The Supreme Court of India has issued a critical reminder about the enduring patriarchal control over women's lives, despite the country’s constitutional guarantees and progressive legal reforms. Justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh made these observations while affirming a life sentence for a man convicted of murdering his wife in Rajasthan in 2011, highlighting the broader issue of domestic violence and dowry-related crimes. The court noted that over 448,000 crimes against women were recorded in 2023, with more than 6,000 dowry-related deaths annually, indicating a troubling persistence of outlawed practices. The justices pointed out that although India has made strides in women's rights through various laws, such as the Dowry Prohibition Act and rulings against practices like instant triple talaq, these have not fully translated into real equality for women. The court characterized extreme violence against women as symptoms of a deeper societal issue, urging a collective reflection on the persistent control over women's bodies and choices, which they argue lies with the people of India.