India, May 26 -- The Supreme Court on Monday said that in matrimonial disputes, relatives of the husband cannot be fastened with criminal liability if they fail to intervene or ask the wife to adjust in the matrimonial relationship without there being any evidence to show their active complicity in the crime.

Deciding a case from Guna in Madhya Pradesh, a bench of justices Sanjay Karol and N Kotiswar Singh set aside proceedings under dowry harassment and domestic violence against four members of a family who were dragged in criminal cases by the wife for supporting the husband's actions in abusing and demanding dowry from her.

The bench said, "While safeguarding the rights and dignity of victims of domestic violence remains of paramount...