SC flags misuse of cruelty law by women

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the rampant misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women.

A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice N Kotiswar Singh noted that sometimes the provision, originally intended to protect women from domestic violence and harassment, is increasingly being exploited by some women to force her husband and his family to comply with unreasonable demands, reports the Bar and Bench.

"Sometimes, recourse is taken to invoke Section 498A of the IPC against the husband and his family in order to seek compliance with the unreasonable demands of a wife," the Court said.

The court said that there is a growing trend to use the provision as a tool by women for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family.