Supreme Court acquits mother-in-law in 2001 dowry case, says 'word spreads faster than wind'

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday acquitted a woman accused of subjecting her daughter-in-law to cruelty and said the "Word spreads faster than the wind about a woman being harassed for dowry by the parents-in-law".

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria passed the judgment on a plea against the Uttarakhand High Court's verdict, which affirmed the conviction and three-year sentence to the woman, PTI reported.

She was convicted under Section 498-A of the erstwhile IPC on the ground that her daughter-in-law, who died, informed her family members about facing harassment for dowry.

The top court, however, noted the appellant's neighbour, who was examined as a witness in the case, claimed she never made any dowry demand.

"Her evidence having been brushed aside by the trial court and also high court on the premise that she could not have deposed any fact with regard to the demand of dowry as it happens within the four walls is an erroneous finding particularly in such matters the word spreads faster than the wind about a daughter-in-law being harassed for the dowry by the parents in law," the bench said.

The victim's father filed a complaint in June 2001 alleging his daughter was found dead inside the matrimonial home. It was alleged she was pregnant at the time of her death, and the woman used to inform that her mother-in-law was commenting on her sarcastically for dowry. The complainant also said his son-in-law was not in the city.

The parents-in-law and brother-in-law of the woman were arraigned as accused in the case.

The men were, however, acquitted by the trial court, which concluded the woman died by suicide due to harassment.

The mother-in-law moved the high court, which affirmed the trial court's judgment. The top court noted demand for dowry in any form was itself sufficient for Section 498-A of the IPC being attracted.

"Likewise, harassing of a married woman with a view to coercing her or her relative to meet any unlawful demand would also fall within the mischief of the expression 'cruelty'," it said.

Referring to the deposition of the woman's mother, the bench said, it would not inspire any confidence to any person of common prudence to arrive at a conclusion that on account of either harassment for dowry or on account of demand for dowry made by the appellant, she died by suicide.

While allowing the appeal, the bench set aside the high court's order and acquitted the woman.

(With inputs from PTI)