The Supreme Court on Friday made strong remarks against dowry-related harassment while hearing a case linked to the death of a woman in Chhattisgarh who died by hanging within three years of her marriage.
Refusing to grant relief to the husband’s family members convicted in the case, the Court said a strong social message must go out against the humiliation of brides and their families.
A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan observed that women and their families are often insulted and harassed after marriage over dowry demands.
Justice Nagarathna questioned why boys marry girls only to later humiliate them and their families.
The Court said people cannot demand money and then insult the bride’s family by calling them beggars.
The Supreme Court clearly stated that insulting a bride or her parental family would not be tolerated.
The Bench said dowry harassment has become a serious social problem and courts must deal with such cases strictly.
Background
The case dates back to 2010. According to the prosecution, the woman was repeatedly harassed by her husband and in-laws for cash and a car. She later died by suicide in her matrimonial home. Since the death occurred within three years of marriage and there was evidence of cruelty and dowry demands, the courts treated it as a dowry death case.
The trial court had convicted the husband’s family members under Sections 304B (dowry death), 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498A (Cruelty by Husband or Relatives)
of the Indian Penal Code.
The Chhattisgarh High Court later upheld the conviction.
The Supreme Court has now refused to interfere with those findings.
The Court also observed that even educated families are involved in dowry-related cruelty and such behaviour cannot be treated as normal in society.