Body shaming is domestic violence : Kerala High Court

KOCHI: While considering a case, the High Court found fault in 'innocuous' body shaming jibes against women. As per a new order, making fun of women's physical features (body shaming) is an offence under the Domestic Violence Act. Justice A. Badaruddin's remark came while quashing a petition.

According to the case:

In 2019, the young woman who got married and reached her husband's house had to face body shaming. The husband's elder brother's wife remarked her body was 'out of shape' and even judged the newlywed as an ill-fitted pair. It is claimed that the statements resulted in the newlywed bride enduring mental trauma.

The brother-in-law's wife even raised doubts about the newlywed bride’s medical degree certificate. The certificate was taken by force for scrutiny. The distressed woman moved out of her husband's house in 2022 and complained to the police. The defendants were the husband, father-in-law and the petitioner.

The defense argued that since the complainant was not related by blood, she did not fall within the definition of 'relative' under the Domestic Violence Act. However, the single bench pointed out that the residents of the husband's house can be considered relatives. The court remarked that teasing and excessive jibes often inflicted mental trauma and thus said the case would stand in the rule of the court.

In this regard, it was ordered that the case pending before the Koothuparambu Judicial First Class be proceeded at the earliest.