BNS Section 86 — Cruelty defined

Summary

For the purposes of section 85, cruelty means any deliberate behaviour that is likely to push the woman to commit suicide, or to cause serious injury or danger to her life, limbs, or health, whether mental or physical.

Cruelty also means harassing the woman in order to force her or anyone related to her to fulfil an illegal demand for property or valuable security, or harassing her because she or anyone related to her failed to meet such a demand.

Official Text

For the purposes of section 85, “cruelty” means—

(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or

(b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand.

Related Provisions

cruelty by husband or relatives

• BNS §85 — Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty
• IPC §498A — Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §498A — Cruelty defined