In Brief
The Supreme Court examined petitions challenging the Rajesh Sharma judgment, which had established Family Welfare Committees to review Section 498-A IPC (cruelty against married women) complaints before arrest. The Court held that while fair and reasonable implementation of law is essential, creating extra-statutory committees goes beyond the Code of Criminal Procedure and enters legislative territory improperly. The Court struck down the Family Welfare Committee framework but affirmed that proper training of investigating officers on arrest principles under Section 41-A CrPC is necessary. Settlement of matrimonial disputes can proceed through Section 482 CrPC petitions to High Courts. The Court balanced protection of women against domestic violence with safeguards against misuse of criminal law.
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