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Thursday, February 19, 2026
TopicCruelty

Topic: Cruelty

20 dowry deaths a day, but conviction for 1 in 6—a tale of evidentiary hurdles, delayed trials, apathy

NCRB data pegs conviction rate in cases of dowry-related violence at 11-17%. Experts say the low rates are rooted in a mix of factors, including institutional indifference.

‘Cooling period’ & scrutiny by district panel. SC upholds 2022 safeguards against misuse of 498A IPC

‘Cooling period’ & scrutiny by district panel. SC upholds 2022 safeguards against misuse of 498A IPC

‘Self-pleasure not forbidden fruit’ & wife watching porn not grounds for divorce, says Madras HC

HC rejects divorce plea that private masturbation constituted cruelty, says 'when masturbation among men acknowledged as universal, masturbation by women cannot be stigmatised'.

What is ‘cruelty’ in marriage? No clear definition by courts but meaning has broadened over time

Understanding of the term is still affected by parties’ gender, lifestyle, financial standing, educational background, cultural practices and social mores, according to legal experts.

Chhattisgarh HC says alcoholism ground for divorce under Hindu Marriage Act — ‘can amount to cruelty’

Court was hearing a woman’s appeal against a family court’s refusal to grant her divorce from husband whose neglect, she says, ranged from assault to not paying their kids' school fees.

Cruelty by husbands and their relatives makes up one-third of crimes against women in India: MoSPI

India recorded 22.8 lakh crimes against women between 2016 to 2021, of which about 7 lakh, or 30 per cent, were under Section 498A of IPC, says MoSPI report, released this month.

Allahabad HC’s sweeping order in dowry case shows why women don’t get justice against cruelty

In a case of cruelty and dowry harassment, the Allahabad High Court rebuked the woman for the graphical description of the allegations and said decent expressions should be used.

Carrying on accepting Modi now means accepting cruelty

Suggesting that the pandemic is the work of an ‘unseen enemy’ that the government is hapless against is but an admission that the State has failed.

On Camera

India must govern AI with confidence. Use guardrails, not handcuffs

The good news is that India is not starting from zero. It knows how to innovate privately while also empowering innovation publicly.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.