The Gujarat High Court on Aug 8, dismissed a complaint of harassment for dowry, filed by a wife against husband and his family members.

Justice Divyesh Joshi of the high court stated, “Tolerance should be the foundation of marital life. However, it is often observed that relatives from the wife’s side make mountains out of mole.”

“Instead of making all possible efforts to improve and save a deteriorating marriage, often due to resentment towards the husband and his family members, actions are taken that lead to the complete breakdown of marital life over trivial matters,” the court observed.

Justice Joshi said that the wife’s parents and relatives are often the first responders to contact the police. They think that the police are the solution to all their problems.

He said tolerance to a certain extent regarding each other’s faults should be natural in any marriage. Minor issues and trivial disputes are part of domestic life and should not be exaggerated. 

If a case is filed by a woman against the husband and his relatives out of resentment, the court should take a practical approach and read ‘between the lines’, said Justice Joshi.

The high court, taking serious note of the FIR allegations, stated, “In this case, the marital dispute seems to be between husband and wife, and, as usual, all family members of the husband have been included as accused. After a thorough investigation of the complete facts, the complaint filed by the wife appears to be nothing but an abuse of legal process,” the court observed.