SC modifies its verdict, do away with buffer against immediate arrests in dowry cases

The Supreme Court Friday removed the buffer against immediate arrest in dowry harassment cases by modifying its earlier order to set up a committee to examine the complaints of married women before taking coercive action against the husband and the in-laws.

The top court said the direction to create family welfare committees in every district and the power conferred in them was "not in accord with the statutory framework".

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said "the courts have ample power to grant pre-arrest bail, popularly called anticipatory bail, and even quash the criminal proceedings totally to stabilize the lawful balance, because no court of law remotely conceives of a war between the two sexes."