High Court of Chhattisgarh
Case Details
1 RAHUL JHA Digitally signed by RAHUL JHA Date: 2025.08.04 17:14:11 +0530 HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR 2025:CGHC:38336-DB NAFR CRMP No. 2131 of 2025 1 - Dayanand Sonkar S/o Sonauram Sonkar Aged About 33 Years R/o House No. E/81, C.S.E.B. Colony, Madwa, Janjgir, P.S.- Janjgir, District- Janjgir- Champa C.G. 2 - Sonauram Sonkar S/o Late Bhikanlal Sonkar Aged About 58 Years R/o Shivnagar Mathpuraina, P.S.- Tikrapara, District Raipur C.G., At Present Beside Rishabh Garment Shop, Patewa, P.S. Patewa, District - Mahasamund C.G. 3 - Parwati Sonkar W/o Sonauram Sonkar Aged About 54 Years R/o Shivnagar Mathpuraina, P.S.- Tikrapara, District Raipur C.G., At Present Beside Rishabh Garment Shop, Patewa, P.S. Patewa, District - Mahasamund C.G. 4 - Chanchal Sonkar D/o Sonauram Sonkar Aged About 28 Years R/o Shivnagar Mathpuraina, P.S.- Tikrapara, District Raipur C.G., At Present Beside Rishabh Garment Shop, Patewa, P.S. Patewa, District - Mahasamund C.G. versus ... Applicants 1 - State Of Chhattisgarh Through- Station House Officer, Police Station- Janjgir, District- Janjgir-Champa Chhattisgarh. 2 - Smt. Deepmala Sonkar W/o Dayanand Sonkar Aged About 26 Years R/o E/81, C.S.E.B. Colony, Madwa, P.S.- Janjgir, District- Janjgir-Champa C.G., At Present R/o Behind Mahaveer Colony, Baijnath Para, Ward No. 38, P.S.- City Kotwali, Durg, District - Durg, C.G. (Complainant) Respondent(s) 2 (Cause-title is taken from Case Information System) For Applicants For Respondent/State For Respondent No. 2
Legal Reasoning
: Mr. Pushkar Sinha, Advocate : Mr. Hariom Rai, PL : Mr. Avinash Chand Sahu, Advocate Hon’ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon’ble Mr. Bibhu Datta Guru, Judge
Decision
Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice 04/08/2025 1. Heard Mr. Pushkar Sinha, learned counsel for the applicants, Mr. Hariom Rai, learned Panel Lawyer for the State/respondent No. 1 as well as Mr. Avinash Chand Sahu, learned counsel for the respondent No. 2. 2. By this petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the applicants have made following prayer:- “It is therefore, most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court in exercise of its inherent powers under Section 528 of B.N.S.S may kindly be pleased to allow this petition and quash the entire criminal proceeding of Criminal Case No. 1126/2024, pending before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Janjgir, initiated under the Crime No. 170/2024 registered at Police Station Janjgir, Distt. Janjgir-Champa dated 05.03.2024 and the Charge Sheet (Final Report) bearing No. 298/2024 dated 13.07.2024 and also against the charges framed against the petitioners vide order dated 13.11.2024 in Criminal Case No. 1126/2024 by the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Janjgir, District- Janjgir- Champa whereby the charges U/s 294, 323, 506, 498-A, 34 of I.P.C has been framed against the petitioners, in the interest of justice. Any other order that may be deemed fit and just on the fact and circumstances of the case may also kindly be passed in the interest of justice.” 3 3. The facts, in brief, as projected by the petitioners are that respondent no. 2 lodged a written report and alleged that she was given ill treatment by her husband and in laws and demanded for dowry just after the marriage and even at the time of marriage her father had given Rs.1,50,000/- cash amount, Wagon R car along with gold and silver ornaments and other articles to the husband, but still after the marriage, her in-laws were always complained to her that whatever articles she brought from her parental house are below standard and they were demand for more money from her parental house, and due to that her husband started beaten her and thereby she was tortured physically and mentally by the husband and his family members. She further alleged that her husband has illegal relationship with another woman and when complainant objected about this then her husband and family members physically tortured to her. On 04.03.2024 on the demand of dowry, her husband utter filthy languages and committed Marpeet with her and due to that on 05/03/2024, she had lodged report against the husband and offence under section 294, 506, 323 of IPC has been registered against the husband of complainant at Police Station Janjgir. Thereafter, the complainant filed written complaint before Mahila Thana, Bhilai and upon the written complaint filed by complainant offence has been registered u/s - 294, 506, 323, 498-A r/w 34 of IPC against the applicants in the final report. 4. It has been argued by learned counsel for the applicant No. 1 No.1 is husband of respondent No.2, and applicants No. 2 & 3 are father-in-law and mother-in-law of the complainant, respectively and applicant no. 4 is 4 sister-in-law of her. He would submit that initially at the of lodging the first FIR, applicants No. 2 to 4 were not made accused, but later with malafide intention, they have been made an accused in false and frivolous case. 5. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.2 has submitted that the matter was referred to the Mediation Center by this Court, however, mediation between the parties has failed. 6. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents appended with petition. 7. In the matter of Geeta Mehrotra and another v. State of Uttar Pradesh and another1, the Supreme Court has held that casual reference to the family member of the husband in FIR as co-accused particularly when there is no specific allegation and complaint did not disclose their active involvement. It was held that cognizance of matter against them for offence under Sections 498-A, 323, 504 and 506 of the IPC would not be justified as cognizance would result in abuse of judicial process. 8. In the matter of K. Subba Rao and others v. State of Telangana represented by its Secretary, Department of Home and others2 the Supreme Court delineated the duty of the criminal Courts while proceeding against relatives of victim's husband and held that the Court should be careful in proceeding against distant relatives in crime pertaining to matrimonial disputes and dowry deaths and further held that relatives of husband should not be roped in on the basis of omnibus 1 2 (2012) 10 SCC 741 (2018) 14 SCC 452 allegations, unless specific instances of their involvement in offences are 5 made out. 9. In the matter of Rashmi Chopra v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another3, it has been held by the Supreme Court relying upon the principle of law laid down in State of Haryana and others v. Bhajan Lal and others4 that criminal proceedings can be allowed to proceed only when a prima facie offence is disclosed and further held that judicial process is a solemn proceeding which cannot be allowed to be converted into an instrument of oppression or harassment and the High Court should not hesitate in exercising the jurisdiction to quash the proceedings if the proceedings deserve to be quashed in line of parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in Bhajan Lal (supra) and further held that in absence of specific allegation regarding anyone of the accused except common and general allegations against everyone, no offence under Section 498A IPC is made out and quashed the charges for offence under Section 498A of the IPC being covered by category seven as enumerated in Bhajan Lal (supra) by holding as under:- “24. Coming back to the allegations in the complaint pertaining to Section 498A and Section 3/4 of D.P. Act. A perusal of the complaint indicates that the allegations against the appellants for offence under Section 498A and Section 3/4 of D.P. Act are general and sweeping. No specific incident dates or details of any incident has been mentioned in the complaint. The complaint having been filed after proceeding for divorce was initiated by Nayan Chopra in State of 3 4 2019 SCC OnLine SC 620 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335 6 Michigan, where Vanshika participated and divorce was ultimately granted. A few months after filing of the divorce petition, the complaint has been filed in the Court of C.J.M., Gautam Budh Nagar with the allegations as noticed above. The sequence of the events and facts and circumstances of the case leads us to conclude that the complaint under Section 498A and Section 3/4 of D.P. Act have been filed as counter blast to divorce petition proceeding in State of Michigan by Nayan Chopra. 25. There being no specific allegation regarding any one of the applicants except common general allegation against everyone i.e. “they started harassing the daughter of the applicant demanding additional dowry of one crore” and the fact that all relatives of the husband, namely, father, mother, brother, mother’s sister and husband of mother’s sister have been roped in clearly indicate that application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. was filed with a view to harass the applicants.....” 10. The Apex Court, in Payal Sharma v. State of Punjab & Another {Cr.A. No. 4773/2024, decided on 26.11.2024} had, relying on the decision in Geeta Mehrotra (supra), Kahkashan Kausar @ Sonam & Others v. State of Bihar & Others {(2022) 6 SCC 599}, Bhajan Lal (supra), and Umesh Kumar v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Another {(2013) 10 SCC 591}, had quashed the FIR and the consequential proceedings emanating therefrom. 11. Very recently, the Apex Court, in Dara Lakshmi Narayan & Others v. State of Telangana & Another {Cr.A. No. 5199 of 2024, decided on 10.12.2024}, has observed as under: “25. A mere reference to the names of family members in a 7 criminal case arising out of a matrimonial dispute, without specific allegations indicating their active involvement should be nipped in the bud. It is a well-recognised fact, borne out of judicial experience, that there is often a tendency to implicate all the members of the husband’s family when domestic disputes arise out of a matrimonial discord. Such generalised and sweeping accusations unsupported by concrete evidence or particularised allegations cannot form the basis for criminal prosecution. Courts must exercise caution in such cases to prevent misuse of legal provisions and the legal process and avoid unnecessary harassment of innocent family members. In the present case, appellant Nos.2 to 6, who are the members of the family of appellant No.1 have been living in different cities and have not resided in the matrimonial house of appellant No.1 and respondent No.2 herein. Hence, they cannot be dragged into criminal prosecution and the same would be an abuse of the process of the law in the absence of specific allegations made against each of them. 26. In fact, in the instant case, the first appellant and his wife i.e. the second respondent herein resided at Jollarpeta, Tamil Nadu where he was working in Southern Railways. They were married in the year 2015 and soon thereafter in the years 2016 and 2017, the second respondent gave birth to two children. Therefore, it cannot be believed that there was any harassment for dowry during the said period or that there was any matrimonial discord. Further, the second respondent in response to the missing complaint filed by the first appellant herein on 05.10.2021 addressed a letter dated 11.11.2021 to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thirupathur Sub Division requesting for closure of the said complaint as she had stated that she had left the matrimonial home on her own accord owing to a quarrel with the appellant No.1 because of one Govindan with whom the second respondent was in contact 8 over telephone for a period of ten days. She had also admitted that she would not repeat such acts in future. In the above conspectus of facts, we find that the allegations of the second respondent against the appellants herein are too far-fetched and are not believable. 27. xxx xxx xxx 28. The inclusion of Section 498A of the IPC by way of an amendment was intended to curb cruelty inflicted on a woman by her husband and his family, ensuring swift intervention by the State. However, in recent years, as there have been a notable rise in matrimonial disputes across the country, accompanied by growing discord and tension within the institution of marriage, consequently, there has been a growing tendency to misuse provisions like Section 498A of the IPC as a tool for unleashing personal vendetta against the husband and his family by a wife. Making vague and generalised allegations during matrimonial conflicts, if not scrutinized, will lead to the misuse of legal processes and an encouragement for use of arm twisting tactics by a wife and/or her family. Sometimes, recourse is taken to invoke Section 498A of the IPC against the husband and his family in order to seek compliance with the unreasonable demands of a wife. Consequently, this Court has, time and again, cautioned against prosecuting the husband and his family in the absence of a clear prima facie case against them. 29. We are not, for a moment, stating that any woman who has suffered cruelty in terms of what has been contemplated under Section 498A of the IPC should remain silent and forbear herself from making a complaint or initiating any criminal proceeding. That is not the intention of our aforesaid observations but we should not encourage a case like as in the present one, where as a counterblast to the petition for 9 dissolution of marriage sought by the first appellant-husband of the second respondent herein, a complaint under Section 498A of the IPC is lodged by the latter. In fact, the insertion of the said provision is meant mainly for the protection of a woman who is subjected to cruelty in the matrimonial home primarily due to an unlawful demand for any property or valuable security in the form of dowry. However, sometimes it is misused as in the present case. 30. In the above context, this Court in G.V. Rao vs. L.H.V. Prasad, (2000) 3 SCC 693 observed as follows: “12. There has been an outburst of matrimonial disputes in recent times. Marriage is a sacred ceremony, the main purpose of which is to enable the young couple to settle down in life and live peacefully. But little matrimonial skirmishes suddenly erupt which often assume serious proportions resulting in commission of heinous crimes in which elders of the family are also involved with the result that those who could have counselled and brought about rapprochement are rendered helpless on their being arrayed as accused in the criminal case. There are many other reasons which need not be mentioned here for not encouraging matrimonial litigation so that the parties may ponder over their defaults and terminate their disputes amicably by mutual agreement instead of fighting it out in a court of law where it takes years and years to conclude and in that process the parties lose their “young” days in chasing their “cases” in different courts.” 31. Further, this Court in Preeti Gupta vs. State of Jharkhand (2010) 7 SCC 667 held that the courts have to be extremely careful and cautious in dealing with these complaints and must take pragmatic realities into consideration while dealing with matrimonial cases. The allegations of harassment by the 10 husband’s close relatives who had been living in different cities and never visited or rarely visited the place where the complainant resided would have an entirely different complexion. The allegations of the complainant are required to be scrutinized with great care and circumspection. 32. We, therefore, are of the opinion that the impugned FIR No.82 of 2022 filed by respondent No.2 was initiated with ulterior motives to settle personal scores and grudges against appellant No.1 and his family members i.e., appellant Nos.2 to 6 herein. Hence, the present case at hand falls within category (7) of illustrative parameters highlighted in Bhajan Lal. Therefore, the High Court, in the present case, erred in not exercising the powers available to it under Section 482 CrPC and thereby failed to prevent abuse of the Court’s process by continuing the criminal prosecution against the appellants.” Observing the aforesaid, the Apex Court quashed the FIR, the charge sheet and the consequential criminal proceedings pending before the learned trial Court. 12. In the complaint so made, the complainant has only made omnibus and general allegations against the applicants without being full particulars about date and place that all the applicants including the husband treated her with cruelty for not bringing dowry. There is no specific allegation regarding anyone of the applicants except common and general allegations against all them that they have demanded dowry. 13. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties, material available on record, perusing the FIR in which no specific allegations have been made and only bald and omnibus allegations have been made against the applicants, we are of the considered opinion that 11 prima-facie no offence under Section 498A/34 of the IPC is made out for prosecuting applicant No. 2- Sonauram Sonkar, applicant No. 3- Parwati Sonkar and applicant No. 3- Chanchal Sonkar for the above- stated offences. 14. As a fallout and consequence of the above-stated legal analysis, Criminal Case No.1126/2024 pending in the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Janjgir (Chhattisgarh) arising out of Crime No.170/2024 registered at Police Station Janjgir-Champa, District Janjgir is hereby quashed to the extent of applicant No. 2- Sonauram Sonkar, applicant No. 3- Parwati Sonkar and applicant No. 3- Chanchal Sonkar. Prosecution against her husband applicant No.1- Dayanand Sonkar shall continue. Concerned trial Court will decide criminal case pending against applicant No.1- Dayanand Sonkar strictly in accordance with law without being influenced by any of these observations made hereinabove. 15. The petition under Section 482 CrPC is allowed to the extent indicated hereinabove. No cost(s). Sd/- Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) JUDGE (Ramesh Sinha) CHIEF JUSTICE Rahul/Gowri