Body Shaming by In-laws amounts to cruelty

The Kerala HC ruled that body shaming by a woman's in-laws, including her sister-in-law, constitutes domestic violence under Section 498A of the IPC. The woman alleged mistreatment including body shaming, by her in-laws.

The Court clarified that a sister-in-law living in the same household is a “relative" under Section 498A, making her actions subject to the law on cruelty. 

Citing the Supreme Court's ruling in U. Suvitha vs State & Ors (2009), which expanded the definition of "relative" under Section 498A, the Court dismissed the petition to quash the case, recognizing body shaming as harmful to mental health and qualifying as domestic violence.