M. Karthikeyan, LLM., MCL., NET, Advocate, Thoothukudi District Court, Tamilnadu
ABSTRACT
Cruelty is a social evil wherein there is an infliction of physical or mental distress to a fellow being. The plight of a woman is worse when such cruelty is committed against her in her matrimonial home. The misery faced by her is unending. Various Laws were enacted to protect women from such unnecessary suffering and aimed at her emancipation. Some enactments like protection of women from Domestic Violence Act 2005, Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, Section 498A in IPC are few instances in this regard. It is anguishing that some unscrupulous women misuses these legal safeguards flagrantly for unleashing their personal vendetta. Laws that were enacted for her welfare now become counterproductive. In this background this study tries to identify the reasons for the misuse of law by women, suggestions for curbing it and role played by courts in response to women turning law other way round.
Keywords: Legal Terrorism, misuse of law, Cruelty, matrimonial home, husband and in-laws, Institution of marriage, False allegations.
