New Delhi, Jan 13: The anti-dowry law is more
often being misused than used and caution should be exercised
by the judiciary in dealing with such cases, Delhi High Court
Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen said Saturday.
"Don't allow it to happen as the misuse of Section
498(A) of the Act (which allows criminal proceedings against
husbands and their relatives) often nullifies the genuineness
of the cases. This is a note of caution," he said at a seminar
here.
Expressing concern over some lawyers advising their
clients to add more offences under the Act to their complaints
which are actually civil in nature, Jain said, "Section 498(A)
is more often misused than used. Because of this vast misuse,
it (cases) needs circumspection."
He also expressed hope that the newly-enacted Domestic
Violence Act would provide immediate relief to the aggrieved
women.
Highlighting the provisions of the Domestic Violence
Act, Sen said, "What was found was that what they really needed
was civil protection and this has been the most important
feature of the step."
"What it seeks to be a view is civil protection -- be
it a wife or an ordinary women in the family. It protects your
residence," he said.
Bureau Report