The High Court has expressed its concern against the misuse of Section 498A IPC by 'disgruntled wives'.

While quashing a case filed by a woman against her in-laws, justice Jaishree Thakur observed:

"It has become a common practice to use the provisions of Section 498- A IPC as a weapon rather than shield by disgruntled wives. The simplest way to harass is to get the relatives of the husband roped in under this provision, no matter they are bed ridden grand parents of the husband or the relatives living abroad for decades."

The accused in-laws of the complainant had approached the High Court seeking to quash the criminal case registered against them. On a perusal of the complaint, the court observed that it does not disclose specific allegations against the petitioners except casual reference of their names that the husband of the complainant gave her beatings at the instance of petitioners.

The court then quashed the complaint on the ground that prima facie case was not attracted against the in-laws in the absence of specific allegations.