Tue Apr 15 11:31:16 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Make Dowry Harassment Laws Gender-Neutral

**New Delhi, April 15, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to amend laws related to dowry harassment and maintenance to make them gender-neutral. The court ruled that it cannot legislate and that such changes are the purview of Parliament.

The PIL, filed by the NGO Janshruti, argued that existing provisions, such as Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (dowry harassment) and Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (maintenance), are misused to harass husbands and their families. The NGO cited instances of such misuse and presented data suggesting imbalances in the application of these laws.

However, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh, rejected the plea. The justices argued that while misuse of legal provisions is a concern, it doesn’t justify striking down laws designed to protect women. They emphasized that each case must be judged on its merits and that the existing legal framework allows for addressing instances of misuse against men.

The court further stated that the PIL’s assertion that the provisions violate Article 14 (equality before the law) is misguided, as Article 15 explicitly empowers Parliament to enact special laws for the protection of women and children. The judges also dismissed the suggestion that India should follow other countries’ examples where such laws are gender-neutral, emphasizing India’s sovereignty.

The Supreme Court acknowledged the NGO’s concerns regarding misuse but reiterated that addressing these issues requires a case-by-case approach rather than sweeping legislative changes. The court suggested that the NGO should address specific instances of misuse through individual legal channels instead of seeking broad legislative amendments. The court also declined to issue guidelines for expediting such cases due to the need for increased judicial infrastructure and resources.

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