The Gujarat High Court has raised concerns over the increasing misuse of domestic violence and dowry allegations by women against their husbands and in-laws. According to the court, many women have been exaggerating these claims to intensify charges, often involving their entire family in false accusations. This tactic puts immense pressure on husbands and their relatives, frequently complicating domestic disputes.
In a recent case, the court quashed a 2019 FIR filed by a woman against her husband and in-laws, citing insufficient evidence and vague allegations. The woman had accused them of cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with charges of assault and criminal intimidation. She also invoked the Dowry Prohibition Act and later filed a domestic violence case.
Justice D.A. Joshi, who presided over the bench, noted that invoking dowry-related sections of the law is often used as a tactic to increase the severity of the charges. The court emphasized that this growing trend of exaggerating allegations in domestic disputes leads to the unnecessary involvement of family members who may have no direct connection to the issue.
In this particular case, the woman had married in January 2018 and left her matrimonial home in June 2019, later filing the FIR and domestic violence case. Although she initially agreed to quash the FIR and return to her husband, she eventually left for her parental home once again. Upon reviewing the FIR, the High Court found that it lacked specific instances of mental or physical cruelty, pointing out that the allegations were too vague.
The court also highlighted that similar cases have been observed by both the Supreme Court and various High Courts across India. It stated that when relatives, especially those of higher status or vulnerable standing, are involved, they become easy targets for manipulation, often for better bargaining power or blackmail.
The Gujarat High Court’s ruling serves as a reminder of the need to carefully scrutinize domestic violence and dowry-related allegations to ensure justice is served without misuse of the law.
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