Pawan Dabas and Ors. Vs State Govt of NCT of Delhi through… — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2025)

Pawan Dabas and Ors. Vs State Govt of NCT of Delhi through… — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

FIR No. 285/2023 of PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka, New Delhi, for offence under Section 498A/34 IPC, and the proceedings arising out of the same quashed; pending application (CRL.M.A. 23630/2025) disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 285/2023 of PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka, New Delhi, for offence under Section 498A/34 IPC, should be quashed on the ground that the de facto complainant (respondent no.2) has settled the dispute with the petitioners.

Court's answer

After speaking with the parties in Hindi, who confirmed that all their disputes stand resolved, they have been living together happily for more than a year, respondent no.2 is being paid due maintenance and has received back her stridhan, the court is satisfied that it would be in the interest of justice not to push the parties through trial.

Ratio / Principle

The petition is allowed and FIR No. 285/2023 of PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka, New Delhi, for offence under Section 498A/34 IPC, together with all proceedings arising out of it, is quashed; the pending application stands disposed of.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Delhi at New Delhi, decision dated 12.08.2025 by Justice Girish Kathpalia (oral judgment): In CRL.M.C. 5517/2025, petitioners PAWAN DABAS AND ORS. sought quashing of case FIR No. 285/2023 of PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka, New Delhi, for offence under Section 498A/34 IPC on the ground that the de facto complainant (respondent no.2) had settled the dispute. Respondent no.2, present in court, accepted notice, reported no objection from the State APP (Mr. Nawal Kishore Jha), confirmed resolution of all disputes, cohabitation for more than a year, receipt of due maintenance and return of stridhan, and declined to pursue prosecution. Satisfied that pushing the parties through trial was contrary to the interest of justice, the judge allowed the petition, quashed the FIR and the proceedings arising out of it, and disposed of the pending application (CRL.M.A. 23630/2025). No precedent was relied upon and no quantum figures appear in the judgment.

$~53

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

% Date of Decision: 12.08.2025

- CRL.M.C. 5517/2025 & CRL.M.A. 23630/2025

PAWAN DABAS AND ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Nitin Yadav, Advocate

versus

STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH SHO & ANR.

.....Respondents Through: Mr. Nawal Kishore Jha, APP for the State with W/ASI Suman Lata, PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka.

CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA

J U D G M E N T (ORAL)

Petitioners seek quashing of case FIR No. 285/2023 of PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka, New Delhi for offence under Section 498A/34 IPC on the ground that the complainant de facto ( respondent no.2 ) has settled the dispute with the petitioners.

Respondent no. 2 present in Court and identified by IO/ASI Suman Lata accepts notice. Learned APP accepts notice and submits that there is no serious objection to this petition.

I have spoken with the parties in Hindi and it is submitted by them that all their disputes now stand resolved and they have been living together happily for more than a year. Petitioner no. 1 and respondent no. 2 also have

CRL. M.C. 5517/2025 Page 1 of 2 pages GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2025.08.12 17:49:50 -07'00'

Signature Not Verified

Digitally Signed By:NEETU N NAIR Signing Da te:1 2.08.2025 18:18:15

a daughter, currently aged about 6 years. Respondent no. 2 specifically submits that she is being paid due amount of maintenance and has received back all her stridhan . Since they are living together happily, respondent no. 2 submits that she does not wish to pursue prosecution of petitioners.

Having spoken with the parties, I am satisfied that it would be in the interest of justice not to push the parties through trial.

Therefore, the petition is allowed and FIR No. 285/2023 of PS Baba Haridas Nagar Dwarka, New Delhi for offence under Section 498A/34 IPC and the proceedings arising out of the same are quashed. Pending application stands disposed of.

Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4af GIRISH ec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacc a, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d KATHPALIA 15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff 801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2025.08.12 17:50:11 -07'00'

GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE)

AUGUST 12, 2025 ‘ rs’

Page 2 of 2 pages

CRL. M.C. 5517/2025

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:NEETU N NAIR Signing Da te:1 2.08.2025 18:18:15