MOTHERS THAT TAKE LIVES; A COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF INFANTICIDE IN INDIA AND THE UK

‘Maternal infanticide’ - the tragic act of a mother taking her own child’s life within its first year is a topic as gripping as it is unsettling. Fortunately, the instances of mother-killing murders are unusual; Still, recent occurrences have raised concerns about the legal structure around this crime and whether infanticide laws are enforced in such a way that protects vulnerable women as well as vulnerable infants. Infanticide, the act of intentionally killing a newborn child by a mother, is deeply intertwined with historical and cultural contexts and remains a distressing and poignant issue in contemporary society. This study explores the issue of infanticide in India and the United Kingdom, focusing on the sociocultural, legal, and psychological factors that influence its occurrence and societal responses. Also, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of infanticide committed by mothers, and its aftereffects by examining the complexities surrounding society. Although women's rights and gender equality have made great strides, the offense of infanticide has been a deeply ingrained problem that reflects enduring gender prejudices and a preference for male children in some parts of India. Maternal infanticide causes have rarely been discussed. There are many reasons to assume that the infanticidal mother is lousy or insane in the absence of a detailed and thorough analysis . Maternal infanticide is an inescapable aspect of human existence. Examining a mother's possible reasons for killing her child from psychiatric, sociological, and other perspectives might lessen suffering and perhaps shed light on why it is an inevitable part of human life.