SC on Dowry Deaths: The Supreme Court on Friday made strong remarks against dowry-related harassment while refusing relief to a member of a husband’s family convicted in a 2010 dowry death case from Chhattisgarh, asserting that a strong message must go out against the humiliation of brides and their families.
A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, dismissed an appeal filed by the deceased woman’s younger brother-in-law, who had challenged his conviction after she was found hanging in her matrimonial home due to dowry harassement.
While declining to interfere in the matter, the bench criticised the conduct of the husband’s family.
“Why do boys marry girls and then insult them and their families? Let a message go out that they cannot continue insulting the bride and her family," Justice Nagarathna observed during the hearing.
The case stemmed from a 2010 incident in Chhattisgarh, where a woman was found hanging in her matrimonial home within seven years of marriage. According to the prosecution, she faced repeated harassment and dowry demands, including requests for cash and a car, from her husband and in-laws.
Evidence from the woman’s family indicated repeated financial demands and cruelty “soon before" her death.
The trial court had ruled that the death occurred under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage, attracting the legal presumption of dowry death. Multiple members of the husband’s family were convicted under provisions including Sections 304B (dowry death), 306 (abetment of suicide), and 498A (cruelty and harassment). The Chhattisgarh High Court later upheld the convictions.
During the hearing today, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that only Section 498A had been invoked against his client and that the allegations were insufficient to sustain the conviction.
However, the Supreme Court was not convinced. “You should be happy that it is only 498A and only three years," Justice Nagarathna remarked.
The judge also criticised what she described as a pattern of financial coercion in matrimonial homes.
“Attempt is to squeeze the bride and her family," she said, referring to allegations that the woman’s family was insulted and pressured for money.
When the counsel raised the issue of delay in filing the FIR, the bench dismissed the argument, saying, “Let the message go. This is how brides are treated."
Justice Bhuyan also expressed concern over the normalisation of such behaviour, remarking, “These are educated people."
The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the findings of the lower courts and dismissed the appeal.
The hearing comes at a time when the issue of dowry harassment has again drawn national attention following the death of Twisha Sharma in Bhopal earlier this month. Her family has alleged dowry harassment by her husband and mother-in-law, allegations the accused have denied.
Source: News18
