The bench of the apex court headed by two judges Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice M R Shah observed that under section 498A of the Indian Penal code if a woman commits cruelty or harass another woman is an offence. The court hearing the appeal against conviction of mother in law in case of dowry death. This court reduced the sentence of mother in law from one-year imprisonment to three months imprisonment along with a fine.

The mother of the deceased wife said that the mother in law and her daughter’s husband harassed her daughter which made her sacrifice her life. The trial court convicted both mother and son under section 498A of IPC.

The apex court observed that the mother in law is female and should be more sensitive with her daughter in law. In this case, woman is harassing another woman which it makes a more serious offence.