Top five landmark judgments on misuse of 498A

Source:- ipleaders

Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar

The wife alleged that dowry was demanded from her and that she was driven out of the matrimonial
home on non-fulfilment of such demands. The husband applied for anticipatory bail which failed.
Therefore, by special leave petition, the husband approached the Supreme Court.

Decision

In this case, the Court observed that the fact that Section 498A, IPC is a cognizable and non-bailable
offence, it is more often than not is used as a weapon rather than shield by disgruntled wives. It results
in harassing the husband and his relatives by getting them arrested under this Section and it is more
disturbing to see bedridden grandfathers and grandmothers being arrested without a prima facie case.
Thus, the Court laid down certain guidelines which the police officer must follow while arresting under
Section 498A, IPC or Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and that such arrest must be based on
a reasonable satisfaction with respect to genuineness of the allegation. Moreover, even the Magistrates
must be careful enough not to authorise detention casually and mechanically.

Manju Ram Kalita v. State of Assam (2009) 13 SCC 330

The wife alleged physical and mental cruelty at the hands of the husband and accused him under
Section 498A, IPC. The husband, however, denied all the charges.

Cases referred

The Court referred to the case of S. Hanumantha Rao v. S. Ramani [2] for the meaning of mental cruelty.
The Court also referred to other cases for gauging the scope of cruelty such as Mohd. Hoshan v. State of
A.P[3], Raj Rani v. State[4], Sushil Kumar Sharma v. Union of India[5], etc.

Decision

The Court held that “Cruelty” for the purpose of Section 498-A IPC is to be established in the context of
Section 498-A IPC as it may be different from other statutory provisions. It should be determined by
considering the conduct of the man, weighing the gravity or seriousness of his acts and to find out as to
whether it is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide, etc. It is to be established that the woman has
been subjected to cruelty continuously or at least in close proximity of time of lodging the complaint.
The Court further held that petty quarrels cannot be termed as “cruelty” to attract the provisions of
Section 498-A IPC.

Bibi Parwana Khatoon v. State of Bihar (2017) 6 SCC 792

Similar to previous cases, the facts of this case are that the wife was killed by setting her up on fire by
her husband and her relatives. The sister-in-law and brother-in-law of the deceased wife challenged the
conviction in the Supreme Court.

Decision

The Court brought under notice the facts that the appellants in the case did not even reside at the place
of mishap. There was no evidence to prove their charge beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, the Court
acquitted them and held that the Court must guard against false implication of the relatives.

Rajesh Kumar & Ors v. Sate of U.P. (2017 SCC OnLine SC 821)
Facts

In the present case, the husband, along with other relatives, was accused for causing cruelty to the wife
in lieu of demand for dowry. However, the other relatives demanded that there should be certain
guidelines to prevent over-implication. Thus, in most of the cases the relatives of the husband are also
being dragged into Courts in cases of Section 498A. However, it is not necessary that they have been
party to the offence. Thus, a question with respect to the need for directions to prevent misuse of
Section 498A, IPC was raised in the appeal.

Cases and Reports referred

The cases such a Sushil Kumar Sharma v. Union of India[6], Preeti Gupta v. State of Jharkhand[7],
Ramgopal v. State of Madhya Pradesh[8] and Savitri Devi v. Ramesh Chand[9] were referred wherein the
misuse of Section 498A and the need to adopt measures for prevention of such misuse has been
acknowledged. The division bench also referred 243rd Law Commission Report and 140th report of the
Rajya Sabha Committee.

Decision

The Supreme Court laid down comprehensive directions to prevent the misuse of the provision of
Section 498A, IPC.

Family Welfare Committee

 The constitution of one or more Family Welfare Committees in every district which shall
preferably consist of three members. Such a constitution is to be made by the District Legal
Services Authorities.
  The members may be volunteers/social workers/retired persons/wives of working officers/other
citizens or anyone who may be found suitable and willing.

 Frequent review of constitution and working of such committees in addition to the yearly review
which is a minimum requirement. Such review shall be done by the District and Session Judge of
the district who is also ex-officio chairman of the District Legal Services Authority.

 The Committee members will not be called as witnesses.

 Every complaint has to be referred to the Committee and the committee has to submit the
report to the authority who referred to such complaint. The report may be then considered by
the Investigating Officer or the Magistrate on its own merit.

 The work of the committee includes looking into every complaint under Section 498A received
by the police or the Magistrate.

 No arrest should normally be effected till report of the committee is received.

Investigating Officer

 Investigating Officers to be designated within a month from the delivery of judgment to

 Such designated officer may be required to undergo training for such duration (not less than one
week) as may be considered appropriate. The training may be completed within four months
from the date of delivery of the judgment.

Settlement

 In cases where a settlement is reached, the District and the Sessions Judge to dispose of the
proceedings. Such disposal also includes the closing of the criminal case if the dispute primarily
relates to matrimonial discord. The District and Sessions Judge may also nominate any other
senior Judicial Officer to do the same.

Bail Matters

 Cases where a bail application is filed with at least one clear day’s notice to the Public
Prosecutor or the complainant, the same may be decided on the same day.

 Recovery of disputed dowry items may not by itself be a ground for denial of bail if maintenance
or other rights of wife or minor children can otherwise be protected.

 Further, in dealing with bail matters, certain things such as individual roles, the prima facie truth
of the allegations, the requirement of further arrest or custody and interest of justice must be
carefully weighed.

Issuance of Red Corner Notice

Clubbing of cases

 It will be open to the District Judge or a designated senior judicial officer nominated by the
District Judge to club all connected cases between the parties arising out of matrimonial
disputes so that a holistic view is taken by the Court to whom all such cases are entrusted.

Personal appearance

 Personal appearance of all family members and particularly outstation members may not be
required.

 Further, the trial court ought to grant exemption from the personal appearance or permit
appearance by video conferencing without adversely affecting the progress of the trial.

However, the Court further said that these directions will not apply to the offences involving tangible
physical injuries or death. The Court also said that the National Legal Services Authority may submit a
report after a trial of 6 months of such arrangement and latest by March 31, 2018, for any change in the
directions issued or for any further directions.

Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar v. Union of India

The petition was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. The petitioners contended that it is not
untrue that there are a number of women suffering from violence at the hands of husband and his
relatives and that the accusation that Section 498A is being misused is not supported from any concrete
date on such misuse. It was further argued that the social purpose behind Section 498-A IPC is being lost
as the rigour of the said provision has been diluted and the offence has practically been made bailable
by reason of various qualifications and restrictions prescribed by various decisions of this Court
including Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P.

Cases referred

The Court referred to the principles stated in Joginder Kumar v. State of U.P.[10], D.K. Basu v. State of
W.B.[11], Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh[12] and Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar[13] and
directed that the investigating officers be careful and be guided by the same.

Decision

After referring to the directions, the Court concluded that the direction with respect to Family Welfare
Committees and their duties are not in accordance with any provision of Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973. The offence of cruelty is non-bailable and cognizable offence but due to the direction making it
impossible to arrest before the report of such committee has made this ineffective. Thus the directions
given in Rajesh Sharma case has been modified by Court as further explained.

 The direction with respect to constitution and duties of Family Welfare Committee has been
declared impermissible.  

 Further, direction pertaining to the settlement has been modified to include that it if a
settlement is arrived at, the parties can approach the High Court under Section 482 of the Code
of Criminal Procedure. The High Court, keeping in view the law laid down in Gian Singh v. State
of Punjab[14], shall dispose of the same.