Prayagraj: In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has dismissed a dowry harassment case against a husband, stating that sexual desire between spouses cannot be classified as cruelty. The court’s decision came after a thorough investigation into the allegations made by the wife against her husband.
The case originated in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, where the wife had filed an FIR against her husband, accusing him of dowry demands, torture, and unnatural sexual acts. However, the court found no concrete evidence to substantiate these claims.
Justice Anish Kumar Gupta, who presided over the case, observed that the primary dispute between the couple revolved around their sexual relationship, rather than dowry harassment. The wife had alleged that the husband’s sexual demands were unnatural and unacceptable, while he maintained that they were within the bounds of a normal marital relationship.
The court emphasized that sexual desire is a natural part of marriage and that a husband cannot be expected to refrain from seeking sexual pleasure from his wife. It rejected the notion that such desires constitute cruelty, especially when there is no evidence of physical or emotional abuse.
The wife’s allegations of dowry harassment were also found to be lacking in evidence. The court noted that she had failed to provide specific details about the dowry demands or the nature of the harassment she endured.
In light of these findings, the court dismissed the case, ruling that the wife’s allegations did not meet the legal criteria for dowry harassment under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code.
