The Supreme Court overturned a domestic cruelty case filed by a woman under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against her in-laws, citing that the allegations were motivated by an attempt to coerce her husband into agreeing to divorce on her terms.
The bench, consisting of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan, criticized the complaint as a weaponized legal strategy in a personal dispute. They found no credible evidence to support claims of cruelty or forced miscarriage, with the allegations deemed vague, delayed, and lacking substantive detail.
The woman alleged that her in-laws forced her to consume adulterated food, leading to a miscarriage, and subjected her to physical and mental cruelty for not bearing a male child. However, these accusations were made two years after the alleged incidents, with no proof to establish the in-laws’ involvement or knowledge of her pregnancy.
Highlighting that cruelty under Section 498A requires intent to cause grave harm or provoke self-harm, the Court stated that the allegations failed to meet this threshold. Furthermore, the absence of these claims in the earlier divorce proceedings raised doubts about their credibility.
In its judgment, the Court underscored concerns about the misuse of Section 498A, referring to recent rulings that cautioned against frivolous accusations weaponized for personal gains. As a result, the criminal case was dismissed, offering relief to the accused in-laws.
This decision reaffirms the need for legal scrutiny to prevent the misuse of laws designed to protect against genuine domestic abuse, ensuring justice prevails in cases of personal discord.
