Quarrel Between Sister-In-Law and Brother’s Wife Not Cruelty: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court upheld a 22-year-old Sessions Court order stating that a sister-in-law calling her brother’s wife to her home and engaging in a quarrel does not constitute cruelty for dowry.

Justice Arun Monga was hearing a petition challenging the Sessions Court’s decision, which had discharged the accused from the alleged offence.

The petitioner’s daughter was married to the accused’s brother. In 1998, the daughter complained of stomach pain and was taken to a hospital, where she later died during treatment. The deceased’s father accused the sister-in-law of poisoning his daughter and filed a case against her for dowry cruelty and attempted murder.

The sister-in-law was discharged from the charges in 2002 by the Sessions Court, a decision that was later challenged by the petitioner.

The Court reviewed the Sessions Court’s reasoning, which found no evidence of a strained relationship between the deceased and her husband or mother-in-law. It also noted that there was no proof of the sister-in-law harassing the deceased for dowry, apart from calling her to her house and quarreling, which was deemed insufficient to constitute dowry cruelty.

Regarding the allegation of administering poison, the Court noted that it was made nearly two years after the incident and lacked any supporting evidence.

Therefore, the Court found no fault in the Sessions Court’s conclusions and dismissed the petition.