Smt Kalavathi G Vs State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2025)

Smt Kalavathi G Vs State of Karnataka — Dowry and Cruelty | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

The criminal petition was allowed; the proceedings in Crime No.146/2023 before the Principal Civil Judge (Jr. Dn.) and JMFC Court, Harihara, Davanagere District, against the petitioners were quashed, and pending interlocutory applications, if any, stood disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the FIR in Crime No.146/2023 (offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and Sections 506, 34, 498A, 504 and 323 of IPC 1860) and the proceedings against the petitioners, relatives of respondent no.2's husband, before the Prl. Civil Judge and JMFC, Harihara, should be quashed in view of the amicable settlement between respondent no.2 and her husband.

Court's answer

The parties having compromised in order to lead a good life in society, and there being no allegations of heinous crime against the petitioners, the Court considered it appropriate to allow the criminal petition.

Ratio / Principle

The proceedings initiated by way of Crime No.146/2023 before the Principal Civil Judge (Jr. Dn.) and JMFC Court, Harihara, Davanagere District, against the petitioners were quashed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure filed by three relatives of the husband of respondent no.2 seeking quashing of the FIR in Crime No.146/2023 dated 5.07.2023 of Harihara Rural P.S. (offences punishable under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and Sections 506, 34, 498A, 504 and 323 of IPC 1860) and the proceedings before the Prl. Civil Judge and JMFC, Harihara, Davanagere. Both counsel jointly submitted that the parties had amicably settled their matrimonial dispute and that respondent no.2 and her husband had decided to live together, respondent no.2 not intending to continue the prosecution; the State raised no objection. Holding that the parties having compromised and there being no allegations of heinous crime against the petitioners, the High Court (M.I. Arun, J.) allowed the petition, quashed the proceedings against the petitioners, and disposed of pending interlocutory applications.

1 -

NC: 2025:KHC:47407 CRL.P No. 9222 of 2023

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO.9222 OF 2023

(482 (Cr.PC)/528 (BNSS))

BETWEEN:

SMT. KALAVATHI G W/O T ANATHA REDDY AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS R/O. NEAR WARRIORS SCHOOL NARAHARINAGARA NAGARAMGERE CHITRADURGA-577 522.

Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

SMT. RAJESHWARI @ LATHA G L W/O NINGA REDDY B H AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS R/AT 37, DODDASIDDAVVNAHALLI CHITRADURGA-577 524.

GATTUPARTHY LAKSHMIDEVI W/O GATTUPARTHY LAKSHMIREDDY AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS R/O.1-10, GUMMAGATTA ANANTHPUR ANDHRA PRADESH-515 863.

…PETITIONERS

(BY SRI. SREE HARSHA A K., ADVOCATE)

2 - NC: 2025:KHC:47407 CRL.P No. 9222 of 2023

HC-KAR

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HARIHARA RURAL P.S. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT BUILDING BANGALORE-560 001.

VIDYA G P W/O NARAYANAREDDY G L AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS REPRESENTED BY HER FATHER K G PRAKASH RADDI AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS R/O. KADLIGONDI VILLAGE HARIHARA TALUK DAVANAGERE-577 003.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. K. NAGESHWARAPPA, HCGP. FOR R.1; SMT. SLOKA B., ADVOCATE FOR SRI ANGAD KAMATH, ADVOCATE FOR R.2.)

THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, PRAYING TO QUASH THE FIR IN CRIME NO.146/2023 DATED 5.07.2023 AND PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PETITIONER INITIATED IN CRIME NO.146/2023 ON THE FILE OF THE COURT OF THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, AT HARIHARA, DAVANGERE IS LIABLE TO BE QUASHED FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 3 AND 4 OF DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT AND SEC.506, 34, 498A, 504, 323 OF IPC 1860 FILED BY THE RESPONDENT.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN

3 - NC: 2025:KHC:47407 CRL.P No. 9222 of 2023

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

The criminal petition has arisen out of a matrimonial dispute between respondent no.2 and her husband. The petitioners herein are the relatives of the husband of respondent no. 2.

It is submitted by both the counsel for the petitioners as well as respondent no.2, that the parties have amicably settled their dispute and respondent no.2 and her husband have decided to live together. It is further submitted that respondent no.2 does not intend to continue the prosecution against the petitioners or her husband who is accused no.1 in Crime No. 146/2023. In this regard, an

application is filed by the counsel appearing for the petitioners and prays that, under the given facts and circumstances of the case, the criminal proceedings in Crime No.146/2023 against the petitioners herein be quashed.

4 - NC: 2025:KHC:47407 CRL.P No. 9222 of 2023

HC-KAR

Learned High Court Government Pleader appearing

for the State has no objection for the same.

The parties having compromised and in order to facilitate them to lead a good life in the Society, this Court is of the opinion that it would be appropriate to allow the criminal petition, more so, when there are no allegations of heinous crime against the petitioners herein.

Hence, the following:-

ORDER

i. The criminal petition is allowed .

ii. The proceedings initiated by way of Crime No.146/2023 on the file of the Principal Civil Judge (Jr. Dn.) and JMFC Court, Harihara, Davanagere District, against the petitioners herein, are hereby quashed.

iii. Pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of.

Sd/(M.I.ARUN) JUDGE

VMB

List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30