The Supreme Court ruled in Manju Ram Kalita v. State of Assam that petty quarrels between husband and wife do not amount to cruelty under Section 498A IPC unless they are serious and continuous.
The Karnataka High Court ruled that a wife cannot be accused of extortion for seeking or receiving maintenance granted by a competent court, stating that such actions do not amount to criminal offense.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that paying alimony cannot be set as a condition for bail in marital disputes, ruling that bail conditions should only ensure a fair trial and presence of the accused.
The Bombay High Court ruled that merely asking a wife to bring money from her parents, without clear proof of cruelty or abuse, does not amount to harassment, while quashing a false FIR against her husband and in-laws.
The Bombay High Court ruled that preventing a daughter-in-law from watching TV or going to the temple alone doesn’t amount to cruelty under IPC Section 498A, as the complaints lacked severity.
The Allahabad High Court dismissed a cruelty case filed by a wife against her husband, stating that the conflict between them stemmed from sexual incompatibility rather than actual cruelty or dowry demands.
The Bombay High Court ruled that a husband’s relatives cannot be booked under Section 498A IPC just because they advised the wife to tolerate his cruelty, unless there is clear evidence of their involvement.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on a woman for filing a false cruelty case against her fully disabled in-laws. The court found the allegations to be clearly untrue and a misuse of legal process.
The Bombay High Court ruled that a husband’s girlfriend cannot be charged under Section 498A IPC as she is not a relative. The court quashed the FIR filed against her in a domestic violence case.
The Kerala High Court ruled that minor disputes in marriage do not amount to dowry harassment under Section 498A IPC unless both dowry demand and cruelty are proven. The Court cautioned against misuse of the law in trivial matters.
