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A bonnet troop inhabiting Lal Bagh, Bangalore (HAFEEZUR RAHAMAN ~; PARTHASARATHY, 1967) was exclusively studied for its communicative behavior. The whole system of the bonnet organization is based on composite expressions. Depending on situations, individual signals or a complex of them involving tactile, visual, auditory, and olfactory are passed from one individual to the other. Among tactile signals the most important one is the grooming; among visual the body movement, more particularly the face and jaws; among auditory the groaning and shrieking; among olfactory the sniffing. Analysis of such a study reveals that the bonnet monkeys have a communicative system and an organization of their own, which though principally are the same as in other primates, do entail a few minor differences. These features though primitive from the standards of human consideration, are developed to their full advantage, but still remain at a primitive level. By far, the greatest part of the whole system of communication seems to be devoted to the organization, of the social behavior of the group, to dominance and subordination, the maintenance of peace and cohesion of the group, reproduction and care of the young (MARLER, 1965).

No abstract

The daily movements of two troupes of Bonnet monkeys were thoroughly studied for over a year and it was observed that there is a clearly demarcated area within which the troupes move. The whole area though not well defended against trespassers is held exclusively by a particular troupe. Within the home range are the areas of preference or core areas where the troupes spend most of their time and these areas are kept free of strangers. The inhabitants announce their occupation of the area and intruders are given timely warning by methods which prevent encroachment. There are a few selected quarters where Bonnets sleep at night and these are generally located close to the feeding grounds. Movement, feeding, social grooming and social play including sexual activity are the four major activities in which the Bonnets indulge. In general there is no marked difference between the Bonnet macaque and other macaques in their daily movement and activity. It can be argued that these various facets of behaviour have a selective significance.

The reproductive justice framework envisions a world where all women, including those situated at the intersection of multiple structures of oppression such as class, caste, sexual orientation, disability and mental health, are able to exercise their right to decisional and reproductive autonomy. S. 3(4)(a) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, provides that an abortion cannot be performed on a mentally ill woman without the consent of her guardian. I analyse the Indian Supreme Court’s decision in Suchita Srivastava v. Chandigarh Administration [(2009) 9 SCC 1] in light of contemporary legal developments in the field of disability law and mental health law. The first argument that I make in this paper is that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, covers persons with mental illness, with the rights in the Act applicable to those with mental illness as well. The second argument rests on the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which recognizes the right to privacy and dignity of mentally ill persons, including their capacity to make decisions affecting healthcare. I argue that the judgment, while path-breaking in its recognition of the reproductive rights of disabled women, is inimical to the rights of mentally ill women, perpetuating dangerous stereotypes about their ability to exercise choices, and dehumanizing them. It is imperative for the reproductive justice framework to inform legal discourse and judicial decision-making, to fully acknowledge the right to self-determination and bodily integrity of mentally ill persons.