family. He alleged that they filed multiple false cases under Section 498A IPC and the Domestic Violence Act, demanding ₹3 crore as a divorce settlement. He also accused a judge of demanding a bribe to resolve the matter.
Atul’s death wasn’t impulsive—it was deliberate, planned, and deeply symbolic. He mailed his suicide note to the President of India and the Supreme Court, asking that his ashes be scattered outside the court as a protest. His case sparked a national conversation about the misuse of matrimonial laws, the lack of mental health support for men, and the urgent need for gender-neutral legal reforms.
Why it matters:
Atul’s story is not just about one man’s suffering—it’s about a broken system that failed to protect him. His death has become a rallying cry for legal reform and mental health awareness for men facing similar ordeals.
2. Darshan Solanki Case (2023)
Darshan Solanki was just 18 years old when he died. A first-year Dalit student at IIT Bombay, he had cleared the JEE against all odds and arrived on campus full of hope. But within months, he was gone falling from the seventh floor of his hostel building in February 2023. His family believes it wasn’t just suicide it was the result of caste-based discrimination and social isolation.
Darshan had confided in his sister and aunt that classmates treated him differently after learning about his caste. He was told to hide his identity. Some peers allegedly mocked him for “studying for free.” Weeks later, a four-word suicide note was found: “Arman has killed me.” The note pointed to a fellow student, who was later booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Why it matters:
Darshan’s death exposed the deep cracks in India’s elite institutions where merit alone isn’t always enough to survive. His story is a painful reminder that caste discrimination still thrives in silence, and that mental health support for marginalized students is woefully inadequate.
Conclusion
These deaths are not just numbers. They are stories of young students, struggling fathers, and isolated husbands many of whom reached out for help and found none. India’s legal and institutional systems must evolve to recognize that men, too, can be vulnerable. We need gender-neutral laws, mental health support, and a justice system that listens to both sides. Because silence is no longer an option
.FAQS
Q1: Are men really more vulnerable to suicide in India?
Yes. Men account for over 70% of suicides in India, often due to legal stress, financial pressure, and lack of emotional support.
Q2: Is Section 498A being misused?
While it protects many genuine victims, courts have acknowledged that it’s sometimes used to harass or pressure men and their families.
Q3: What reforms are being proposed?
- Gender-neutral domestic violence laws
- Pre-litigation mediation in family disputes
- A National Commission for Men
- Mandatory mental health support in universities and workplaces
Q4: What is “institutional murder”?
It refers to deaths caused by systemic neglect like caste bias in universities or legal harassment in family courts where institutions fail to protect or act responsibly.
