section 498A

In a landmark move, the Supreme Court approved Allahabad HC's guidelines to prevent misuse of 498A IPC and directed pre-arrest scrutiny by Family Welfare Committees, along with barring future litigation between estranged spouses.

During the hearing of a case, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh noted that while some laws were originally meant to protect women against domestic violence and harassment, it is being widely misused by some women to compel husbands and their family into complying their unreasonable demands.

Citing misuse of Section 498A, the court observed that even relatives who don't stay with the complainant are often brought under the purview of the provision.

The Court argued that the complaint against the man was filed by his 'second wife', which rendered their marriage ‘null and void’.

NCP MLA Vidya Chavan's daughter in law alleges harassment and assault.

The Supreme Court also remarked that the misuse of section 498A could result in a social disaster.