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News 9 of 27

Calcutta High Court Sets Aside In-Laws Discharge in 2021 Dowry Death Case Involving ₹20 Lakh Demand After Girl Child Birth

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Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
09 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:₹20 lakhSection 498ASection 304BJuly 8, 2021February 6, 2026
Bodies:Calcutta High CourtPort Blair Sessions Court
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What This Article Covers

1.Calcutta HC's Port Blair Bench sets aside sessions court order discharging in-laws accused of dowry torture and dowry death, directing them to surrender.

2.The judgment laments deep-rooted gender inequality, citing a 2021 case where a woman killed her 1.5-year-old daughter and herself after alleged torture for giving birth to a girl.

3.Examiner's angle: Focus on judicial interpretation of IPC Sections 498A and 304B, the concept of 'cruelty', and the role of High Courts in reviewing trial court decisions.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Calcutta High Court's Port Blair Bench has reversed the discharge of four in-laws in a dowry death and suicide case, emphasizing that society has a long way to go in achieving gender equality for girl children. The judgment critiques the lower court for ignoring evidence and underscores the persistent societal prejudice against daughters. This case is crucial for understanding judicial activism in women's rights and the application of dowry laws.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

High Court BenchCalcutta High Court's Port Blair Circuit Bench
JudgeJustice Apurba Sinha Ray
Judgment DateFebruary 6, 2026
IPC Sections Invoked498A (Cruelty) & 304B (Dowry Death)
Incident DateJuly 8, 2021
Victim's Age1.5 years (Rudrika)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›High Court Bench: Calcutta High Court's Port Blair Circuit Bench
  • ›Judge: Justice Apurba Sinha Ray
  • ›Target this Legal Point: IPC Sections 498A (Cruelty) and 304B (Dowry Death).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Calcutta High Court's Port Blair Circuit Bench.
  • ›Target this Data: The victim child was 1.5 years old (Rudrika).
  • ›Target this Judge: Justice Apurba Sinha Ray delivered the judgment on February 6, 2026.

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which High Court has a Circuit Bench in Port Blair with jurisdiction over the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the recent Calcutta High Court judgment:

1. The Court set aside the acquittal order passed by the Port Blair sessions court.

2. The case involved charges under IPC Sections 498A and 304B.

3. The Court quoted from the works of former Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer in its observation.

Q3Data-centricMedium

As per the news, in which year did the tragic incident involving the death of Bhawna and her daughter Rudrika take place?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary legal ground on which the Calcutta High Court reversed the sessions court's order discharging the in-laws?

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