Supreme Court of India issues vital directions for 498A cases

Rajesh Sharma & ors. v. State of U.P. & Anr.

Date of Judgment: 27 July, 2017

The question under consideration in the present appeal was whether any directions are called for to prevent the misuse of Section 498A. The Supreme Court took into account the 243rd Report of the Law Commission, 140th Report of the Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions and various earlier decisions such as Sushil Kumar Sharma vs Union of India [(2005) 6 SCC 281] , Preeti Gupta vs State of Jharkhand [(2010) 7 SCC 667], Ramgopal vs State of Madhya Pradesh [(2010) 13 SCC 540], Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar[(2014) 8 SCC 273], Lalita Kumari vs Government of Uttar Pradesh [(2014) 2 SCC 1].

The Supreme Court observed that Section 498A was inserted in the statute with the object of punishing cruelty at the hands of husband or his relatives against a wife particularly when such cruelty had potential to result in suicide or murder of a woman. Most of the complaints are filed in the heat of the moment over trivial issues and may not be bona fide which may lead to uncalled for harassment not only to the accused but also to the complainant and may also ruin chances of settlement. Review of the provision was also warranted in earlier decisions. The Court observed that just and fair procedure being part of fundamental right to life, a penal provision should be interpreted so that its working is not unjust, unfair or unreasonable. The Supreme Court opined that in such cases civil society can be involved in the aid of administration of justice, apart from the investigating officers and the concerned trial courts being sensitized.

 

The Supreme Court issued the following directions:

(i)            In every district one or more Family Welfare Committees be constituted by the District Legal Services Authorities preferably comprising of three members. The constitution and working of such committees may be reviewed from time to time and at least once in a year by the District and Sessions Judge of the district who is also the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority.

•             The Committees may be constituted out of paralegal volunteers/social workers/retired persons/wives of working officers/other citizens who may be found suitable and willing.

•             The Committee members will not be called as witnesses.

•             Every complaint under Section 498A received by the police or the Magistrate be referred to and looked into by such committee. Such committee may have interaction with the parties personally or by means of telephone or any other mode of communication including electronic communication.

•             Report of such committee be given to the Authority by whom the complaint is referred to it latest within one month from the date of receipt of complaint.

•             The committee may give its brief report about the factual aspects and its opinion in the matter.

•             Till report of the committee is received, no arrest should normally be effected.

•             The report may be then considered by the Investigating Officer or the Magistrate on its own merit.

•             Members of the committee may be given such basic minimum training as may be considered necessary by the Legal Services Authority from time to time.

•             The Members of the committee may be given such honorarium as may be considered viable.

•             It will be open to the District and Sessions Judge to utilize the cost fund wherever considered necessary and proper.

ii) Complaints under Section 498A and other connected offences may be investigated only by a designated Investigating Officer of the area. Such designations may be made within one month from today. Such designated officer may be required to undergo training for such duration (not less than one week) as may be considered appropriate. The training may be completed within four months from today;

iii) In cases where a settlement is reached, it will be open to the District and Sessions Judge or any other senior Judicial Officer nominated by him in the district to dispose of the proceedings including closing of the criminal case if dispute primarily relates to matrimonial discord;

iv) If a bail application is filed with at least one clear day’s notice to the Public Prosecutor/complainant, the same may be decided as far as possible on the same day. Recovery of disputed dowry items may not by itself be a ground for denial of bail if maintenance or other rights of wife/minor children can otherwise be protected. Needless to say that in dealing with bail matters, individual roles, prima facie truth of the allegations, requirement of further arrest/ custody and interest of justice must be carefully weighed;

v) In respect of persons ordinarily residing out of India impounding of passports or issuance of Red Corner Notice should not be a routine;

vi) It will be open to the District Judge or a designated senior judicial officer nominated by the District Judge to club all connected cases between the parties arising out of matrimonial disputes so that a holistic view is taken by the Court to whom all such cases are entrusted; and

vii) Personal appearance of all family members and particularly outstation members may not be required and the trial court ought to grant exemption from personal appearance or permit appearance by video conferencing without adversely affecting progress of the trial.

viii) These directions will not apply to the offences involving tangible physical injuries or death.