There is  an Urdu saying: “marz badhta hi gaya, jyon jyon dawa ki”… “the malady continued to increase as more medicine was given”.  The recent direction by SC to law ministry seems to be  a step in same vain.  Since there is a sad excuse of a law called IPC 498a, where courts are unable to settle when parties want to settle, the law should be made compoundable.  The ex-CJI and current NHRC chief had also made a suggestion a few months back regarding rape law -- that rape victims’ choice to marry the accused be respected.  What exactly were these criminal laws meant for, is a complete confusion after judicial intervention and re-interpretation!

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Allow-dowry-cases-to-be-settled-outside-court--SC-to-govt/656185

The Supreme Court has sought an amendment in the Indian Penal Code to make dowry harassment a “compoundable offence” — which would allow willing families to settle their problems outside court. The Supreme Court made the request, to be placed before Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, in a unique manner, through a judicial order.

The amendment would relieve the courts from the “burden” of hearing dowry cases in which warring families are happy to settle, but the penal code does not allow them to do so, the Supreme Court said in a July 30 judicial order released on Wednesday.

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