Old law lookup
IPC Section 498A
Cruelty by husband or relatives
New section under BNS
BNS Section 85— Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the IPC.
What the new section does
Punishes a husband or any relative of the husband who subjects a woman to cruelty. The term 'cruelty' is defined in section 86 and covers both physical/mental harm and harassment for unlawful demands.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, and fine.
- Triable by
- Magistrate of First Class
- Cognizable
- Yes
- Bailable
- No
For the full text of the new section, see the linked BNS page above. For the binding statutory text, refer to the India Code or the Gazette of India. This reference is informational, not legal advice.