CASE COMPILATION | Landmark Judgements Of Supreme Court In 498A IPC 

The Indian Supreme Court has delivered several landmark judgments related to Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

Section 498A deals with cruelty towards married women by their husbands or relatives. Over the years, the court has issued rulings that have shaped the interpretation and implementation of this section. 

Here are some of the key landmark judgments:

1. B. S. Joshi vs. State of Haryana (2003) Appeal (crl.)  383 of 2003

This case highlighted the misuse of Section 498A and emphasized that arrests should not be made immediately upon the filing of a complaint. The court laid down guidelines to prevent the arbitrary arrest of the accused under this section.

2. Sushil Kumar Sharma vs. Union of India (2005) Writ Petition (civil)  141 of 2005

In this judgment, the Supreme Court expressed concern about the misuse of Section 498A to settle personal scores and disputes within families. It directed the government to consider amending the law to make it bailable and to introduce certain safeguards.

3. Rajesh Sharma vs. State of U.P. (2017) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1265 OF 2017

This judgment further emphasized the need to curb the misuse of Section 498A. The court issued guidelines to prevent the automatic arrest of the accused and encouraged the formation of family welfare committees at the district level to scrutinize complaints before any arrest is made.

4.  Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar (2014) CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1277  OF 2014 (@SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRL.) No.9127 of 2013)

The Supreme Court reiterated that the arrest of the accused under Section 498A should not be a knee-jerk reaction and that the police must have reasons to believe that the accusations are prima facie true before making an arrest.

5. Social Action Forum for Manav Adhikar vs. Union of India (2018) WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 73 OF 2015

This case highlighted the need to protect innocent individuals from false allegations under Section 498A. The court stressed that the police should conduct a preliminary investigation before making an arrest and that there should be valid grounds for the arrest.

6. Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India (2018) WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO. 76 OF 2016

While not directly related to Section 498A, this case was significant in the context of gender justice. The Supreme Court decriminalized homosexuality, affirming the principle of individual rights and personal autonomy.

These judgments reflect the Supreme Court’s efforts to strike a balance between protecting the rights of women from domestic violence and preventing the misuse of Section 498A. The court has consistently emphasized the importance of fair and just treatment for both the complainant and the accused, seeking to uphold the principles of justice and equity in cases related to cruelty against married women. 

These landmark judgments have had a significant impact on the implementation of Section 498A and have helped shape the legal landscape surrounding domestic violence in India.