SC rightly acquits mother-in-law in Section 498A IPC case

OPINION

- SANJEEV SIROHI

It is good to see that in the fitness of things while striking the right chord, the Supreme Court in a most learned, laudable, landmark, logical and latest judgment titled Smt Bhagwati Devi vs State of Uttarakhand in Criminal Appeal No. 2616 of 2014 and cited in Neutral Citation No.: 2025 INSC 1051 in the exercise of its criminal appellate jurisdiction that was pronounced as recently as on August 29, 2025 while acquitting the mother-in-law of the deceased woman in a case of dowry harassment that had been registered under Section 498-A of the IPC has minced absolutely just no words to hold plainly that the word spreads faster than the wind about a daughter-in-law being harassed for dowry by the parents-in-law. It must be noted that the appeal before the top court was filed by the woman who had been convicted for the offence that is punishable under Section 498-A of IPC. It merits just no reiteration that the Apex Court very rightly acquitted the mother-in-law after taking into consideration among other things the deposition of the neighbour also thus setting aside the judgment of the Uttarakhand High Court. No denying or disputing it in any way!

At the very outset, this brief, brilliant, bold and balanced judgment authored by Hon'ble Mr Justice Aravind Kumar for a Bench of the Apex Court comprising of himself and Hon'ble Mr Justice NV Anjaria sets the ball in motion by first and foremost putting forth in para 1 that, "The Appellant herein who has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 498-A of IPC is assailing the judgment rendered by the High Court of Uttarakhand at Nainital in Criminal Appeal No.174 of 2003 on 10.04.2014."