"No Arrest for 2 Months in 498A Cases”: SC Endorses Allahabad HC’s ‘Cooling‑Off’ Guidelines

In a major move to curb misuse of Section 498A IPC, the Supreme Court has upheld guidelines issued by the Allahabad High Court that bar immediate arrests in cruelty cases within marriages.

As per the ruling, no police action can be taken for two months after an FIR is filed; instead, the matter must be referred to Family Welfare Committees in each district for review. 

The ruling came in a case where an IPS officer filed multiple FIRs against her husband and in-laws, leading to 109 and 103 days of jail, respectively.  The Court quashed the cases and directed women and her family public apologies in national dailies.

The guidelines are now binding and must be implemented nationwide.

(Shivangi Bansal v Sahib Bansal)