SC: Insulting a Daughter-in-Law and Her Family Is Unacceptable

While hearing a dowry harassment case, the Supreme Court strongly condemned the practice of insulting daughters-in-law and their families after marriage. A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan remarked, “Why do boys marry and then humiliate the girl and her family? A strong message must be sent to those who engage in such conduct.”
The case relates to the death of a woman in Chhattisgarh in 2010. She died at her matrimonial home within three years of her marriage. While her in-laws claimed that she had died by suicide through hanging, the prosecution argued that the death was linked to persistent dowry-related harassment.
According to the prosecution, the husband and his family repeatedly demanded cash and a car as dowry and subjected the woman to continuous cruelty. The trial court concluded that her unnatural death within seven years of marriage was directly connected to the dowry demands and harassment. This finding was later upheld by the High Court.
Referring to the evidence on record, Justice Nagarathna observed that the woman’s family had made every effort to support her. “The father even offered ₹60,000, yet he was called a beggar,” the judge noted.
The deceased woman’s brother-in-law challenged his conviction under Section 498A, arguing that there had been a delay in filing the FIR. However, the Supreme Court rejected the plea and upheld the conviction and sentence.