Abha Singh calls SC decision on Section 498A a landmark judgement

Advocate and women rights activist Abha Singh on Thursday said the Supreme Court has given a correct statement in saying that Section 498A of the Anti-Dowry Act is being misused.

Describing it as a landmark judgement, Singh said: "The Supreme Court has given the correct statement that Anti-Dowry Act Section 498A is being misused. Police must first investigate cases properly, and then, make an arrest. It is a landmark judgment," said Singh.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the police cannot automatically arrest an accused in a dowry case before judicially examining it.

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A bench headed by Justice C K Prasad directed all the state governments to instruct its police officers not to automatically arrest an accused in such cases.

The apex court expressed concerns over misuse of the anti dowry law.

Section 498-A of the IPC was introduced with object to combat the menace of harassment to a woman at the hands of her husband and his relatives.