Rise in FIRs registered under Sec498A alarming

LUDHIANA: Even after three regular sessions of counseling when Vishal refused to reunite with Shivani (name changed), despite her willingness to give their relationship yet another chance, the councilors at the "crime against woman" cell had no other way but to believe the charges against Vishal and his family of mentally harassing his wife. An FIR under Section 498A, of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused and his family.
Data from the crime against woman cell reveals an upward trend in the number of FIRs registered in the past three years or so.
The number of FIR's registered in 2013 was 44, while it was 37 in 2012 and 17 in 2011. The FIR's are mostly registered under Section 406 and Section 498A of the IPC for punishment of criminal breach of law and dowry related offence respectively.
Tanveer Singh, 27, a member of the three-member counseling committee, said that the rising number of FIRs registered, can be owed to the increasing awareness among people - in opposition to the time when most of the crimes against women went unreported.
Notably though, registering an FIR happens only after the failure of all attempts at settling the matter and reuniting the couple. Hence, the rise in this number can be upsetting for many. Irrespective of the number of complaints received, the steep rise in the cases registered is alarming in itself.
Bhushan Maini, another senior member of the counselling committee and a businessman, informed that the complaints received these days mostly spring up from ego clashes and adjustment problems involving people from all strata of the society. "It is difficult to state if women reporting impotency of their husbands and hence seeking separation hints at the upsurge of fearless society or a degrading one. But these days 15% women do complain of physical dissatisfaction. This is another reason that is behind the breakup in a number of marriages."
Paramjit Singh Pannu, ADCP Crime Against Woman cell said, "A lot of initiatives have already been taken to safeguard the position of women in the society. Helpline numbers, a police station dedicated to women, women constables and counselors etc. I feel that most of these initiatives have helped a lot. We will keep working towards the same and rid the city of any crime against women."