The Supreme Court set aside a dowry-harassment FIR against a woman’s parents-in-law and sister-in-law in Uttar Pradesh, ruling that vague matrimonial allegations should not trigger criminal proceedings. It stressed that criminal law must not serve as personal vendetta.
The Supreme Court of India ruled consumer forums cannot decide fraud or forgery disputes in banking transactions like unauthorized fixed deposit pledges. Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra said such cases belong in civil or criminal courts.
The Karnataka High Court refused to quash criminal proceedings in a female foeticide case, with Justice M Nagaprasanna stating such acts are a “moral blight and constitutional affront,” stressing strict action against those enabling illegal sex determination and foetus termination.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a plea seeking recall of its order quashing an FIR in a rape-on-promise-to-marry case. It held that a final judgment cannot be reopened due to the statutory bar under Section 403.
The Delhi High Court set aside an FIR and criminal proceedings against a woman accused under Section 307 IPC, prioritising restoration of family ties over retribution. Observing the relationship resembled that of a mother and child, the court said, “if justice is ever to be tempered with mercy, this is a fit case for such an approach.”
The Supreme Court of India rebuked a West Bengal judicial officer for filing a forgery case against his brother via the Magistrate route instead of lodging a police complaint. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta termed it “the grossest abuse of juridical office,” urging action.
The Allahabad High Court held that when a married man promises marriage, the deceit begins from the very start. Refusing to quash proceedings under Section 69 BNS, the Court said such allegations must be tested during trial.
The Calcutta High Court dismissed criminal proceedings, holding that a prolonged consensual relationship cannot be termed rape in marriage. Chaitali Chatterjee Das noted that years of intimacy, shared travel, and voluntary hotel stays reflected mutual consent, not misconception.
The Patna High Court has dismissed criminal proceedings against Bihar Minister Santosh Kumar Suman, also known as Santosh Manjhi, in a 2017 case alleging rioting, road blockages and assault on a police officer during a protest in Bodh Gaya.
The Supreme Court emphasized that liberty in India’s Constitution is not a privilege granted by the State but its foremost responsibility. This came while hearing a passport renewal plea of a coal block convict facing UAPA charges.
