A paralysed husband from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was carried into a district court on a stretcher on 19 December 2025 for a hearing in a domestic violence case lodged by his wife. The 45-year-old, bedridden due to paralysis, faced this ordeal amid allegations of cruelty by his spouse, who sought divorce and maintenance.
Court officials made no special arrangements for his mobility, leading to public criticism; the wife claimed abuse, while the man’s family decried the humiliation. No immediate action from authorities, but the viral video has prompted calls for accessible court infrastructure.
A Humiliating Ordeal in Court
The man, identified as Rajesh Kumar, has been paralysed below the waist for two years following a spinal injury. On the hearing day, he was brought to the courtroom in Kalyanpur district court via ambulance, then manually lifted on a stretcher by relatives through crowded corridors.
A video circulating online shows him lying helpless amid lawyers and staff, unable to sit or stand. Family members told media outlets, “This is inhuman; courts must have ramps and wheelchair access for the disabled.” The wife’s counsel defended the proceedings, stating, “The law applies equally, and the case must proceed.”
Roots of a Family Feud
The case stems from a matrimonial dispute filed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in 2024. The wife alleged physical and verbal abuse over dowry demands, prompting police to register an FIR. Kumar’s family counters that she abandoned him post-injury, fabricating claims for financial gain.
Prior hearings were adjourned due to his condition, but this time, the judge proceeded without accommodations. Local activists highlight Uttar Pradesh’s chronic shortfall in court accessibility, with only 20% of facilities equipped for disabilities per a 2023 state audit.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident exposes a glaring gap in empathy within our justice system, where the vulnerable are further marginalised instead of protected. The Logical Indian urges courts to prioritise dignity and accessibility for all, fostering dialogue between families and authorities to resolve disputes through mediation rather than spectacle.
True harmony lies in kindness that accommodates weakness—will our institutions rise to ensure no one is carried to justice on a stretcher of shame? Share your thoughts below.
