November 16, 2018:

Karnataka High Court has recently slammed a woman for filing a false dowry case against her mother-in-law.

Justice KS Mudagal opined that the proceedings against the petitioner (mother-in-law) were an “abuse of the process of the Court” and that their continuation would amount to “failure of ends of justice”.

Court was hearing a petition filed by one Ms. Puttalakshmi, under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, praying for quashing of the FIR & charge-sheet filed against her under Sections 498A (husband or husband’s relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 114 (abettor present when offence is committed) of Indian Penal Code, and Sections 3 (taking dowry) and 4 (demanding dowry) of Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

These charges were leveled against the petitioner & her son, by her daughter in law.

High Court now pointed out several inconsistencies in the allegations.

For instance, it pointed out that the petitioner mother-in-law was not even residing with the couple for her to have contributed to any sort of harassment.

The court also took note of the forum chosen by the woman, highlighting the fact that the case was filed in Davanagere Women Police Station when the petitioner, who is aged about 59 years, resides in a remote area in Andhra Pradesh.

It then concluded,“The proceedings against the petitioner are nothing but the abuse of the process of the Court and their continuation against the petitioner amounts to failure of ends of justice."

The petition was therefore allowed, and the proceedings against the mother-in-law were quashed.

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