Women Need To Realise That Beneficial Laws Aren't Means To Threaten, Domineer Or Extort From Their Husbands : Supreme Court

Once again expressing concerns about the misuse of domestic violence and dowry laws by disgruntled wives, the Supreme Court cautioned women not to abuse the laws which are meant for their protection. The Court observed that more often than not, provisions like Section 498A, 376, 377, 506 are invoked as a "combined package" to pressurise the husband to accede to the demands of the wife in matrimonial cases. The Court added that the involvement of other parties and stakeholders worsen the situation, as they may often "devise such crafty strategies for the women to adopt such arm-twisting tactics for their ulterior motives." "The women need to be careful about the fact that these strict provisions of law in their hands are beneficial legislations for their welfare and not means to chastise, threaten, domineer or extort from their husbands," the Court advised. Last week, the same bench had raised similar concerns about the misuse of Section 498A IPC in Dara Lakshmi Narayana vs. State of Telangana, saying "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.