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.
On 7th March, The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that government employees’ private WhatsApp group activities are immune from disciplinary action. This emphasizes digital privacy and the distinction between personal and professional conduct. The decision highlights the need for legal expertise in privacy cases and sets a precedent for protecting individual rights in the digital age.
