In cases of IPC section 498A (cruelty towards a woman by her husband or the husband’s family), courts must exercise caution to prevent misuse of the legal process, says a bench of Justices B Nagarathna and Kotiswar Singh.

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 t

The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the "growing tendency to misuse Section 498A" of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which penalises cruelty by husbands and their relatives against married women.

The fact that a wife did not make any complaint regarding cruelty for many years would not make a complaint under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code unsustainable, held the Supreme Court

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 Supreme Court noted in its judgment.

The Supreme Court's observation gains significance amidst growing demands for justice in the case of Bengaluru-based techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide following alleged harassment by his wife.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh quashed the case filed by a woman against her husband after it was upheld by the Telangana high court.