Section 498A · 9 December 2025
In-Laws' General Remarks or Advice to Tolerate Abuse Do Not Amount to Cruelty Under Section 498A IPC
High Court of Judicature at Bombay · 2025 SCC OnLine Bom 5663 (Reported January 06, 2026)
The complainant alleged that her father-in-law expressed dissatisfaction about dowry and ignored her husband's extramarital affair, while her brother-in-law advised her to tolerate marital disputes.
The High Court held that expressing dissatisfaction over dowry, ignoring an affair, or advising a spouse to tolerate friction do not constitute "cruelty" as defined under the explanation to Section 498A IPC. General, omnibus claims against in-laws without specific overt acts warrant quashing under Section 528 BNSS (Section 482 CrPC).
Relevant provisions: Section 498A IPC (Section 85 BNS) / Section 528 BNSS (Section 482 CrPC)
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