Criminal Law – Quashing of FIR under Sections 354, 354A, 323, 509 of IPC – Allegations of sexual harassment by Respondent No.2 against Petitioner – FIR filed after dismissal of complaint by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under POSH Act – High Court quashed the FIR on grounds that the intimate and consensual relationship between the parties was established, rendering the allegations of sexual harassment improbable – FIR found to be an afterthought following the ICC’s findings and Respondent No.2’s husband learning of the relationship [Paras 1-14].

Sexual Harassment – ICC findings under POSH Act dismissing complaint – Petitioner’s consistent testimony and supporting evidence, including witness statements and audio recordings, negated the allegations – Delay of more than 90 days in lodging FIR without explanation, further weakening the credibility of the complaint – High Court applied Bhajan Lal principles for quashing of FIR where allegations were found inherently improbable [Paras 8-11].

Evidence Evaluation – High Court relied on ICC findings, WhatsApp conversations, and conduct of Respondent No.2 to establish consensual nature of relationship – Court scrutinized FIR and found no prima facie case of criminal force or unwelcome contact – FIR filed with malafide intent to harass Petitioner following discovery of relationship by respective spouses [Paras 9-14].

Decision – Petition allowed – Held – The criminal proceedings initiated against the Petitioner were quashed based on findings that allegations of sexual harassment were concocted and motivated by personal vengeance – No ingredients of cognizable offence established – Quashing upheld as per Bhajan Lal principles [Para 14].
 

Criminal Law – Bail in Rape Case – Compromise with Victim’s Family – The petitioner sought bail in a case involving the rape of an 11-year-old girl, citing a compromise with the victim's family. The court rejected the bail application, emphasizing that in cases involving minors, any compromise lacks legal validity. The State has a duty to prosecute such offenses rigorously, irrespective of any private settlements. The court held that minors are vulnerable and their families might be influenced by financial incentives, making such compromises inadmissible in law. The court also noted that the victim's statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. confirmed the incident, making the petitioner's request for bail untenable [Paras 6-8].

Decision: Bail application dismissed. The court directed that the trial court should endeavor to record the statements of the victim and her parents at the earliest opportunity [Para 9].
 

Civil Law – Declaration of Ownership and Permanent Injunction – Family Settlement – Validity of Consent Decrees – Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld the judgments of the Trial Court and the First Appellate Court, which set aside two consent decrees obtained by fraud and misrepresentation by the appellant. The decrees were found void as they created rights in immovable property exceeding ₹100 without registration, violating the Registration Act, 1908 and the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 – Appeal dismissed [Paras 1-11].

Evidence Law – Admissibility of Oral Family Settlement – The Court held that the oral family settlement was duly proved by the evidence on record, including admissions during cross-examination – No substantial question of law arose – Findings of lower courts affirmed [Paras 10-11].

Property Law – Adverse Possession Claim – The appellant's claim of adverse possession was dismissed as the appellant was never in possession of the property as claimed under the impugned decrees – The decrees were void and did not confer ownership rights [Paras 10-11].

Decision – Appeal dismissed – The appellant's claims were rejected due to lack of evidence and failure to establish any substantial question of law – Consent decrees declared void [Paras 11].

Criminal Law – Section 125 Cr.P.C. – Maintenance – Interim Maintenance to Wife and Minor Son – High Court upheld the Family Court’s order granting interim maintenance of ₹12,000 per month to the wife and ₹8,000 per month to the son – Challenge to the estimation of husband's income at ₹60,000 per month despite his claim of earning ₹10,000 per month – Court found the husband’s declaration of income unsubstantiated and noted suppression of actual income – No modification to the interim maintenance despite the son reaching the age of majority – Father’s responsibility to maintain the son until proper education is secured [Paras 1-8, 10, 13-16].

Evidence Evaluation – Affidavit of Income and Assets – Suppression of Income by Husband – The Court observed inconsistencies in the husband’s affidavit regarding income and expenses – Family Court’s estimation of husband’s income based on a holistic view was found to be reasonable – No substantial evidence provided by the husband to prove his lower income or wife’s independent earnings – Revision petition dismissed [Paras 8-11, 19-22].

Decision – Dismissal of Revision Petition – Held – The petition challenging interim maintenance was dismissed – The Court confirmed the Family Court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of providing financial support to the wife and child, even in the interim stage – The trial court directed to expedite the final maintenance proceedings within three months [Paras 22-23].

Negotiable Instruments Act – Section 138 Acquittal – High Court Dismisses Appeal Against Acquittal by Trial Court – Petitioner’s Complaint Lacked Credibility – Discrepancies and Inconsistencies in Petitioner’s Testimony and Evidence – Respondent’s Defence Rebutted Presumptions Under Sections 118(a) and 139 of NI Act – Trial Court’s Findings Not Perverse, Acquittal Upheld [Paras 1-35].

Appreciation of Evidence – Double Presumption of Innocence in Favor of Accused in Appeal Against Acquittal – High Court’s Role in Reviewing Acquittal Limited to Instances of Perversity – Not to Disturb Findings Where Two Reasonable Views Are Possible – Rebuttal of Presumptions under Sections 118(a) and 139 of NI Act Considered Sufficient – Defence of Non-Existence of Debt/Liability Proven on Preponderance of Probabilities [Paras 17-26].

Decision – Petition Dismissed – High Court Found No Grounds for Interference with Trial Court's Acquittal – Defence Evidence and Testimony Adequately Supported Respondent’s Case – Petitioner’s Inconsistent Statements and Lack of Credible Evidence Failed to Disprove Defence [Paras 33-34].

NDPS Act – Regular Bail – Prolonged Incarceration: The petitioner was accused of smuggling and possessing 75 kg of poppy husk and was arrested with his co-accused. He had been in custody for 01 year, 09 months, and 20 days, with no other criminal cases against him. The trial had progressed slowly, with only three out of 17 prosecution witnesses examined. In line with precedents, the court considered the prolonged incarceration as grounds for granting bail, emphasizing the importance of the right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. Bail granted with strict conditions [Paras 1-14].

Section 37 of NDPS Act – Non-Compliance – Prolonged Custody: The court noted that despite the stringent conditions of Section 37 of the NDPS Act, prolonged custody without significant trial progress warranted the granting of bail, as consistent with previous rulings by the Supreme Court. The petitioner’s lack of prior criminal record and the extended duration of custody were crucial factors in the decision [Paras 6-14].

Decision: Bail granted – Conditions imposed to prevent tampering with evidence and ensure the petitioner’s appearance in court.

Custody of Minor Child – Habeas Corpus – Petitioner, mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old child, sought custody of her minor son who was in the custody of his grandparents – Court held that the mother, being the natural guardian under Section 6 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956, is entitled to the custody of her minor son – The welfare of the minor child is paramount, and the mother, who is a government servant with a stable income, is better suited to take care of the child’s welfare and future [Paras 1-12].

Grandparents' Custody – Welfare of Child – The Court noted that the grandparents, particularly the grandfather, were elderly, lacked formal education, and had no regular income, making them less capable of ensuring the child's welfare compared to the petitioner-mother [Paras 10(ii)].

Decision:

Habeas corpus petition allowed – The Court directed the respondents to hand over custody of the minor child to the petitioner-mother immediately in the Court – The SHO was instructed to ensure the safety of the petitioner and her minor son while they return to their residence [Paras 11-13].

Criminal Procedure – Dismissal of Application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. – Petitioner's application for registration of FIR against respondents under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. dismissed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate and upheld by the learned ASJ – Allegations involved threats, trespass, and false implication in a criminal case – Petitioner sought cross FIR for events post-incident already subject of FIR No. 123/2021 – Court found no need for registration of FIR as the petitioner's evidence could be pursued under Section 200 Cr.P.C. without police assistance at this stage – Dismissal of petition confirmed. [Paras 1-10, 21-27]

Cross FIRs – Legal Principles – Whether a cross FIR should be registered depends on the facts and circumstances of each case – Although cross FIRs are permissible, the Court emphasized the necessity of determining whether it is justified based on the specific facts – In this case, the court ruled that identifying additional assailants did not warrant a new FIR at this stage, allowing the petitioner to continue his complaint under Section 200 Cr.P.C. – Reference to legal precedents Upkar Singh vs. Ved Prakash & Ors., and others made. [Paras 10, 24-26]

Decision – Dismissal of Writ Petition – Held – The writ petition challenging the orders of the lower courts is dismissed, with no infirmity found in their decisions – The petitioner still has the opportunity to lead evidence and seek police assistance later if necessary, under Section 202 Cr.P.C. [Para 27]

Negotiable Instruments – Promissory Note – Incomplete Document Allegation – Defendants challenged the validity of a promissory note on the grounds that it was incomplete and thus unenforceable. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh rejected this contention, holding that once the defendants admitted to signing the promissory note, a presumption of its validity arises under Section 118 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The Court further stated that even if the name of one of the signatories was missing in the body of the promissory note, the document is not rendered invalid if it meets the other statutory requirements [Paras 17-22].

Succession Certificate – Requirement for Execution of Decree – Plaintiffs failed to produce a Succession Certificate during the pendency of the suit and appeal. The Court observed that while the production of a Succession Certificate is required under Section 214 of the Indian Succession Act for the execution of a decree, the absence of the certificate does not render the decree null. The plaintiffs were granted permission to execute the decree upon producing the Succession Certificate before the execution court [Paras 24-26].

Appeal – Dismissal of Second Appeal – The High Court dismissed the second appeal, affirming the lower courts' judgments. The Court found no merit in the appellants' claims regarding the promissory note's incompleteness or the absence of a Succession Certificate. The substantial questions of law were resolved in favor of the respondents [Paras 27-28].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – Held – The appeal is dismissed, with the Court permitting the plaintiffs to execute the decree after presenting the necessary Succession Certificate. The concurrent findings of the trial court and the first appellate court were upheld, affirming the enforceability of the promissory note and the validity of the decree [Para 28].