A proposal to establish a National Commission for Men (NCM) has reignited debate on gender justice in India after Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal introduced the National Commission for Men Bill in Parliament. The move comes in the wake of the widely discussed Ketan Agarwal case, which, according to the MP, highlighted that men too can become victims of violence, harassment, domestic abuse, and legal disputes, and deserve institutional support.
The proposed legislation seeks to create a statutory body dedicated to protecting the rights and welfare of men, much like the National Commission for Women (NCW) works for women’s issues. If enacted, the Commission would examine complaints, recommend policy reforms, advise governments on issues affecting men, and work to improve access to justice and support services.
What does the Bill propose?
According to the draft Bill, the National Commission for Men would function as an independent institutional mechanism to address a range of issues affecting men. Its proposed responsibilities include investigating complaints, providing legal aid and counselling, supporting victims of domestic abuse and workplace discrimination, facilitating rehabilitation, conducting research, and promoting awareness about men’s mental health and emotional well-being.
The Bill also advocates programmes encouraging healthy masculinity, counselling services, and policy recommendations aimed at addressing challenges that often remain underreported.
Why is it in the news?
The proposal gained attention following the alleged murder of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal, a case that renewed discussions around whether men receive adequate institutional support when they become victims of abuse or crime. While the investigation into the case is being handled through the legal system, its public attention prompted broader conversations about gender-neutral victim support.
Speaking in Parliament, Ashok Kumar Mittal argued that justice should not be determined by gender. According to him, every victim deserves legal protection, institutional assistance, and access to counselling, irrespective of whether they are male or female. He also pointed out that although India has specialised institutions for women, children, minorities, and other vulnerable groups, there is currently no dedicated national body focused on men’s welfare.
The arguments in favour
Supporters of the Bill argue that it addresses a long-standing institutional gap. They point to issues such as family disputes, child custody battles, mental health concerns, workplace discrimination, domestic violence against men, and allegations of misuse of certain legal provisions as areas where affected men often struggle to find dedicated support.
Mental health experts have repeatedly highlighted that many men are reluctant to report emotional distress or abuse because of social expectations around masculinity. Advocates believe a specialised commission could encourage reporting, provide counselling, and generate reliable data on issues affecting men that currently remain under-researched.
Concerns and criticism
The proposal has also attracted criticism from legal experts, activists, and women’s rights organisations. Critics caution that India still faces widespread violence, discrimination, and systemic inequality against women, making strong institutional safeguards essential. They argue that creating another commission should not dilute existing protections or divert attention from persistent gender-based crimes.
Some experts have also questioned whether a separate commission is the most effective solution.
They suggest strengthening gender-neutral implementation of existing laws, improving mental health services, and making victim-support systems more accessible for everyone regardless of gender.
Others have called for detailed parliamentary scrutiny to clearly define the commission’s powers, prevent overlap with existing institutions, and ensure that its mandate complements rather than conflicts with current legal frameworks.
Will it become law?
The National Commission for Men Bill is currently a Private Member’s Bill, meaning it has been introduced by an individual Member of Parliament rather than the government. In India, very few private members’ Bills eventually become law. Before any such proposal can be enacted, it must undergo debate, committee examination, and approval by both Houses of Parliament before receiving the President’s assent.
The larger conversation
The debate surrounding the proposed National Commission for Men reflects a broader shift in conversations around gender justice. Increasingly, experts argue that while women continue to require strong legal protections against discrimination and violence, men facing abuse, mental health crises, or family-related disputes should also have access to effective institutional support.
Whether India ultimately establishes a National Commission for Men remains uncertain. However, the proposal has succeeded in bringing attention to an important policy question: Can a justice system become truly inclusive only when support mechanisms are available to every victim, irrespective of gender?
The coming parliamentary discussions are likely to determine whether this proposal evolves into legislation or remains part of a wider debate on creating a more balanced and inclusive framework for justice.