A recent ruling by the Patna High Court sheds light on the legal interpretation of marital disputes. In a case involving Shahdeo Gupta and his son Naresh Kumar Gupta, residents of Bokaro, Jharkhand, the court examined allegations of cruelty towards Naresh Kumar Gupta’s ex-wife.
The case, initiated in 1994 by Naresh Kumar Gupta’s former wife in Nawada, her hometown, accused the husband and father-in-law of physical and material abuse, including demands for dowry in the form of a car. Despite the transfer of the case from Nawada to Nalanda, and subsequent imprisonment of the father-son duo for a year, the Jharkhand High Court eventually granted divorce to the couple.
The recent ruling by the Patna High Court addressed the appeal filed by Shahdeo Gupta and Naresh Kumar Gupta against their conviction. The court noted that while the complainant alleged being subjected to derogatory names like “bhoot” (ghost) and “pishach” (flesh-eating demon), such language did not constitute cruelty under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. This section pertains to cruelty towards a wife by her husband or his relatives.
Despite acknowledging the complainant’s claims of harassment and torture, the court highlighted the absence of specific allegations against either petitioner. The court’s ruling underscored that while insults and abuse may occur in failed marriages, not all instances qualify as legal cruelty.
As a result of the High Court’s findings, the judgments passed by lower courts were overturned, providing legal relief to Shahdeo Gupta and Naresh Kumar Gupta.
