The Allahabad High Court criticized trial judges for convicting innocent individuals out of fear of higher court actions. The court reassured the trial judge in a dowry death case, affirming no errors in his acquittal decisions, except for an unwarranted conviction. The High Court emphasized judicial independence to prevent wrongful convictions.
Today, 11th April, The Madhya Pradesh High Court (HC) ruled that denying food to a married woman due to unmet dowry demands constitutes physical and mental cruelty, punishable under Section 498A of the IPC. The court also noted that forcing a woman to live in her parental home due to dowry non-payment constitutes mental harassment. The ruling rejected the plea to dismiss a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the wife against her husband and in-laws, stating the allegations of withholding food and mental harassment were substantial. The court emphasized that the FIR was not retaliatory and dismissed the husband’s petition.
