Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code: Recent Supreme Court And High Court Judgments And Concerns of Misuse
Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code: Recent Supreme Court And High Court Judgments And Concerns of Misuse Authored By: Vineet Anand Advocate Mob. +91 9711263262 Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), introduced in 1983, aims to protect women from cruelty perpetrated by their husbands and in-laws. This provision was a significant step towards addressing domestic violence in India. However, over the years, it has come under intense scrutiny due to reports of widespread misuse. Recent judgments from the Supreme Court of India have sought to address these concerns while emphasizing the need for a balanced approach in applying this law. The Legal Framework of Section 498A Section 498A defines cruelty as conduct that causes severe mental or physical harm to a woman, potentially leading to suicide or grave danger to her life. The law states: “Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment f...