IPC 498A vs BNS 498A
● Retained in BNSHusband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, was introduced to protect married women from cruelty by their husbands or in-laws. Cruelty includes both physical and mental harassment, particularly when such acts drive the woman to commit suicide or cause grave injury.
Key points:
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Punishment: Imprisonment up to 3 years and fine.
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Applies when a woman is subjected to harassment related to dowry demands or other forms of cruelty.
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Covers husband, relatives of husband, or family members living in the same household.
For example, if a husband or in-laws continuously harass a woman for dowry or mental torment, it constitutes an offence under IPC 498A. This provision is crucial in safeguarding women’s rights within marriage and holding perpetrators accountable.
Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
Section 498A of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, mirrors IPC 498A. It criminalizes acts of cruelty against married women by their husbands or in-laws, maintaining the same scope, intent, and punishment as IPC 498A.
Key aspects of BNS 498A:
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Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment and fine, identical to IPC 498A.
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Encompasses physical and mental cruelty, harassment, and dowry-related offences.
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Ensures legal protection for married women and accountability of perpetrators.
Thus, BNS 498A continues the legal framework of IPC 498A, providing robust protection for women against cruelty in marriage.
What changed?
This provision was carried over to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita with substantially the same wording — the section was renumbered from IPC IPC 498A to BNS BNS 498A.