An Overview of Recent Trend of Crime in the Nature of ‘Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives’ in our Country

ABSTRACT

Crime against women is a gross violence of their human rights and hampers their overall welfare, but unfortunately crime iscommitted against women throughout the centuries without any social, cultural and national barrier. Women of our countryare also not free from this tradition. They are also the poor victims of several form of crimes throughout the centuries. It is ashameful fact that women are victimised not only outside their home but also in their own home and by their near and dearones. Physical, sexual and psychological violence strikes women in every part of our country. It has crossed the boundary ofevery society, economy, religion, race and culture. The statistics published by ‘National Crime Records Bureau’, an IndianGovernment agency and part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, indicates the share of crime against women under the head‘Cruelty by Husband or his relatives’ u/s 498A IPC is the maximum among all crimes against women in recent past in ourcountry. An attempt has been made through this paper to view the recent trend of this crime in different States and UnionTerritories and actions taken by police administration and judicial system to give justice to the victims of this crime.