The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over the misuse of marital cruelty laws, warning that such provisions should not be exploited as tools of personal vendetta. A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh emphasized the original intent of Section 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), now Section 86 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which was to address genuine cases of cruelty faced by women in marriage.
The court’s observations came while quashing a cruelty case filed by a woman against her husband and his family. This followed the Telangana High Court’s refusal to dismiss the matter earlier. The bench noted a troubling rise in marital disputes, with increasing instances of these laws being weaponized to settle personal scores.
Justice Nagarathna remarked that baseless and vague allegations could distort the purpose of such legal provisions, adding that misuse encourages “arm-twisting tactics” that undermine the integrity of the justice system. Under Section 86 of the BNS, offenses of marital cruelty can lead to imprisonment for up to three years and fines.
The judgment comes amid broader discussions about balancing the protection of women with the potential for legal misuse. In a separate but related context, the suicide of a Bengaluru-based techie allegedly due to harassment by his wife and in-laws has reignited debates on the fairness of marital laws in India.
 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), now Section 86 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which was to address genuine cases of cruelty faced by women in marriage.){kind=link}