Section 498a

Section 498 a is a cognizable offence under the indian penal code 1860 and was brought into the ipc in the year 1983 to curb the menace of cruelty to married women for want of dowry which often led to their deaths.

Section 498a. Section 498a was introduced in the year 1983 to protect a married woman from being subjected to cruelty. On the other hand it became an easy tool for women to misuse it and wreak revenge from their nri husbands or to file a false case. The supreme court has observed that this section has given a new dimension to the concept of cruelty for the purposes of matrimonial remedies and the type of conduct described in this provision is relevant to prove cruelty i.

Section 498a of the indian penal code was introduced in 1983. Section 498a of the indian penal code can be said to have made out and that too at such a distant point of time is the question particularly in view of the bar of limitation as contained in section 468 of the code of criminal procedure. It claims to provide protection to women against dowry related harassment and cruelty.

The term cruelty has a wide definition. It makes it a crime to be cruel to your wife or to your relative s wife. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty whoever being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman subjects such woman to cruelty shall be pun ished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

Section 498a was inserted into the code under the said chapter. Section 498a in the indian penal code 376 498a.