Cruel spouses get shot at compromise

In a move that would allow men facing charges of cruelty by their spouse to arrive at a compromise, the home ministry has decided to amend the penal code to make Section 498A a compoundable offence as per the law commission’s recommendation.

In a move that would allow men facing charges of cruelty by their spouse to arrive at a compromise, the home ministry has decided to amend the penal code to make Section 498A a compoundable offence as per the law commission’s recommendation.

Section 498A of the IPC provides for a jail term up to three years for a husband, or his relative, convicted for subjecting the wife to physical or mental cruelty.

The government told Parliament last week that a draft note for the Cabinet to amend section 498A to make it compoundable with the permission of the court had been sent to the law ministry.

The committee on petitions of the Rajya Sabha concluded that in case of any marital discord that reached the police under this provision, “it would be better if the parties have the option of a compromise where after they can settle down in their lives... rather than diverting their energies negatively by pursuing litigation”.