Nainital: The Uttarakhand High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a husband and his relatives after the couple resolved their marital dispute through a written settlement. The case involved charges under the Muslim Woman Protection of Rights on Marriage Act, 2019, along with sections of the Indian Penal Code. Justice Pankaj Purohit accepted the compromise and said continuation of the case would not serve the interest of justice.
The case began with an FIR registered at Police Station Ramnagar in August 2023. The police later filed a charge sheet accusing the husband and his relatives under IPC sections related to hurt, insult and criminal intimidation. They were also charged under Section 3 and Section 4 of the Muslim Woman Act. The applicants challenged the charge sheet and summoning order before the High Court.
The husband and wife filed a joint compounding application with supporting affidavits. They agreed to separate. The husband handed over a demand draft of Rs 7,50,000 in court as permanent alimony. The wife said she did not want to pursue the case and wanted the dispute to end through settlement. One of the relatives attended the proceedings through video conferencing from Kazakhstan. The Court accepted her exemption application.
The State raised an objection regarding non compoundable offences. The Court referred to earlier Supreme Court rulings that allow quashing of proceedings when a compromise makes conviction unlikely. Justice Purohit noted that the possibility of conviction was remote. He said continuing the case would burden the parties and would not achieve justice.
The Court quashed the FIR, charge sheet and proceedings in Criminal Case No. 841 of 2024.
