A proposal to establish a National Commission for Men has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha after MP Ashok Kumar Mittal tabled the National Commission for Men Bill, 2025. Referring to the recent Ketan Agarwal case, Mittal described the incident as deeply disturbing and argued that men, too, can be victims of crime and deserve institutional support. He called for a dedicated statutory body to safeguard men's rights.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a commission to examine complaints concerning men, safeguard their rights and welfare, recommend policy reforms, and provide support in matters relating to legal disputes, domestic violence, mental health, discrimination and social welfare. According to the draft Bill, the proposed commission would also provide legal aid, counselling, rehabilitation support, research and awareness programmes, while reviewing existing laws, addressing challenges faced by men, and promoting their welfare and protection.
Mittal said the alleged murder of Pune-based realtor Ketan Agarwal highlighted the need for equal protection irrespective of gender. He stated that every victim deserves justice, adding that men, too, can face abuse, violence and false accusations. He said the proposed commission would also address issues relating to family disputes, mental health, child custody battles, workplace grievances, discrimination and access to justice, without weakening the existing legal protections available to women.
The Bill will now proceed through the parliamentary process and is expected to be taken up for debate before any decision is made. As a Private Member's Bill, it must pass several legislative stages before it can become law.
