SC on Twisha Sharma Case: “Better Divorced Than Dead”

The Supreme Court on Monday urged media organisations not to record statements of Twisha Sharma’s family members, saying their grief should not be turned into “sound bites” for public attention.

The court said the observation took place while presiding over the suo motu case stemming from the alleged dowry death of Twisha Sharma. The family is already in deep emotional pain and the matter should be reported in a responsible manner, said Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India.

In the court hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta spoke vigorously. Without putting responsibility on either side, he said, “the moral of the story is clear — it is better to have a divorced daughter than a dead one.”

His comment drew attention to the serious problems of toxic marriages and dowry-related harassment. The statement quickly received buzz online and ignited conversations about women’s safety and family pressure in abusive relationships.

The Supreme Court’s remarks, meanwhile, included the protection of grieving families’ dignity and privacy in sensitive cases. The issue still has public and legal attention.