Husband’s Girlfriend Does Not Fall Within Definition of ‘Relative’ Under Section 498A IPC, Cannot Be Prosecuted for Cruelty: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court

The Jammu And Kashmir And Ladakh High Court delivered an important judgment on 17 April 2026, clarifying the scope of Section 498-A Ranbir Penal Code in cases involving allegations of cruelty and harassment. The judgment was delivered by Justice Shahzad Azeem, who held that a woman involved in an extra-marital relationship with a husband cannot be treated as a “relative” under the law. Background of the Case The case arose…