Top News

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has made an important comment regarding matters to marital disputes and dowry harassment. The court has clearly said that if the in-laws advise the daughter-in-law to ‘adjust’ or ‘adjust’ to the married life, then on this basis alone a case of dowry harassment (IPC 498A) or domestic violence cannot be made against them. The court also said that it is wrong to drag the entire family into legal action without concrete evidence and clear allegations.

The Supreme Court bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmikapam Kotishwar Singh, while hearing this case, said that in serious cases like dowry harassment and domestic violence, the allegations should be very clear and based on facts. The court said that if there is no specific incident, harassment or direct allegation of dowry demand against a person, then filing a criminal case against him would be considered a misuse of the law. The court also made it clear that law cannot be used as a weapon to settle family disputes.

‘Advice to adjust’ not considered a crime

During the hearing, the court also said that many times family members advise the husband and wife to reconcile with each other in order to save the marriage. This cannot be categorized as a crime. According to the court, merely saying that the in-laws supported the husband or advised the daughter-in-law to compromise in the relationship does not prove that they have inflicted mental or physical torture.

High Court order canceled

The Supreme Court also canceled the order of Madhya Pradesh High Court in this case. The top court said that the allegations on the basis of which the High Court had given permission to continue the action against the in-laws were not sufficient. The court accepted that the complainant woman could not present any concrete evidence in support of her allegations. In such a situation, it was not justified to prosecute the accused.

The Supreme Court also said that it is very important to protect women from domestic violence and dowry harassment, but it is equally important to ensure that innocent people are not unnecessarily implicated in legal matters. The court said that investigating agencies and lower courts should work carefully in such cases so that all the members of a family are not made accused merely on the basis of kinship.

What is the whole matter?

This matter is to Guna district of Madhya Pradesh. The woman was married in the year 2019. In January 2023, she filed a case of dowry harassment against her husband and other members of her in-laws. The woman had alleged that cash, jewelery and household items were taken from her family at the time of marriage.

Also, even after marriage, additional money was demanded from her. Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier considered the action taken against the in-laws as correct. After this the accused party filed an appeal in the Supreme Court. Now, after the hearing, the Supreme Court has given relief to the in-laws by canceling the order of the High Court.