Harming Women's Mental Health Is "Cruelty" Under New Criminal Code

The Centre added two more sections to fight crime against women in the new criminal bill Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, meant to replace the old India Penal Code and other criminal laws. In the previous version of the bill, Section 85 provided for three-year jail for subjecting a woman to cruelty by her husband or in-laws. In the refreshed bill, Section 86 has been added to define "cruelty", which includes harming a woman's mental health and her physical well-being. The second section looks to prevent revealing the identity of a sex assault survivor.