The Supreme Court of India has reiterated its firm stance against dowry deaths, emphasizing that no leniency should be shown in such cases. The apex court recently quashed a bail order granted to a man accused of killing his wife over dowry, underscoring the severity of the offense and the need for stringent judicial scrutiny.
Dowry deaths, a grave social evil deeply rooted in archaic customs, continue to plague many parts of India. The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns that a lenient approach in granting bail in these cases could erode public faith in the judiciary's commitment to tackling this menace. The court has stressed that such offenses strike at the very root of social justice and equality.
In the recent case, the Supreme Court overturned a High Court's decision to grant bail to the father-in-law and mother-in-law of a woman who was allegedly strangled to death for dowry in January 2024. The court observed that the High Court had failed to undertake a deeper scrutiny of the grave allegations against them. The victim's brother had filed a complaint alleging continuous dowry demands, including a motorcycle (which was provided) and later a car (which was not), leading to harassment and cruelty. The post-mortem report revealed multiple injuries and a ligature mark, indicating strangulation as the cause of death.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, emphasized that when a young bride dies under suspicious circumstances within a few years of marriage, the judiciary must reflect heightened vigilance and seriousness. The court asserted that allowing alleged perpetrators of such heinous acts to remain on bail, especially when evidence indicates active physical and mental torment, could undermine the fairness of the trial and public confidence in the criminal justice system. The Supreme Court, however, did not interfere with the bail granted to the sisters-in-law in the aforementioned case.
The Supreme Court has made it clear that courts must be mindful of the broader societal impact of dowry deaths. A superficial application of bail parameters could normalize the crime, which continues to claim numerous innocent lives. The court has emphasized that judicial orders in such cases carry a significant social message.
The Supreme Court's recent ruling reinforces the Dowry Prohibition Act and sends a strong message that dowry-related violence will not be tolerated. It serves as a reminder to lower courts to exercise extreme caution before granting bail in such cases, ensuring that those accused of these crimes do not evade justice. The ruling also highlights that circumstantial evidence and the victim's complaints before death must be taken into account. The Supreme Court has directed trial courts to expedite proceedings in dowry death cases, ensuring a fair trial without undue delays.
