SC and HC Judgments Online at MyNation

Judgments of Supreme Court of India and High Courts

Neha vs State Of Haryana & Anr on 10 May, 2019

203
INTHEHIGHCOURTOFPUNJABHARYANAAT
CHANDIGARH

CRM-M-4790of2016.
Decidedon:-May10,2019.

Neha.
………Petitioner.
Versus

StateofHaryanaandanother

………Respondents.

CORAM:HON’BLEMR.JUSTICEHARIPALVERMA.

*****
Present:-Mr.SumitSangwan,Advocate
forthepetitioner.

Ms.MahimaYashpal,A.A.G.,Haryana.

Mr.B.R.Gupta,Advocate
forrespondentNo.2-complainant.

HARIPALVERMA,J.

PetitionerNeha,whoisanunmarriedsister-in-lawofthe

respondentNo.2-complainanthasfiledthispetitionunderSection482Cr.P.C.

forquashingofFIRNo.39dated23.10.2015underSections498-A,Section323,Section506

andSection406readwithSection34IPCaswellasSection3oftheScheduled

CastesandSectionScheduledTribes(PreventionofAtrocities)Act,1989(forshort,

theSC/SectionSTAct)registeredatWomenPoliceStation,Bhiwaniandall

subsequentproceedingsarisingtherefrom.

TheaforesaidFIRwasregisteredatthebehestofrespondent

No.2Deepa,whowasmarriedwithAbhinavPalon11.05.2014.Theotherco-

accused,namely,AbhinavPalishusbandandVeenuismother-in-law.

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AspertheFIR,fatherofthecomplainantspentsufficientamount

onherbetrothalandmarriageceremonies.Shelivedwithherhusbandin

ModernHousingComplex,Manimajra,Chandigarh.However,afterthe

marriage,behaviourofherhusband,mother-in-lawandsister-in-law(present

petitioner)wasnotgoodtowardsher.Theyraiseddemandofmoredowryand

startedharassingher.Shewassubjectedtocrueltyforinsufficientdowry.Her

fathergavecashofRs.30,000/-andcertaingiftsontheoccasionofDiwali

festival.AgainhegavecashamountofRs.30,000/-andsomegiftstoherin-

lawsontheoccasionofLohrifestival.ThecomplainantbelongstoScheduled

Caste(Chamar)community,whereasherfather-in-lawbelongstoBackward

(Kamboj)community.Theyalsocalledherwithbadnamesandused

derogatorywordsagainstherfather.Sinceshewasconsistentlybeing

harassed,shemovedacomplainttotheSuperintendentofPolice,Bhiwanion

19.10.2015leadingtoregistrationofthepresentF.I.R.

Learnedcounselforthepetitionerhasarguedthat,infact,

marriagebetweenrespondentNo.2-complainantwithAbhinavPalwasalove

marriage.Thecomplainantiswell-qualifiedladyholdingagazettedpost.She

herselfoptedtogetmarriedwithaboy,whoisabout8yearsyoungertoher.

SincethecomplainantbelongstoScheduledCaste,whereasthepetitioner

belongstoBackwardclass,theprovisionofoffenceunderSection3ofthe

SC/SectionSTActhasbeenmisused.Atthetimeofmarriage,thecomplainantwas

postedasAssistantProfessorinGovernmentCollege,Panchkulaandafter

marriage,shejoinedasAssistantProfessorinGovernmentCollege,Bawani

KherainJuly,2015.ThecomplainantgotherselftransferredfromPanchkula

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toBawaniKheraon02.07.2015onthegroundofcompletingherservicein

ruralareasinfulfilmentofconditionoftheGovernmentpolicy.

Hehasfurtherarguedthatsincethepartiestothemarriagecould

notpullwell,adivorcepetitionwasfiledbyAbhinavPalagainstrespondent

No.2-complainantinDistrictCourt,Chandigarhon15.10.2015.However,

respondentNo.2movedanapplicationbeforethisCourtseekingtransferof

saidpetitiontoBhiwaniCourt.Sinceitwasalovemarriagebetweenthe

parties,nodowryarticleswereexchangedandasitwasmarriageoftheliking

oftheparties,thepetitioner,whoisunmarriedeldersisterofAbhinavPal,

wasnotgoingtobebenefittedwithanydowryarticles.

Hehasfurthercontendedthatthereisnospecificallegation

againstthepetitionerfordemandofdowryorharassmentcausedto

respondentNo.2.Theonlyallegationagainstthepetitioneristhatshewasa

partywiththehusbandandmother-in-lawinharassingthecomplainant.

Asperthecomplainant,inthemonthofSeptember,when

parents-in-lawofthecomplainanthadgonetotheirnativeplaceYamuna

Nagartoattendamarriageinsomecloserelations,thepetitionerhadcutthe

hairofthecomplainantandhandedoverthesametohermother-in-law.The

allegationisthatwheneverthecomplainantusedtocomefromhercollege

andtotakerestinaroom,thenthepetitionerandmother-in-lawofthe

complainantusedtooustherfromtheroomandusedtosaythatthe

complainantdoesnotbelongtoaroyalfamilyand,therefore,directedthe

complainanttodothehouseholdworks.Withouttakingrest,thecomplainant

usedtofulfiltheobligationsasperthewishesofherin-laws.

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Learnedcounselforthepetitionerhasfurtherarguedthatthe

petitionerisbeingvictimizedofprevalentsyndromeofropinginevery

memberofthefamilyinsuchtypeofmatrimonialcriminallitigations.There

isnolegalevidenceclearlyormanifestlyadducedbythecomplainantto

substantiatetheallegations.TheallegationsintheFIR,iftakenattheirface

value,donotconstitutetheoffenceallegedquathepetitionerassheis

unmarriedsisterofthehusbandofcomplainant.Incasethepetitionerismade

tofacethetrial,itwouldproveastigmaonherlife.Thelawshouldbevigil

thatnoinnocentpersonismadetosufferfromtherigmaroleofthetrial.All

allegationsofcrueltyanddowrydemandwereatChandigarhinManimajra,

whereasthecomplainantinordertoharassthepetitionerandherfamily

membershadfiledthecomplaintatBhiwaniatherownconvenience.

Moreover,sheherselfgottransferredtoBawaniKhera,DistrictBhiwanisoas

tocompleteruralservicewhichisaconditionofherservice.Nocaseismade

outagainstthepetitionerunderSections498-A,Section323,Section506andSection406readwith

Section34IPCaswellasSection3oftheSC/SectionSTAct.Incasethecomplainant

wastorturedfromtheveryinception,therewouldnothavebeensuchan

inordinateandunexplaineddelayinlodgingthepresentFIR.Itisthe

complainantwhohascommittedcrueltyuponthepetitionerbyimplicating

herinafalsecase.Thecomplainantshouldnotbepermittedtotakebenefitof

herownwrong.ThemarriagebetweenAbhinavPalandthecomplainantwas

love-marriageandhardlyanydowrywasexchanged,butinordertosettlethe

score,thecomplainanthasmadefalseandbaselessallegationsagainstthe

petitionerandthewholefamily.Thepetitionerisworkingoncontractual

basisinGMCH,Sector-32,Chandigarhandthestorypropoundedbythe

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complainantisconcoctedwhichisaimedattohumiliateandharassthewhole

familyofthepetitioner.Now-a-days,ithasbecomeatendencytoinvolvethe

wholefamilyintheproceedingslikethepresentone.

LearnedStatecounselwhilemakingreferencetothereply

submittedbywayofaffidavitofVijayDeswal,HPS,DSP,Bhiwanihas

arguedthattheFIRwasregisteredonthecomplaintsubmittedbythe

complainantandduringinvestigation,accusedAbhinavPal(husband)was

arrested.TheChallanwaspresentedagainsthimbeforethetrialCourton

22.11.2015.Thereafter,supplementaryChallanhasbeenpresentedprepared

againstthepetitioneron04.02.2016.

LearnedcounselforrespondentNo.2-complainanthasargued

thatmarriagebetweenAbhinavPalandthecomplainantwassolemnisedon

11.05.2014andafterthemarriage,herhusband,mother-in-lawandsister-in-

law(petitionerherein)startedharassingthecomplainantfordemandof

dowry.SincethecomplainantbelongstoScheduledCaste,shewasnamed

underthecaste.Thepetitionerandherfamilyusedtosaythatasthe

complainantbelongstoScheduledCaste,theycannoteatthefoodcookedby

her.Sometimes,thecomplainanthadnoticedthatherclotheswerefoundcut

fromdifferentplaces.Atthesametime,themother-in-lawofthecomplainant

usedtospendthreehoursinworshipintheroomofthepetitioner.Onasking

aboutsuchoffendingact,themother-in-lawofthecomplainantusedtopull

hairofthecomplainant,whereasthepetitionerusedtomoveherhairinthe

air.Theaccusedusedtoperform”dian-jadu”onthecomplainant,whichhad

bad/adverseeffectonthemindandbodyofthecomplainant.

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HehasfurtherarguedthatChallanagainstthepetitionerhasbeen

presentedbeforethetrialCourt.Therefore,theFIRcannotbequashedquathe

petitioner.HehasreferredtoSazidKhanVersusStateofHaryanaand

another2018(3)RCR(Criminal)992tocontendthatafterinvestigation,

policefoundangleofconspiracywhichinvolvedthepetitioneraswell.Once

thepolicehasfoundmaterialagainsttheaccusedandhadpresentedChallan

againstthepetitioner,theFIRcannotbequashed.Hehasalsoplacedreliance

uponSmt.RavinderKaurVersusCentralBureau(CBI)2015(2)RCR

(Criminal)871whereinthisCourthasheldthattheCourtcannotquashthe

proceedingswhenthematterhasbeeninvestigatedandcharge-sheethasbeen

submitted.Thedocumentshavetobeexaminedandtestedduringthe

proceedingspendingbeforethetrialCourt.

OnthestrengthofjudgmentofHon’bleBombayHighCourtin

SatishDharmuRathodandothersVersusTheStateofMaharashtraand

another2017(1)AIRBom.R(Cri)779,learnedcounselforrespondentNo.2

hasarguedthatwhentheallegationslevelledintheFIRmakeoutaprima-

facieoffencesofmentalandphysicalcrueltyaswellasunlawfuldemandof

money,theproceedingscannotbequashedunderSection482Cr.P.C.

ReliancehasalsobeenplaceduponRahulBhargavaVersusState(NCT)of

Delhiandanother2018(4)RCR(Criminal)658,whereinHon’bleDelhi

HighCourthasheldthatthequestionastowhethertheavermentsmadeby

thecomplainantwerethegospeltruthornotcanonlybedecidedafterthe

partiesarerelegatedtotrial.TheCourt,atthisstage,cannotgranttheprayers

madeinthepetitionandnocaseismadeoutforquashingeitherthecomplaint

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ortheFIRregisteredatthebehestofthecomplainantunderSections498-A

andSection406readwithSection34IPC.

LearnedcounselforrespondentNo.2hasfurtherreliedupon

JebaTabassumVersusMd.KhalilAhmed@M.K.Ahmedandothers2018

AllSCR(Crl.)644tocontendthatwhenchargesheetisfiledandthereis

materialagainsttheaccusedpersons,proceedingsagainstthemcannotbe

quashedwithoutgivingcogentreasons.Reliancehasalsobeenplacedupon

StateofBiharandanotherVersusP.P.SharmaandanotherAIR1991

SupremeCourt1260(1)tocontendthatwhenaftercompletionof

investigationintheFIR,areporthasbeensubmittedbythepolicetothe

Magistrateandaprima-faciecaseismadeoutagainsttheaccused,theHigh

Courtshouldnotinterfereatthisstagewhileexercisingitsinherentpowers

underSection482Cr.PC.Thequashingofcharge-sheetbeforecognizanceis

takenbythecriminalCourtamountstokillingastillbornchild.TheHigh

Courtcannotquashtheproceedingsbytakingintoconsiderationtheaffidavit

anddocumentssubmittedbytheaccusedandtheHighCourtcannotconvert

itselftoatrialCourtinexerciseofitsinherentjurisdiction.

Ihaveheardlearnedcounselfortheparties.

Thepetitionerisanunmarriedsister-in-lawofthecomplainant

andisworkinginGMCH,Sector-32,Chandigarh.Thereportrevealsthat

marriagebetweenthecomplainantandherhusbandwasalove-cum-arranged

marriageasbeforethemarriage,thepartieswereknown/closetoeachother.

TheagedifferencebetweenthecomplainantandherhusbandAbhinavPal

furthersubstantiatesthefactthattheywereknowntoeachothermuchbefore

themarriage.Attherelevanttime,whentheFIRinquestionwasregistered,

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thecomplainantwasnotresidinginChandigarh,rather,shewaspostedas

AssistantProfessorinBawaniKhera,DistrictBhiwani,whereasthepetitioner

nevershiftedtoBawaniKheraandwaslivingatManimajrai.e.inChandigarh

only.

Thereisnoallegationofentrustmentofanydowryarticletothe

petitioner.Thecomplainanthasnamedthepetitioner,whoisherunmarried

sister-in-lawprobablybecauseshewasundertheinfluenceofsome

superstitionsandwasgivingitseffectuponthecomplainant.Thepetitioneris

alreadywell-placedinserviceandwasinnoneedofanyfinancialhelpand,

therefore,itistoounrealistictoallegethatthepetitionereverharassedthe

complainantfordemandofdowry.

TheargumentoflearnedcounselforrespondentNo.2-

complainantthatoncethereporthasbeensubmittedtotheMagistrateanda

prima-faciecaseismadeoutfromtheFIRandcharge-sheetisissued,the

HighCourtshouldnotinterfereatthisstageandquashtheFIRinexerciseof

itsinherentpowers,hasbeenconsideredbytheApexCourtinSatishMehra

VersusStateofN.C.T.ofDelhiandanother2013(2)RCR(Criminal)883

whereintheApexCourthasheldthattheHighCourtinitsinherentpowers

canquashsuchproceedings.TherelevantparagraphNo.15ofthesaid

judgmentreadsasunder:

“15.Thepowertointerdictaproceedingeitheratthe
thresholdoratanintermediatestageofthetrialisinherentina
HighCourtonthebroadprinciplethatincasetheallegations
madeintheFIRorthecriminalcomplaint,asmaybe,prima
faciedonotdiscloseatriableoffencetherecanbereasonasto
whytheaccusedshouldbemadetosuffertheagonyofalegal

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proceedingthatmoreoftenthannotgetsprotracted.A
prosecutionwhichisboundtobecomelameorashamoughtto
interdictedintheinterestofjusticeascontinuancethereofwill
amounttoanabuseoftheprocessofthelaw.Thisisthecore
basisonwhichthepowertointerferewithapendingcriminal
proceedinghasbeenrecognizedtobeinherentineveryHigh
Court.Thepower,thoughavailable,beingextraordinaryin
naturehastobeexercisedsparinglyandonlyiftheattending
factsandcircumstancessatisfiesthenarrowtestindicated
above,namely,thatevenacceptingalltheallegationslevelledby
theprosecution,nooffenceisdisclosed.However,ifso
warranted,suchpowerwouldbeavailableforexercisenotonly
atthethresholdofacriminalproceedingbutalsoatarelatively
advancedstagethereof,namely,afterframingofthecharge
againsttheaccused.Infactthepowertoquashaproceeding
afterframingofchargewouldappeartobesomewhatwideras,
atthatstage,thematerialsrevealedbytheinvestigationcarried
outusuallycomesonrecordandsuchmaterialscanbelooked
into,notforthepurposeofdeterminingtheguiltorinnocenceof
theaccusedbutforthepurposeofdrawingsatisfactionthatsuch
materials,evenifacceptedinitsentirety,donot,inanymanner,
disclosethecommissionoftheoffenceallegedagainstthe
accused.”

Similarly,theApexCourtinGeetaMehrotraandanother

VersusStateofU.P.andanother2012(4)RCR(Criminal)812hasheldthat

incriminalcasesarisingoutofamatrimonialdispute,afactborneoutof

experiencecannotbeoverlookedthatthereisatendencytoinvolvetheentire

familymembersofthehouseholdinthedomesticquarreltakingplaceina

matrimonialdispute.

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Merelybecausethecharge-sheethasbeenframedagainstthe

petitionerisnogroundtodeclinetherelieftothepetitioner.Therearebald

allegationsagainstthepetitionerwhichsuggesttheanxietyoftheinformantto

ropeinasmanyasrelativesofthehusbandaspossible.TheFIRisbasedon

withself-imposedmotivesandwaslodgedagainstthepetitioner,whowas

undisputedlynotlivingwiththecomplainantatBawaniKheraatthetime

whentheFIRwasregisteredand,therefore,thepetitionershouldnotbemade

tosuffertheordealoftrial.Petitionerisunmarriedsister-in-lawofthe

complainantand,iftrialagainstherisallowedtoproceedinthematter,it

shallboundtohaveadverseeffectonhermarriageprospect.

ComingtothefactsofthecasewhenthecontentsoftheFIRare

perused,itisapparentthatthereisnospecificallegationagainstthepetitioner

fordemandofdowryanditshowsthatshehasbeennamed/includedinthe

FIRbutforthereasonthatsheistheunmarriedsisterofhusbandofthe

complainant.InGeetaMehrotraandanother’scase(supra),Hon’ble

SupremeCourt,whilequashingtheFIRagainstthefamilymembersofthe

husbandhasmadefollowingobservationsinparagraphNos.21to24ofthe

judgment:

“21.InyetanothercasereportedinAIR2003SC1386
inthematterofSectionB.S.JoshiOrs.vs.StateofHaryanaAnr.it
wasobservedthatthereisnodoubtthattheobjectofintroducing
ChapterXXAcontainingSection498AinSectiontheIndianPenalCode
wastopreventthetorturetoawomanbyherhusbandorby
relativesofherhusband.Section498Awasaddedwithaviewto
punishthehusbandandhisrelativeswhoharassortorturethe
wifetocoerceherrelativestosatisfyunlawfuldemandsof

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dowry.Butiftheproceedingsareinitiatedbythewifeunder
Section498Aagainstthehusbandandhisrelativesand
subsequentlyshehassettledherdisputeswithherhusbandand
hisrelativesandthewifeandhusbandagreedformutual
divorce,refusaltoexerciseinherentpowersbytheHighCourt
wouldnotbeproperasitwouldpreventwomanfromsettling
earlier.Thusforthepurposeofsecuringtheendsofjustice
quashingofFIRbecomesnecessary,Section320Cr.P.C.would
notbeabartotheexerciseofpowerofquashing.Itwould
howeverbeadifferentmatterdependinguponthefactsand
circumstancesofeachcasewhethertoexerciseornottoexercise
suchapower.

22.Intheinstantmatter,whenthecomplainantandher
husbandaredivorcedasthecomplainant-wifesecuredan
ex-partedecreeofdivorce,thesamecouldhaveweighedwiththe
HighCourttoconsiderwhetherproceedinginitiatedpriortothe
divorcedecreewasfittobepursuedinspiteofabsenceof
specificallegationsatleastagainstthebrotherandsisterofthe
complainant’shusbandandwhethercontinuingwiththis
proceedingcouldnothaveamountedtoabuseoftheprocessof
thecourt.TheHighCourt,however,seemsnottohaveexamined
theseaspectscarefullyandhavethusside-trackedallthese
considerationsmerelyonthegroundthattheterritorial
jurisdictioncouldberaisedonlybeforethemagistrate
conductingthetrial.

23.Intheinstantcase,thequestionofterritorial
jurisdictionwasjustoneofthegroundsforquashingthe
proceedingsalongwiththeothergroundsand,therefore,the
HighCourtshouldhaveexaminedwhethertheprosecutioncase
wasfittobequashedonothergroundsornot.Atthisstage,the
questionalsocropsupwhetherthematterisfittoberemanded
totheHighCourttoconsideralltheseaspects.Butinmatters

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arisingoutofacriminalcase,freshconsiderationbyremanding
thesamewouldfurtherresultintoaprotractedandvexatious
proceedingwhichisunwarrantedaswasheldbythisCourtin
thecaseofSectionRameshvs.StateofTamilNadu(supra)thatsucha
courseofremandwouldbeunnecessaryandinexpedientasthere
wasnoneedtoprolongthecontroversy.Thefactsinthismatter
onthisaspectwasalthoughsomewhatdifferentsincethe
complainanthadlodgedthecomplaintaftersevenyearsofdelay,
yetintheinstantmatterthefactualpositionremainsthatthe
complaintasitstandslacksingredientsconstitutingtheoffence
underSection498AandSection3/Section4DowryProhibitionAct
againsttheappellantswhoaresisterandbrotherofthe
complainant’shusbandandtheirinvolvementinthewhole
incidentappearsonlybywayofacasualinclusionoftheir
names.Hence,itcannotbeoverlookedthatitwouldbetotal
abuseoftheprocessoflawifweweretoremandthematterto
theHighCourttoconsiderwhethertherewerestillanymaterial
toholdthatthetrialshouldproceedagainsttheminspiteof
absenceofprimafaciematerialconstitutingtheoffencealleged
againstthem.

24.However,wedeemitappropriatetoaddbywayof
cautionthatwemaynotbemisunderstoodsoastoinferthat
evenifthereareallegationofovertactindicatingthecomplicity
ofthemembersofthefamilynamedintheFIRinagivencase,
cognizancewouldbeunjustifiedbutwhatwewishtoemphasize
byhighlightingisthat,iftheFIRasitstandsdoesnotdisclose
specificallegationagainstaccusedmoresoagainsttheco-
accusedspeciallyinamatterarisingoutofmatrimonial
bickering,itwouldbeclearabuseofthelegalandjudicial
processtomechanicallysendthenamedaccusedintheFIRto
undergothetrialunlessofcoursetheFIRdisclosesspecific
allegationswhichwouldpersuadethecourttotakecognisance

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oftheoffenceallegedagainsttherelativesofthemainaccused
whoareprimafacienotfoundtohaveindulgedinphysicaland
mentaltortureofthecomplainant-wife.Itisthewellsettled
principlelaiddownincasestoonumeroustomention,thatifthe
FIRdidnotdisclosethecommissionofanoffence,thecourt
wouldbejustifiedinquashingtheproceedingspreventingthe
abuseoftheprocessoflaw.Simultaneously,thecourtsare
expectedtoadoptacautiousapproachinmattersofquashing
speciallyincasesofmatrimonialdisputewhethertheFIRinfact
disclosescommissionofanoffencebytherelativesofthe
principalaccusedortheFIRprimafaciedisclosesacaseof
over-implicationbyinvolvingtheentirefamilyoftheaccusedat
theinstanceofthecomplainant,whoisouttosettleherscores
arisingoutoftheteethingproblemorskirmishofdomestic
bickeringwhilesettlingdowninhernewmatrimonial
surrounding.”

Merelybymakinggeneralallegationsthatthepetitionerwasalso

involvedinphysicalandmentaltortureofrespondentNo.2-complainant,

withoutmentioningevenasingleincidentagainstthepetitionerasalsothe

factastohowshecouldbemotivatedtodemanddowrywhensheisonly

relatedassisterofcomplainant’shusband,thisCourtfindsthatthecriminal

proceedingsinitiatedagainstthepetitionerareliabletobesetasidebeinga

totalabuseofprocessoflaw.

SimilarviewwastakenbyHon’bleSupremeCourtinPreeti

GuptaandanotherVersusStateofJharkhandandanother2010(4)RCR

(Criminal)45,whereinithasbeenheldthatindowryharassmentcases,a

largenumberofcomplaintsarenotbonafideandamajorityofcomplaintsare

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filedonadvicewithexaggeratedversions.TherelevantparagraphsNo.28to

31ofthesaidjudgmentarereproducedasunder:

“28.Itisamatterofcommonknowledgethat
unfortunatelymatrimoniallitigationisrapidlyincreasinginour
country.Allthecourtsinourcountryincludingthiscourtare
floodedwithmatrimonialcases.Thisclearlydemonstrates
discontentandunrestinthefamilylifeofalargenumberof
peopleofthesociety.

29.Thecourtsarereceivingalargenumberofcases
emanatingfromSectionsection498-AoftheIndianPenalCodewhich
readsasunder:

“498-A.Husbandorrelativeofhusbandofawoman
subjectinghertocruelty.–Whoever,beingthe
husbandortherelativeofthehusbandofawoman,
subjectssuchwomantocrueltyshallbepunished
withimprisonmentforatermwhichmayextendto
threeyearsandshallalsobeliabletofine.
Explanation.–Forthepurposesofthissection,
“cruelty’means:

(a)anywilfulconductwhichisofsuchanature
asislikelytodrivethewomantocommitsuicideor
tocausegraveinjuryordangertolife,limbor
health(whethermentalorphysical)ofthewoman;

or

(b)harassmentofthewomanwheresuch
harassmentiswithaviewtocoercingherorany

personrelatedtohertomeetanyunlawfuldemand
foranypropertyorvaluablesecurityorison
accountoffailurebyheroranypersonrelatedto
hertomeetsuchdemand.”

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30.Itisamatterofcommonexperiencethatmostof
thesecomplaintsunderSectionsection498-AIPCarefiledintheheatof
themomentovertrivialissueswithoutproperdeliberations.We
comeacrossalargenumberofsuchcomplaintswhicharenot
evenbonafideandarefiledwithobliquemotive.Atthesame
time,rapidincreaseinthenumberofgenuinecasesofdowry
harassmentarealsoamatterofseriousconcern.

31.ThelearnedmembersoftheBarhaveenormous
socialresponsibilityandobligationtoensurethatthesocialfiber
offamilylifeisnotruinedordemolished.Theymustensurethat
exaggeratedversionsofsmallincidentsshouldnotbereflected
inthecriminalcomplaints.Majorityofthecomplaintsarefiled
eitherontheiradviceorwiththeirconcurrence.Thelearned
membersoftheBarwhobelongtoanobleprofessionmust
maintainitsnobletraditionsandshouldtreateverycomplaint
underSectionsection498-Aasabasichumanproblemandmustmake
seriousendeavourtohelpthepartiesinarrivingatanamicable
resolutionofthathumanproblem.Theymustdischargetheir
dutiestothebestoftheirabilitiestoensurethatsocialfiber,
peaceandtranquilityofthesocietyremainsintact.Themembers
oftheBarshouldalsoensurethatonecomplaintshouldnotlead
tomultiplecases.”

ThejudgmentinSazidKhan’scase(supra)citedbylearned

counselforrespondentNo.2-complainanthasnoapplicabilityinthefactsand

circumstancesofthepresentcaseasthesaidjudgmentrelatestotheoffence

underSections420,Section406andSection120-BIPCaswellasSection138ofthe

NegotiableInstrumentsAct,1881.Similarly,anotherjudgmentcitedby

learnedcounselforrespondentNo.2-complainantinSmt.RavinderKaur’s

case(supra)relatestotheoffenceundertheSectionPreventionofCorruptionAct,

1988.

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ThisCourthasreasontolookintothejudgmentcitedbylearned

counselforrespondentNo.2-complainantinSatishDharmuRathodand

others’case(supra)andfindsthatthesaidcasewasinthebackgroundof

territorialjurisdiction.

ThisCourt,nodoubt,isconsciousofthefactthatitissettled

principleoflawthatforexerciseofinherentpowersunderSection482Cr.PC,

itisessentialtoproceedentirelyonthebasisofallegationsmadeinthe

complaintordocumentsaccompaniedwithitperse,buttheCourthasno

jurisdictiontoexaminethecorrectnessorotherwiseoftheallegations.The

ApexCourtinthematterofStateofHaryanaVersusBhajanlalandothers

AIR1992SC604hasdelineatedtheguidelinesinparagraphNo.109ofthe

judgment,whichreadsasunder:

“109.Wealsogiveanoteofcautiontotheeffectthatthe
powerofquashingacriminalproceedingshouldbeexercised
verysparinglyandwithcircumspectionandthattoointherarest
ofrarecases;thattheCourtwillnotbejustifiedinembarking
uponanenquiryastothereliabilityorgenuinenessorotherwise
oftheallegationsmadeintheF.I.R.orthecomplaintandthat
theextraordinaryorinherentpowersdonotconferanarbitrary
jurisdictionontheCourttoactaccordingtoitswhimor
caprice.”

Butatthesametime,inthecaseinhand,thisCourtfindsthatno

motiveisestablishedonthepartofthepetitionertodemandanydowryandas

observedintheearlierpartofthisjudgment,thecomplainantisprobably

influencedwithasuperstition.Moreover,theFIRinquestionwasregistered

atBawaniKhera,DistrictBhiwani,whereasthepetitioner,whoisunmarried

sister-in-lawofthecomplainant,isresidinginChandigarhandisworkingin

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09-06-201910:18:56:::
CRM-M-4790of2016-17-

GMCH,Sector-32,Chandigarh.Atnopointoftime,petitionereverstayedin

BawaniKhera.

Therefore,havingrecoursetotheprovisionsofSection482

Cr.P.C.,thisCourtfindsthatregistrationoftheFIRagainstthepetitionerisa

totalmisuseoftheprocessoflawonthepartofthecomplainant.

Accordingly,thepresentpetitionisallowedandtheFIRNo.39

dated23.10.2015underSections498-A,Section323,Section506andSection406readwithSection

34IPCaswellasSection3oftheSC/SectionSTActregisteredatWomenPolice

Station,Bhiwaniandallconsequentialproceedingsarisingtherefromquathe

petitionerarequashed.

(HARIPALVERMA)
May10,2019JUDGE
YagDutt

Whetherspeaking/reasoned:Yes

WhetherReportable:No

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09-06-201910:18:56:::

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