‘You take money from them, then call them beggars’:SC in a dowry case says harassment of daughters-in-law, their families must stop

During the hearing of a dowry harassment case on Friday, the Supreme Court made strong remarks, saying that the humiliation of a daughter-in-law and her family must not be tolerated. The court said a clear message should go out that insulting a daughter-in-law and her family is unacceptable. The case relates to the death of a woman in 2010 in Chhattisgarh. She died by hanging at her matrimonial home within three years of her marriage. According to the prosecution, her husband and his family had been continuously demanding dowry and subjecting her to harassment. Woman’s family was called ‘beggars’ A bench of BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that such cases often involve attempts to extract more money from the daughter-in-law and her family. Referring to the allegations on record, Justice Nagarathna said, “What did the groom’s family say? They called them beggars, saying they could not pay. The woman’s family was trying to save their daughter, yet they were being called beggars.” When the petitioner’s counsel attempted to respond, Justice Nagarathna remarked, “The woman’s father had said he could arrange ₹60,000, and you are calling him a beggar?” Supreme Court dismisses appeal The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal filed by the husband’s younger brother, who had challenged his conviction under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cruelty and harassment of a married woman. The court refused to grant relief and dismissed the appeal. Court finds direct link between dowry demands and death The trial court had held that the woman died under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage, attracting the legal presumption applicable in dowry death cases. Her family stated that she was repeatedly pressured for money and that the harassment continued shortly before her death. The husband and his family had allegedly demanded cash and a car. The woman’s family had reportedly paid money on several occasions. The court found a direct connection between the dowry demands, financial pressure, continuous harassment, and the woman’s death. The medical report stated that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. However, the courts noted that not only the manner of death but also the circumstances leading up to it were significant. The persistent dowry demands and harassment were found to be closely linked to her death. High Court had upheld conviction Based on these findings, several members of the husband’s family were convicted for dowry death, abetment of suicide, and cruelty. The Chhattisgarh High Court had also upheld the trial court’s verdict. The petitioner argued that there had been a delay in filing the FIR, but the Supreme Court rejected the contention. “A message must go out. This is how daughters-in-law are treated,” the court observed. During the hearing, Justice Bhuyan also remarked, “These are educated people.” The Supreme Court ultimately upheld the findings of the trial court and the High Court and dismissed the appeal in the case of Suchit Keshari vs State of Chhattisgarh.