India, May 29 -- The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on dowry-related harassment while hearing a case linked to the death of a woman in Chhattisgarh who died by hanging within three years of her marriage. Refusing to interfere in the case, the court made sharp observations on the treatment often faced by brides and their families in matrimonial homes.

A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the repeated financial pressure allegedly exerted on the woman's family and stressed that such behaviour could not be normalized.

"Why do boys marry girls and then insult them and their families? Let a message go out that they cannot continue insulting the bride and her family," Justice Nagarathna was quoted as ...