The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that advising a daughter-in-law to improve her household work does not constitute cruelty under Section 304B IPC. This decision came as the court overturned the conviction of a mother and her son for dowry death, which had resulted in a ten-year rigorous imprisonment sentence.
Justice Dr. VRK Krupa Sagar heard the appeal of the mother and son, who were convicted under Section 304B IPC for allegedly causing the dowry death of the daughter-in-law. The complainants claimed that the deceased was subjected to cruelty within eight months of her marriage. They alleged that the husband and his mother frequently compared her marriage ceremony to her sister’s and demanded she be more perfect in her household tasks.
The bench observed, “Comments or praises regarding household work are common in any family. There is no evidence that she was abused or physically harmed for not performing household tasks perfectly.”
The judge pointed out that the evidence presented did not support a conviction for dowry death. “If the deceased woman had been troubled, she would have told someone nearby,” the judge remarked.
Furthermore, the bench noted that there was no evidence of the deceased being sent away from her home or seeking refuge with her family due to mistreatment by the accused. “This indicates she was leading a normal family life, which includes both ups and downs. Her parents’ testimony did not suggest they ever felt the need to inquire about her well-being through neighbors,” the bench added.
The court concluded, “Comparing marriage celebrations or advising a newly married woman to perform household tasks more efficiently does not relate to dowry or cruelty as per Section 304B IPC.”
Based on the evidence and records, the bench allowed the appeal and set aside the convictions of the mother-in-law and her son.
