Supreme Court warns against misuse of cruelty law in marital disputes
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has raised concerns over the misuse of Section 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code, commonly invoked in cases of cruelty by a husband or his family. The Court cautioned that the provision should not be used as a means for personal vendettas in marital disputes.
A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh made the observation while setting aside a cruelty case filed against a man and his family. This case had previously been upheld by the Telangana High Court.
Section 498(A) provides protection to women from cruelty by their husbands or in-laws, with the accused facing imprisonment and fines. The woman had filed the case after her husband sought the dissolution of their marriage.
The Supreme Court noted that vague or generalised allegations without evidence could not form the basis for criminal prosecution. It stressed that Section 498(A) was introduced to protect women from cruelty, but it had increasingly been misused in the context of rising matrimonial disputes. The Court also criticised the Telangana High Court for failing to dismiss the case, suggesting it had been filed with ulterior motives.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
China confirms its support to Pakistan during four-day conflict with India
Beijing (PTI): China, for the first time, has confirmed that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict with India last year, official media reports here said.
China's state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China's (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle design.
Zhang had provided technical support to Pakistan during the four-day war last May, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting CCTV.
Pakistan's air force operates a fleet of Chinese-made J-10CE jets, produced by an AVIC subsidiary.
"At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens. By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically,” Zhang said.
What drove his team was the "desire to do an even better job with on site support” and to ensure their equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”, Zhang told CCTV.
“That wasn’t just a recognition of the J10CE; it was also a testament to the deep bond we formed through working side by side, day in and day out,” he said.
