The Telangana High Court quashed a dowry and domestic violence case filed by a father-in-law against his U.S.-based son-in-law, holding that the prosecution—though initiated prior to the foreign divorce—was pursued despite the divorce and settlement, and suffered from hearsay evidence and fatal jurisdictional defects under Section 188 CrPC.

The Supreme Court quashed criminal proceedings under Section 498A IPC, holding that allegations of a husband sending money to his family, compelling expense tracking through Excel sheets, and exercising financial dominance though reflective of common social patterns do not amount to “cruelty” in the absence of tangible mental or physical harm.

The Telangana High Court held that when a husband’s conduct amounts to cruelty approaching depravity, the law cannot compel the wife to remain in the marriage. Once dignity and safety are compromised, the Court’s duty shifts from preserving the marital bond to protecting the aggrieved spouse.

In this case, the husband alleged that his wife, Mrs. Maya, does not provide food to him, used to threaten him to implicate false charges of dowry against him or his family and often said that she will kill his whole family.   After considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, the Supreme Court held that “although the expression of cruelty has not been defined in the Act, it may be physical or mental, direct or indirect. And in this case, the acts of the responden

The judgement in Rani Narasimha Sastry dealt with the complexities surrounding domestic complaints. The Court made it clear that the mere act of filing a complaint, such as one for maintenance or domestic violence, cannot be equated with cruelty unless accompanied by substantive evidence.   However, if a complaint is filed and later found to be baseless or the accused is acquitted, it can be inferred that the filing of the complaint itself might have been used as a tool of ha

In India, family disputes often carry a deep emotional and psychological weight. Matters like divorce, child custody, and domestic violence can feel overwhelming, especially for women and children who may already be in vulnerable positions. Family Courts were created to handle these issues with empathy and care, balancing the legal process with the emotional well-being of those involved. Among the most delicate of these cases are those involving child custody . Here, parents