Laws such as the POSH Act, Section 498A IPC, and sexual harassment provisions were enacted to correct deep structural inequalities and protect women from harassment, cruelty, and abuse. Their intent is noble, necessary, and non-negotiable.

However, any powerful law, when misused, ceases to be a shield and becomes a weapon.

As a legal practitioner working closely with institutions and inquiry mechanisms, it has become impossible to ignore a growing concern: a section of complaints are being initiated not in pursuit of justice, but as tools of vengeance, retaliation, or strategic pressure against men often arising from workplace disagreements, matrimonial discord, or personal animosity.

I have handled multiple matters where the misuse of women-protective laws is evident by some women, with men being subjected to harassment and punishment through false allegations, fabricated FIRs, and distorted or selectively presented facts. Such actions convert laws meant for protection into instruments of coercion. This is not empowerment. This is misuse of law and abuse of institutional power.

This acknowledgment does not deny the reality that women continue to suffer at the hands of men whether through discrimination at the workplace, sexual harassment, domestic violence, blackmail, infidelity, or other forms of abuse. Those violations are real, serious, and deserving of strict legal response. There are unquestionable cases where some men abuse power and turn rogue, and the law must respond firmly.

However, it is equally necessary for both genders to recognize that laws designed as powerful safeguards for the genuinely aggrieved must not be misused for personal ego, revenge, or retaliation. Such misuse corrodes the credibility of the legal system and ultimately harms those the law was created to protect. Respect, reverence, and credibility are hard-earned and easily lost.

The Collateral Damage of False and Malicious Complaints:

The impact of such misuse is profound and systemic:

• Genuine women victims suffer the most. Judicial and institutional scepticism increases, making it harder for truthful complainants to be believed and protected.
• Men experience fear, stigma, and discrimination. Careers are derailed, reputations destroyed, and mental health compromised—often before any finding of guilt.
• Workplaces become risk-averse, not safe. HRs and ICs operate under fear of backlash rather than principles of justice.
• Trust in women’s complaints erodes socially. Ironically, misuse weakens the moral authority and societal reverence earned by women who act with integrity.

This is why misuse is not a “women vs men” issue. It is a rule of law issue.

A Message:

Some women  must understand that legal remedies must be used ethically and responsibly in genuine cases. Misuse is not strength—it is self-sabotage.

False complaints:

• Undermine real victims
• Destroy credibility
• Erode societal trust
• Ultimately “shoot one’s own leg” by weakening the very protections meant to empower women

The Way Forward :

Justice demands balance:
✔ Strong protection for genuine victims
✔ Accountability for malicious complaints
✔ Gender-neutral, evidence-based inquiry mechanisms
✔ Courage to speak about misuse without fear of labels

Acknowledging misuse is not anti-woman. It is pro-justice.

Only by protecting the integrity of the law, can we ensure it continues to protect those it was meant for. If one seeks relief under the law, one must also act lawfully. Justice cannot be built on falsehoods, nor can empowerment survive the abuse of legal power.

By,

Priya Iyengar & Atreyee Chakraborti