Delhi High Court
Ravi Kumar vs State (Nct) Of Delhi & Anr. on 25 February, 2009
Author: Mool Chand Garg
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of reserve: 18.02.2009
Date of decision: 25.02.2009
+ Crl.M.C. 3072/2008
RAVI KUMAR ......Petititioner
Through: Mr.B.S.Chowdhary, Adv.
Versus
STATE (NCT) OF DELHI & ANR .......Respondents
Through: Mr.Arvind Kumar Gupta APP
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOOL CHAND GARG
1. Whether the Reporters of local papers may be allowed
to see the judgment? Yes
2. To be referred to Reporter or not? Yes
3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Yes
MOOL CHAND GARG, J.
1. The present petition is filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973(hereinafter referred to as Cr.P.C.) for quashing of FIR
No. 38/2003 under Sections 498-A/406/34 of Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.
in short), registered at Police Station, Kalkaji on 11-01-2003 and the
criminal proceeding which are pending in the Court of Ms. Pinki,
Metropolitan Magistrate, Mahila Court, New Delhi.
2. The petitioner during the pendency of the aforesaid criminal
proceedings after the charges were framed preferred a revision
petition against the order framing charges dated 26.09.2003 passed by
the ld. MM before the Sessions Court. The Ld. ASJ dismissed the same
on 02.04.2004.
3. The present petition has been filed four years thereafter on the ground
that that the allegations made by the complainant in her complaint
does not makes out a case against him under section 498-A/ 406 IPC .
4. Briefly stating the facts of this case are that the marriage between
Petitioner and Complainant was solemnized as per Hindu rituals and
customs on 17.06.1997; out of their wedlock two children namely baby
Pratiksha and master Mukul were born dated on 04.06.1998 and
26.03.2002; Pratiksha died on 20.09.2002. Thereafter on 23.09.2002
complainant left her matrimonial home and since then she is living at
her parental home along with her son Mukul. It is on 07.05.2002
complainant lodged a complaint with CAW Cell Nanakpura against the
petitioner on the basis of which aforesaid FIR was registered. After
completion of investigation challan was filed and Ld. MM framed the
charge on 26.09.2003 under section 498-A IPC against the petitioner.
5. It is submitted by the counsel for the petitioner that the allegations
made by the complainant in her complaint regarding the
misbehaviour of the family members against her and that she was
tortured and subjected to cruelty due to which she got psychologically
disturbed and left the matrimonial home on 23.09.2002 are not
correct. It is submitted that the allegations are baseless and without
any material evidence and therefore the present complaint was
nothing but a malafide intention of the complainant with an ulterior
motive for wrecking vengeance of petitioner and for not maintaining
the relationship.
6. It is also submitted that the said allegations does not constitute an
offence under section 498-A IPC. He also states that no steps have
been taken to record any evidence and that the proceedings are
pending for a long time which itself shows that there is nothing with
the prosecution to prove its case therefore the present proceedings
are liable to be quashed.
7. It is important to take note of the relevant portion of the allegations
made by the complainant in her complaint on the basis of which FIR
no. 38/2003 dated 11.01.2003 was registered reads as under:
1. I, Garima Bundela W/o Ravi Kumar Bundela, wwhich
marriage solemonized on 17.6.97 with Ravi Kumar
Bundela s/o Sh. Kanhiya R/o B-138, East of Kailash, New
Delhi as per Hindu rites and rituals.
2. My husband Ravi Bundela's parent Kanhiya Lal, Smt.
Kastoori Devi, sisters Uma, Shashi, brother Kamal &
sister in law (Bhabi) Kiran, whose behaviour is not good
toward me from and instigate my husband against me
that your wife is not moral, we will do your second
marriage and harassed me psychologically.
3. My husband and relative made allegations upon me on
petty issues.
4. Nobody was look -after to me at home in at the time of
second delivery and my husband outside to the house
for business concern. When I asked to my husband that
after the birth of child, who will look after me, on this my
husband telephoned to my mother for stay there to take
care of me. Only my mother for look after me after
delivery. My husband and his relatives whose reference
has been made in Para. 2 above used to make
disturbances at the instance of relatives. They used to
say that returned back to your mother.
5. Sir, I have got stitches during delivery, which takes time
for normalization.
6. Sir, my husband and his relative's attitude is cruelsome
towards me due to which I am mentally harassed.
Hence, it is requested that please save me from mental
harassment and restrained my relatives from unethical
behaviour so that I may lead Peaceful Life.
8. At this stage it may be appropriate to take note of section 498-A IPC,
which reads as under :
498A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman
subjecting her to cruelty.
Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the
husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years and shall also be liable to
fine.
Explanation-For the purpose of this section, "cruelty"
means-
(a) Any willful conduct which is of such a nature as is
likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to
cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health
whether mental or physical) of the woman; or
(b) Harassment of the woman where such
harassment is with a view to coercing her or any
person related to her to meet any unlawful demand
for any property or valuable security or is on account
of failure by her or any person related to her meet
such demand.]
9. The petitioner in support of his case referred the judgments delivered
by Apex Court in the case of Indian Oil Corporation Vs. NEPC India
LTD. reported in 2006 SCC Crl. 188 and State of Haryana Vs. Bhajan
Lal reported in JT 1990 (4) SC 650 . The petitioner also submitted a
judgement delivered by this court in Sanjeev Kumar Aggawal & Ors.
Vs. State and Anr. reported in 2007 (4) JCC 3074 where it was held as
under :
10. Under Explanation (a) the cruelty has to be of such
gravity as is likely to drive a woman to commit suicide or
to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health.
11. Explanation (b) to section 498 A provides that cruelty
means harassment of the women where such harassment
is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her
to meet any unlawful demand for any property or
valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any
person related to her to meet such demand.
28. It is settled law that a complaint/ FIR can be quashed
when allegations made in the complaint /FIR do not prima
facie constitute any offence or make out a case against
the accused.
10 Having gone through the judgment cited by the petitioner and having
perused the complaint, I find that the allegations made by the
complainant which is the basis of the FIR, squarely falls within the
purview of explanation (a) to Section 498-A IPC and, therefore, prima
facie makes out a case against the petitioner and it is not a case where
the prayer made by the petitioner to quash the complaint/FIR being an
abuse of the process of Court can be allowed.
11 Accordingly, the petition is dismissed. However, taking into
consideration the facts of this case the trial Court is directed to
expedite the proceedings.
12 Trial Court record, if received, be sent back immediately.
MOOL CHAND GARG,J
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
