Pune Judge Says Man Loses Attraction If Woman Doesn't Wear Sindoor, Mangalsutra; Sparks Debate

In a LinkedIn post, Pune-based disputes lawyer Ankur R Jahagirdar shared an incident highlighting an off-hand comment made by the judge during a hearing. Here’s a closer look at the case and the controversy it has sparked.

Pune Judge Says Man Loses Attraction If Woman Doesn't Wear Sindoor, Mangalsutra

A district court in Pune recently witnessed an unusual exchange between a woman accusing her husband of domestic violence and a judge mediating the case. During the discussion, the judge questioned the woman, asking why her husband would be interested in her if she didn’t wear mangalsutra and sindoor.

Pune-based disputes lawyer Ankur R Jahagirdar shared the incident in a LinkedIn post, which has since gone viral on social media. In his post, Ankur recounted how he observed a separated couple being urged by the judge to resolve their differences amicably. Jahagirdar recounted that during a domestic violence case brought in for mediation, the judge addressed the woman, saying, “I can see that you are not wearing a mangalsutra and bindi. If you don’t behave like a married woman, why would your husband show any interest in you?”

He noted that the couple had been separated for some time, and while the judge was attempting to mediate and encourage reconciliation, this remark was made during the proceedings.

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Jahagirdar also shared another incident where a judge commented, "If a woman is financially independent, she will always seek a husband who earns more than her and would never consider marrying someone with a lower income. On the other hand, a wealthy man might even marry a maid who works in his house. See how adaptable men are? You should also learn to be more flexible and not so rigid."

Uncomfortable with such remarks, Jahagirdar pointed out, "What bothered me even more was that neither the client nor a bystander like myself had any real way to challenge these casual comments made by judges."

Describing these instances as just "the tip of the iceberg," he emphasised that district courts witness many more occurrences that would "deeply disturb any rational, educated individual." He further highlighted society’s acceptance of such perspectives, remarking, "Unfortunately, our society has a basic tolerance for some truly outrageous ideas. And the reason for this is clear—the first rule of the patriarchy club is that you don’t talk about the patriarchy club."

Reactions To The Pune Judge’s Remark

These comments are certainly not isolated incidents. After the Gauhati High Court's 2020 ruling, social media users responded by sharing images of themselves without traditional marriage symbols such as sindoor (vermillion) and mangalsutra (sacred thread), sparking widespread debate on the issue.

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The incident has sparked renewed discussions on gender roles, patriarchal norms, and the larger consequences of such views being voiced within the legal system. Critics assert that the judiciary's role should be to uphold legal principles impartially rather than perpetuate societal stereotypes.

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