JUDICIAL ACTIVISM?

Bhimabai- a name none of us may be familiar with.Yet another in the miriad list of dowry deaths in this country.She dieid in 1991 in Palshi village in Maharashtra.Died after a tumultuous married life.Cause of death- excess in take of insecticide Thimet. After routine investigation, her husband, Appasaheb Palaskar was found guilty of abetment of suicide and the suicide waslinked to torture and harrassment for dowry. He was punished by the lower court duly up held by the High Court.But early this year he was acquitted and released from jail by the Hon Supreme Court.The reason for acquittal given by Hon Judges G.P.Mathur and R.V.Raveendran;"A demand for money on account of some financial stringency or for meeting some urgent domestic expenses or for purchasing manure, cannot be termed a demand for dowry, as the word is normally understood.The evidence adduced by the prosecution does not therefore, show that any demand for dowry as defined in section 2of Dowry Prohibition Act was made by the accused, since what was allegedly asked for was some money for meeting domestic expenses and for purchasing manure"!!!!!!An absolute traversity of justice , I would say. I only hope our courts do not take cover under this isplaced judgement and let of all dowry culprits, since every demand under dowry can be linked to some urgent need for money, even if it is to satiate the greed of a husband or his parents.