In a landmark case, a woman in Madhya Pradesh has approached the Indore district court alleging that her in-laws subjected her to a virginity test on her wedding night. The court has taken cognizance of the matter, marking it as the first legal challenge to the practice in the state.
The victim, who was married in December 2019 to a man from Bhopal, alleged that her in-laws employed inappropriate methods to check her virginity on the night of her marriage. The act, she stated, caused her severe mental and physical distress.
According to a confidential report by the Women and Child Development Department, the in-laws' actions constituted mental and physical harassment, leaving the woman traumatized.
Following the victim's complaint, the district court has directed the registration of a case against her in-laws. This is a significant step in addressing the harmful and outdated practice of virginity testing.
The case underscores the violation of human dignity and the urgent need to challenge cultural norms that perpetuate such practices.
The woman endured further emotional pain following her marriage. Within three months, she suffered a miscarriage and later gave birth to a stillborn baby after carrying the pregnancy for nine months. She is now a mother to one living daughter.
This is the first time virginity testing has been legally contested in the state. The practice has no scientific basis and is recognized globally as a violation of women's rights.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Sreelekshmi P/MSM)