Matrimonial Dispute – Allegations against Father-in-law – Sections 498A IPC & 3, 4 Dowry Prohibition Act – Quashing under Article 142 – Appellant, father-in-law of complainant, sought quashing of FIR alleging dowry demand and physical assault – FIR lodged nearly two months after alleged incident and after husband filed divorce petition – Complainant and husband divorced in 2021 – Held: Continuation of proceedings serves no purpose post-divorce; allegations against father-in-law not proximate or specific enough to justify trial – FIR and charge sheet quashed [Paras 22–24, 28, 33–34].

Misuse of Criminal Law in Matrimonial Discord – Judicial Caution – Courts must guard against tendency to implicate all in-laws absent clear role – Reference made to precedents emphasising prevention of abuse of process where allegations are general or motivated – Power under Article 142 may be exercised to bring quietus to stale personal disputes [Paras 25–27, 31–33].

Delay and Conduct – Belated FIR – Alleged slapping and dowry demand at railway station not mentioned during prior counselling sessions; complaint lodged after divorce petition filed – Such conduct undermines credibility of accusations and supports inference of counterblast [Paras 22–23].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – High Court’s refusal to quash set aside – FIR No. 58/2019, dated 21.07.2019, and charge sheet quashed qua appellant – Proceedings against father-in-law terminated [Para 34].

Matrimonial Dispute – Quashing of Criminal Proceedings – Sections 323, 406, 498-A, 506 IPC – Section 482 CrPC – Appeal Allowed – Appellants (husband and in-laws) sought quashing of FIR No.67/2019 alleging cruelty, assault, breach of trust, and intimidation – Parties divorced by mutual consent on 19.01.2024; all claims settled; complainant stated no objection to quashing – High Court refused citing allegations of child victimisation – Supreme Court, invoking Article 142, held continuation of proceedings served no purpose, given divorce, settlement, and absence of proximate allegations – FIR, chargesheet, and consequential proceedings quashed [Paras 17–18, 23].

Misuse of Criminal Law – Implication of In-laws – Judicial Caution – Reiterated principle from Dara Lakshmi Narayana and similar precedents that family members should not be unnecessarily roped in absent specific allegations – Criminal law not to be used as harassment tool in matrimonial discord [Paras 13–14].

Post-Divorce Proceedings – Futility – Courts may quash proceedings even for non-compoundable offences where dispute is private, settlement reached, and likelihood of conviction is minimal – Exercise of Article 142 appropriate to bring quietus [Paras 14, 15–22].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – Order of High Court dated 01.08.2024 set aside – FIR No.67/2019 dated 15.05.2019 and chargesheet dated 07.11.2019 quashed qua appellants – All criminal proceedings terminated [Para 23].

Criminal Law – Appeal Against Conviction – Sections 307, 225, 186, 332, 353 & 120B IPC – Appeal Dismissed – Undertrial escorted by PW.1 & PW.2 was shifted, at appellant (Assistant Superintendent, Central Jail) instance, into a private Qualis with unknown men; near village stop on appellant’s pretext, chilli powder thrown and knife/kirpan used; attempt to free undertrial foiled due to handcuffs; appellant fled uninjured – Trial court conviction and High Court affirmation upheld; sentences concurrent – Held: chain of circumstances establishes conspiracy; single injured eyewitness reliable; Section 319 Cr.P.C. summoning proper [Paras 2–4, 16–18, 19–22].

Section 319 Cr.P.C. – Prior police exoneration no bar – Constitution Bench in Hardeep Singh followed – A person not named in FIR/charge-sheet may be summoned if trial evidence indicates involvement – No need to await cross-examination for 319 – Degree of satisfaction akin to framing charge – Summoning of appellant justified on PW.2’s testimony [Paras 16, 16.1; extracts of Hardeep Singh para 117].

Criminal Conspiracy – Section 120B IPC – Proof by circumstantial evidence – No overt act required – Inference from conduct before/during/after occurrence; concert of purpose suffices – Appellant suggested private vehicle with unknown men, orchestrated stop, remained passive, fled uninjured – Continuous chain of incriminating circumstances proves conspiracy; conviction with aid of 120B sustainable [Paras 17–17.4, 19.1–19.2].

Evidence – Hostile witnesses – Usable parts may be relied upon – PW.1 and driver PW.10 partly hostile, yet narrative on occurrence and roles supports prosecution – Law well settled that hostile testimony is not effaced and credible portions can be acted upon [Paras 14–15, 18–18.3].

Single eyewitness – Section 134 Evidence Act – Conviction can rest on injured eyewitness – PW.2’s account consistent, detailed (seating, stop on “nature call”, chilli powder, knife/kirpan injuries), corroborated by medical evidence; reliability enhanced as injured witness [Paras 12.2–12.3.1, 18.4–18.8].

Attempt to Murder – Section 307 IPC – Intent and weapon use decisive – Knife/kirpan blows and chilli-powder incapacitation during escape attempt indicate premeditated intent – Simple nature of injuries does not negate Section 307 when intention and means established [Paras 12.3–12.3.1, 8.4].

Decision – Appeal Dismissed – Conviction and sentences affirmed; no mitigating factor; appellant to be taken into custody; sentences to run concurrently [Paras 19–22].

Civil Law - Ex Parte Injunction – Mandatory Procedural Compliance – Order 39 Rule 3 CPC – Trial Court's Injunction Set Aside – The High Court set aside an ex parte injunction granted to the petitioner real estate company on the ground that there was no prima facie case, no claim to ownership or specific performance, and that the application did not comply with mandatory procedural safeguards under Order 39 Rule 3 CPC – Held: Ex parte injunctions must comply strictly with the requirements of law including the recording of reasons and service of documents – Non-compliance justifies vacation of injunction without going into merits [Paras 1–7].

Article 227 – Supervisory Jurisdiction – Improper Grant of Injunction – High Court's Intervention Upheld – The High Court, exercising its supervisory jurisdiction, found the Trial Court order to be mechanical and lacking judicial application – Court directed transfer of case to another competent court for fresh hearing on injunction – Held: Inappropriate use of ex parte injunction without meeting legal thresholds warrants High Court’s interference under Article 227 [Paras 2, 5-6].

Transfer of Suit – Administrative Action Against Judicial Impropriety – Suit Transferred – In view of manner in which ex parte order was passed, the High Court ordered administrative placement of records before Administrative Judge for possible action – Held: Supervisory control may include corrective administrative measures in the interest of judicial propriety [Para 2].

Final Decision – Supreme Court Declines to Interfere – Hearing Fixed Before Trial Court – Supreme Court observed that since hearing on injunction was scheduled for the next day, it would not interfere with the High Court order – Directed Trial Court to hear both parties afresh and decide injunction application uninfluenced by prior observations – SLP disposed of [Paras 8-9].

Criminal Law – Unlicensed Firearms – Suo motu action by Supreme Court – Issue of proliferation and widespread use of unlicensed firearms noticed during hearing of SLP involving Section 302 IPC – Court highlighted that unlike U.S. Constitution, Indian Constitution does not confer a fundamental right to bear arms – Preservation of life under Article 21 necessitates strict control of illegal firearms – Directed affidavits from States and Union of India on measures taken – Recognized alarming rise in crimes involving illegal arms despite existing framework under Arms Act, 1959 and Arms Rules, 2016 [Paras 1, Order extracts 13.02.2023 – 07.11.2024].

Amicus Curiae Assistance – Suggestions Recorded – Court appointed Mr. S. Nagamuthu, Sr. Advocate as Amicus Curiae; he categorized arms into licensed, misused licensed, smuggled, and domestically manufactured illegal firearms – Emphasized eradication of categories III and IV (smuggled and illicitly manufactured arms) as grave threats to peace and security – Court annexed his written suggestions dated 29.10.2023 to its order [Paras 1, Order dated 07.11.2024].

Union of India – Affidavits on Arms Act Enforcement – Union filed affidavits (14.09.2023 and 12.02.2024) detailing amendments through Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 enhancing punishments, introducing new offences (illicit trafficking, organized crime, celebratory gunfire), and creating electronic licensing – Admitted rising trend of illegal arms seizures (2017-2021 NCRB data) – Noted ineffective enforcement by States despite statutory framework [Paras, Order extracts 07.11.2024].

Committees – State-Level and National-Level Oversight – Supreme Court directed each State/UT to constitute a five-member Committee (Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP/IG, Law Secretary, and a Ballistics Expert) to prepare an action plan within 10 weeks covering enforcement, inspection, smuggling prevention, and data collection – Later, Union of India constituted a central Committee of Experts under DG, BPR&D with members from IB, NIA, and senior State officials to examine State action plans and oversee effective nationwide implementation [Paras, Orders dated 07.11.2024, 28.07.2025, and 11.08.2025].

Appreciation – Assistance Acknowledged – Court recorded appreciation for services rendered by Amicus Curiae, assisting counsels, ASGs, and State counsels in framing systemic responses – Granted liberty to intervenors to submit suggestions to the Committee of Experts [Paras 9-12].

Decision – Miscellaneous Application disposed of – Committees at State/UT level and Expert Committee under BPR&D directed to review and coordinate action plans, incorporating Amicus suggestions and Union affidavits – Effective implementation of Arms Act mandated to curb menace of illegal firearms across India [Paras 6-15].

Negotiable Instruments Act – Section 138 – Compounding of Offence – Conviction Quashed – Appellant convicted for dishonour of cheque of ₹5 lakhs – Courts below upheld sentence of six months’ simple imprisonment and ₹1,000 fine – During pendency of SLP, parties amicably settled the matter and complainant filed affidavit of no objection – Held: Section 147 makes offence compoundable at any stage – Compromise was voluntary and supported by payment through demand drafts and post-dated cheques – Conviction set aside and appeal allowed [Paras 1–12].

Settlement – Civil Nature of NI Act Offence – Court Recognizes Private Dispute – Referring to Meters and Instruments (P) Ltd. v. Kanchan Mehta, and P. Mohanraj v. Shah Brothers Ispat, Court reaffirmed that Section 138 proceedings are primarily civil in nature and brought into criminal realm for deterrent effect – When dispute is settled, further prosecution becomes an abuse of process [Paras 5–7].

Voluntary Compromise – Binding Effect – Acceptance of Settlement – Court referred to Gimpex Pvt. Ltd. v. Manoj Goel and B.V. Seshaiah v. State of Telangana to hold that once parties voluntarily settle the dispute with full knowledge and without coercion, complainant cannot oppose acquittal – Held: Settlement overrides continued prosecution [Paras 8–10].

Decision – Conviction and Sentence Set Aside – Appeal Allowed – Impugned order of High Court dated 27.03.2025 and concurrent conviction by Trial and Appellate Courts quashed – Appeal allowed – Pending applications also disposed of [Paras 12–13].

Constitutional Law – Gender Discrimination – Recruitment in JAG Branch of Indian Army – Notification under Section 12 of the Army Act, 1950 permits induction of women into JAG branch – Petitioners, more meritorious female candidates (Ranks 4 and 5 in female list with 477 & 447 marks) denied selection in favour of less meritorious male candidate (Rank 3 in male list with 433 marks) due to separate gender-based merit lists and allocation of only 3 vacancies for women vs 6 for men – Held: Once women are allowed in a corps/branch under Section 12, executive cannot restrict their numbers or reserve seats for men by policy/administrative instruction – Such restriction not supported by statutory backing, violates Articles 14, 15, 16, and amounts to indirect discrimination – Combined merit list must be prepared as testing parameters are identical for men and women – Gender-neutral policy means selection of most meritorious candidates irrespective of gender, with at least 50% seats for women to compensate past exclusion, but no ceiling if more meritorious – Merit-based selection will improve efficiency of JAG – Respondents directed to induct Petitioner No.1 in next course, reject claim of less meritorious male candidate – Future recruitments to be on combined merit with marks published [Paras 38-50, 51-54, 55-58, 59-61, 62-68, 69-71, 72-82, 83, 84-87, 88-92, 93-99, 100-103, 104, 105-110, 111-118].

Army Law – Section 12 Army Act – Extent of Induction – Notifications of 1992 permitted women in 10 specified Combat Support Arms/Services including JAG – No statutory provision empowers executive to limit induction numbers within these branches – Administrative instructions/circulars of 2011 and 2012 imposing such limits are contrary to law – Principle: When statute prescribes a mode, it must be done in that manner or not at all – Reservation for male officers in permitted branches impermissible [Paras 38-50, 51-54].

Indirect Discrimination – 50:50 recruitment policy from 2024 facially equal but in practice disadvantages women – Evidence shows women candidates scored higher than men yet were excluded due to fixed ratio – Indirect discrimination occurs when facially neutral criteria have disproportionate adverse impact – Ceiling on female intake perpetuates historical exclusion and violates substantive equality – Selection must be merit-based without arbitrary gender ceilings [Paras 93-99].

Gender-Neutral vs Gender-Equal – Gender-equality means equal numbers; gender-neutrality means selection irrespective of gender based on merit – 2023 policy professes gender-neutrality but implemented as gender-equality with a fixed ratio, undermining merit – True gender-neutral recruitment must select best candidates regardless of gender, with 50% minimum for women only as compensatory measure, not maximum limit [Paras 84-92, 104].

Decision – Writ petition allowed – Notification restricting female vacancies in JAG branch quashed to that extent – Petitioner No.1 to be inducted in next available course – Union of India directed to conduct future recruitments with combined merit list for men and women, publish marks and merit lists, and ensure compliance with constitutional mandate of equality [Paras 115-118].

Motor Accident Compensation – Cancelled Insurance Policy – Pay and Recovery – Appeal Disposed – Offending vehicle’s insurance policy cancelled over three months before accident due to dishonoured premium cheque; insurer intimated owner and RTO—Tribunal and High Court still directed insurer to pay claimants and recover from owner—Supreme Court applied Deddappa and United India Insurance principles: insurer absolved in law upon cancellation before accident with intimation, yet, in exercise of Article 142 powers, pay-and-recover direction sustained in part—No recovery from claimants for 50% already paid; insurer may recover that amount from owner—Remaining 50% recoverable by claimants from owner [Paras 3.1-6].

Cancellation of Policy – Effect on Third Party Claims – While cancellation before accident generally negates liability, Court balanced equities by protecting amounts already disbursed to claimants—Avoided reopening settled part-payments to prevent hardship [Paras 5.3-5.7].

Decision – Appeal partly allowed; insurer permitted to recover 50% already paid from vehicle owner; claimants to recover remaining 50% from owner—No recovery from claimants for amounts withdrawn [Para 6].

Motor Accident Claim – Death of Minor – Tribunal’s award restored – Appeal by parents against High Court’s reduction of compensation from Rs.8,55,000/- to Rs.5,80,000/- – Supreme Court held that Tribunal’s assessment of Rs.5,000/- monthly income for a 10-year-old child under Section 166 MV Act was proper, no deduction for personal expenses applicable, multiplier of 15 justified, and certain heads of compensation wrongly deleted by the High Court – Order of Tribunal reinstated [Paras 5-7].

Quantum of Income – Schedule II in Section 163A vs. Section 166 – High Court erred in applying Schedule II (Rs.30,000/- p.a.) meant for ‘no-fault’ claims under Section 163A – Tribunal’s reliance on Division Bench precedent adopting Rs.5,000/- monthly income for minor upheld – No deduction for personal expenses in case of minor’s death – Multiplier of 15 correct considering mother’s age [Paras 5-6].

Non-Pecuniary Damages – Filial Consortium and Funeral Expenses – As per Pranay Sethi, Rs.40,000/- each for both parents allowed – Funeral expenses Rs.15,000/- maintained – High Court’s deletion of transportation expenses and loss of dress/ornaments/cycle set aside – Loss of estate Rs.15,000/- upheld – Recomputed total Rs.8,70,000/- [Paras 6-7].

Decision – Appeal Allowed – High Court judgment set aside – Tribunal’s award of Rs.8,55,000/- restored – Amount to be paid within one month after deducting sums already deposited, with interest as directed by Tribunal/High Court [Para 7].