JOIN USAmend 498 (A) to prevent misuse, says NCW chairperson
There was a need to amend section 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code so that "genuine people cannot be jailed", chairperson of National Commission of Woman (NCW) Mamta Sharma said today.
Section 498(A) of IPC is the non-bailable section which provides provision to book a husband or relative of husband of a woman for subjecting her to cruelty.
"Now we need to consider and amend it", said Mamata Sharma, when asked about reports regarding misuse of section 498(A).
"Section 498(A) should be amended so that genuine people cannot be jailed", she told to PTI at circuit house here.
It was aimed at curbing acts of cruelty towards wife by her husband or his relatives.
However, owing to reports of its prevalent misuse by women and her parents across the country, demand for amendment in the section is repeatedly being aired by several quarters for the past few years.
Sharma also added that police, media and politicians have failed to check crime against woman.
She also said, NCW is all set to publish a wallet legal book for the girls in December.
"The wallet contains all the information of where to go and whom to ask and call for help in emergency. NCW is going to distribute the wallet book to all the universities and affiliated colleges", Sharma added.
She was accompanied by NCW member Nirmala Samant.