Topic
Jharkhand High Court rules that a post-marriage demand for Rs. 50,000 to set up a clinic, tied to the marital relationship, qualifies as dowry under Section 304B IPC. The judgment reinforces that dowry need not be limited to traditional gifts but extends to any financial demand contingent on marriage, impacting dowry death prosecutions.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that a wife’s decision to live separately due to dowry demands and marital cruelty constitutes sufficient cause under Section 125 CrPC, entitling her to maintenance regardless of whether she initiated divorce proceedings. This clarifies that economic and emotional abuse, not just physical violence, can justify separation for maintenance claims - a critical win for women facing covert dowry harassment.
MP High Court quashes FIR under Section 498-A IPC, ruling that generic dowry allegations without concrete demand particulars cannot sustain criminal proceedings. The judgment reinforces that matrimonial disputes require specific evidence of cruelty or extortion to avoid abuse of process.