In a recent ruling, the Delhi High Court stepped in to protect a young woman caught up in a messy family feud. The court quashed a police complaint, or FIR, against an 18-year-old girl accused in a dowry harassment case tied to a troubled marriage.
Justice Ajay Digpaul made it clear: dowry abuse and cruelty tear apart families and must face serious consequences. But he warned against pulling in far-off relatives without solid proof. “We can’t let the fight against these social evils trample on innocent people’s rights just because they’re loosely connected by family ties,” the judge said.
The case started at Pandav Nagar Police Station in New Delhi, with charges under IPC Sections 498A (cruelty by husband or relatives), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 34 (common intention). The main accusations targeted the complainant’s husband, his parents, and sisters for harassment and dowry demands. The teen girl, a distant relative, faced just one minor claim: she supposedly tampered with CCTV cameras and locked away furniture to make life tough for the complainant.
But the complainant’s lawyer told the court she no longer wants to pursue those claims. The girl was only 18 at the time, still in school, and dealing with the fresh pain of losing her father. With no strong evidence against her, the court agreed to drop the FIR just for this young petitioner.
The Delhi High Court drew on key Supreme Court decisions, like Rajesh Chaddha vs State of U.P. and Dara Lakshmi Narayana vs State of Telangana. Those rulings slam the habit of roping distant relatives into matrimonial disputes without real backing.
This move highlights the balance courts strike in dowry cases—cracking down on abuse while shielding the innocent. It comes as India continues to battle dowry harassment, a persistent issue in many marriages.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
