The Bombay High Court Nagpur Bench quashed a Section 498-A IPC case, with Justice Pravin Patil citing vague cruelty allegations and warning against misuse of matrimonial prosecutions as coercive tactics in marital disputes.
MUMBAI: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed a criminal case filed under Section 498-A of the IPC against a man and his family, stating that the allegations of cruelty were vague and unsubstantiated. The court also raised concerns about a “disturbing pattern” where matrimonial prosecutions are used as pressure tactics.
Justice Pravin Patil, presiding alone, annulled the FIR lodged by the Wardha police based on a complaint from the man’s estranged wife.
He noted that the criminal justice process should not be allowed to serve as a tool for coercion or vendetta in marital disputes. The Court pointed out that there is a growing trend of initiating criminal cases under Section 498-A with “oblique or collateral motives” during ongoing matrimonial conflicts or negotiations.
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The bench observed,
“This Court cannot remain oblivious to the disturbing pattern that has emerged in recent times, wherein matrimonial prosecutions are frequently initiated as a pressure tactic during the subsistence of marital disputes and negotiations,”
The Court stressed that judges should not be passive in such circumstances and must assess whether the criminal justice system is being misused for personal vendettas.
The bench took note of the inclination to involve multiple family members, including elderly parents and married sisters, without specific accusations against them. It asserted that the indiscriminate involvement of relatives undermines the purpose of Section 498-A, which is intended to protect genuine victims of cruelty.
According to the Court, permitting such cases to proceed results in prolonged harassment, social stigma, and irreparable harm to individuals who may ultimately be found to have no involvement in the matter.
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The High Court emphasized that the criminal justice system should not be exploited as a means to resolve matrimonial issues based on “vague and embellished accusations.” It highlighted the constitutional duty to balance two competing interests: protecting genuine victims of domestic cruelty and safeguarding innocent individuals from frivolous prosecutions.
The bench also noted that many complaints are lodged “in the heat of the moment over trivial issues” and may not be made in good faith.
In the specific case, the Court determined that the complainant failed to substantiate her allegations of cruelty and harassment against her husband and his relatives. Without credible evidence, the continuation of criminal proceedings was deemed unjustified. Consequently, the FIR and all related proceedings against the husband and his family were quashed.
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