Ravindra Bhatt vs State of U.P. and Another — Allahabad HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

Ravindra Bhatt vs State of U.P. and Another — Allahabad HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Interim relief and referral rather than a final decision: notice to opposite party no.2; referral of the matter to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre on deposit of Rs.30,000/- (three-month mediation window); no coercive action against the applicant till the next listing, subject to lapse of the interim order on default.

Issue for consideration

Whether the order dated 12-04-2024 passed in complaint case no. 506 of 2023 under Section 340 Cr.P.C. should be quashed. +1 more

Court's answer

Notice was ordered to be issued to opposite party no.2, returnable at an early date, with steps to be taken within a week.

Ratio / Principle

The applicant was directed to deposit Rs.30,000/- with the Mediation Centre within ten days, of which Rs.25,000/- is payable to opposite party no.2 on the fixed date for her appearance and Rs.5,000/- is retained as mediation fee.

Key takeaways

The matter was remitted to the Mediation Centre with directions that, upon deposit of the amount, it shall notify the parties of a mediation date and conclude mediation and conciliation expeditiously, preferably within three months.ratio¶10
The case is to be listed after expiry of the three-month period before the appropriate Bench along with the Mediation Centre's report.ratio¶11
As interim protection, no coercive action is to be taken against the applicant in the above-mentioned case until the next date of listing.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Allahabad (Prashant Kumar, J.), Application U/S 482 No. 37407 of 2024 (Ravindra Bhatt v. State of U.P. and Another), Order dated 23.5.2025. The applicant sought quashing of the order dated 12-04-2024 passed in complaint case no. 506 of 2023 under Section 340 Cr.P.C. His counsel described the matter as a matrimonial dispute capable of amicable settlement and requested referral to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre. The Court ordered notice to opposite party no.2 (steps within a week), directed the applicant to deposit Rs.30,000/- with the Mediation Centre within ten days - Rs.25,000/- to be paid to opposite party no.2 for her appearance and Rs.5,000/- retained as mediation fee - and remitted the matter to the Mediation Centre to conclude mediation and conciliation expeditiously, preferably within three months. The case is to be relisted after that period along with the Mediation Centre's report. Pending relisting, no coercive action was to be taken against the applicant; however, on any default in deposit or appearance, the interim order ceases to operate and the case is to be listed within a week for further orders. No precedent cases were cited and no final view on the quashing prayer was expressed.

Court No. - 87

Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 37407 of 2024

Applicant :- Ravindra Bhatt Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Anil Kumar Pathak Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.

Hon'ble Prashant Kumar,J.

Heard Sri Anil Kumar Pathak, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Jyoti Singh, learned A.G.A. appearing for the State respondents.

This application has been filed by the applicant praying for quashing the order dated 12-04-2024 passed in complaint case no. 506 of 2023 under Section 340 Cr.P.C.

It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that the present matter relates to a matrimonial dispute, which may be amicably settled by way of mediation and conciliation. Learned counsel for the applicant states that there is every possibility of mediation in the present case, therefore, the matter may be referred to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre of this Court.

Issue notice to opposite party no.2, returnable at an early date. Steps be taken within a week.

In view of the above, it is directed that the applicant shall deposit a sum of Rs.30,000/- within ten days from today with the Mediation Centre of this Court, out of which Rs.25,000/- shall be paid to opposite party no.2, on the date fixed, for her appearance before the Mediation Centre and Rs.5,000/- shall be retained by the Mediation Centre as mediation fee.

The matter is remitted to the Mediation Centre with the direction that after deposit of the aforesaid amount by the applicant, it shall issue notice to the parties fixing some date for mediation and shall make all possible efforts to conclude the mediation and conciliation proceedings expeditiously, preferably within a period of three months.

List after expiry of aforesaid period before the appropriate Bench along with the report of Mediation Centre.

Till the next date of listing, no coercive action shall be taken against the applicant in the above-mentioned case.

It is made clear that in case there occurs default by the applicant either in depositing the amount or in appearing before the Mediation Centre on the date fixed, the interim order shall cease to operate and the Mediation Centre shall immediately communicate with the office, which in turn shall list the case within a week before the appropriate Bench for passing orders in the matter.

Order Date :- 23.5.2025

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Digitally signed by :- PANKAJ KUMAR SRIVASTAVA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad