Supreme Court Overturns High Court's Conditional Bail Order in Conjugal Life Case

The Supreme Court reversed a Jharkhand High Court decision that granted anticipatory bail to a man conditioned on resuming conjugal life with his wife and maintaining her with dignity. Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih found the condition inconsistent with legal norms.

The decision stems from a case involving charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Dowry Prohibition Act. The apex court argued for independent merit assessment of pre-arrest bail and criticized the imposition of conditions not listed in the legal code.

The Supreme Court ordered reconsideration of the bail application without the original condition. Meanwhile, the man remains protected from arrest, contingent upon his cooperation in the investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)