MURDER IN RELATIONSHIP OR MARRIAGE; WHY SHOULD NOT BE A SEPARATE LAW?

Abstract

The most severe form of intimate partner violence (IPV) is known as intimate partner homicide (IPH), sometimes known as domestic murder. This kind of violence is becoming more seen as a huge concern in India, despite the fact that it is not widely acknowledged. There have been recent high-profile incidents that have brought to light the potentially fatal confluence of cultural traditions, psychological vulnerabilities, and economical constraints inside intimate settings. These cases have been magnified by electronic media and social platforms that are available around the clock. Dowry conflicts, the shame associated with infertility, caste hierarchies, accusations of adultery, and financial hardship are among the fundamental underlying causes that often create conditions in which coercive control, humiliation, and dominance end in lethal violence. Despite the fact that legal frameworks such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provide some degree of protection, the efficiency of these frameworks continues to be made more difficult by concerns around abuse and delayed justice. As opposed to being the result of an outburst of rage, the killing of an intimate partner in India is more of a predicted consequence of institutional failures and deeply ingrained cultural inconsistencies. As a result of the complexity and delays that are inherent in the existing divorce rules, people are often trapped in unhealthy relationships, which further increases the likelihood of fatal results. Reimagining marriage as a consensual contract, simplifying access to no-fault divorce, improving survivor-centered legal and social assistance, and cultivating a cultural tolerance of human fragility are all necessary steps in the prevention of violence of this kind. The only way for India to have any chance of reducing the number of killings committed by intimate partners and transforming homes from potential battlegrounds into safe sanctuaries is for the country to overcome these structural and legal hurdles.