Revisit dowry law, SC tells govt
Justice Bhandari, writing the judgement for the bench, said: “The courts are receiving a large number of cases emanating from Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code.”
By Sanjay K Singh, ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Expressing serious concern over tremendous increase in the number of dowry harassment cases across the country being filed with oblique motive, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to revisit the law on the issue. It noted that throughout the country, the courts are receiving a large number of cases under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code which was inserted in 1983 to deal with dowry harassment cases.
“We would like to observe that a serious relook of the entire provision is warranted by the legislation. It is also a matter of common knowledge that exaggerated versions of the incident are reflected in a large number of complaints. The tendency of over implication is also reflected in a very large number of cases,” said a bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and K S Radhakrishnan.
The court said: “It is a matter of common experience that most of these complaints under Section 498-A of the IPC are filed in the heat of the moment over trivial issues without proper deliberations.We come across a large number of such complaints which are not even bona fide and are filed with oblique motive. At the same time, rapid increase in the number of genuine cases of dowry harassment are also a matter of serious concern.”
“Unfortunately matrimonial litigation is rapidly increasing in our country. All the courts in our country, including this court are flooded with matrimonial cases. This clearly demonstrates discontent and unrest in the family life of a large number of people of the society,” said the court.
Justice Bhandari, writing the judgement for the bench, said: “The courts are receiving a large number of cases emanating from Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code.”
“We would like to observe that a serious relook of the entire provision is warranted by the legislation. It is also a matter of common knowledge that exaggerated versions of the incident are reflected in a large number of complaints. The tendency of over implication is also reflected in a very large number of cases,” said a bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and K S Radhakrishnan.
The court said: “It is a matter of common experience that most of these complaints under Section 498-A of the IPC are filed in the heat of the moment over trivial issues without proper deliberations.We come across a large number of such complaints which are not even bona fide and are filed with oblique motive. At the same time, rapid increase in the number of genuine cases of dowry harassment are also a matter of serious concern.”
“Unfortunately matrimonial litigation is rapidly increasing in our country. All the courts in our country, including this court are flooded with matrimonial cases. This clearly demonstrates discontent and unrest in the family life of a large number of people of the society,” said the court.
Justice Bhandari, writing the judgement for the bench, said: “The courts are receiving a large number of cases emanating from Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code.”
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