Strict provisions of law for women's welfare; marriage not commercial venture: Top court

'NOT MEANS TO CHASTISE, THREATEN, DOMINEER OR EXTORT THEIR HUSBANDS'

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said the strict provisions of law were for the welfare of women and not means to "chastise, threaten, domineer or extort" their husbands.

Justices B V Nagarathna and Pankaj Mithal observed a Hindu marriage was considered to be a sacred institution, as a foundation for a family and not a "commercial venture".

Notably, the bench observed the invocation of IPC sections including rape, criminal intimidation and subjecting a married woman to cruelty - as a "combined package" in most of the complaints related to matrimonial disputes - was condemned by the top court on several occasions. "The women need to be careful about the fact that these strict provisions of law in their hands are beneficial legislations for their welfare and not means to chastise, threaten, domineer or extort from their husbands," it said. The observations came when the bench dissolved the marriage between an estranged couple on the ground of its irretrievable breakdown.

"The provisions in the criminal law are for the protection and empowerment of women but sometimes are used by certain women more for purposes that they are never meant for," the bench said.

The husband in the case was ordered to pay Rs 12 crore as permanent alimony to the estranged wife as a full and final settlement for all her claims within a month.