Krishan Kumar Gupta v. State of Uttarakhand and Ors

o o o o o o o o o ooo2023:PHHC:068104o ooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHoo 110o o o o o o o o oooooo o o o o o o o o o ooCWP-10136-2023o o Dateoofodecision:o11.05.2023o o oKRISHANoKUMARoGUPTAoANDoANOTHERoooooooooooooooooooo.......Petitioneroo o o o o o o o VERSUSo o STATEoOFoUTTARAKHANDoANDoORS.oo oooooooooooooo.......Respondentsoo o o CORAMo:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJo o o o o o o *****o o Present:-oo Dr.oAnmoloRattanoSidhu,oSr.oAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oVaibhavoGupta,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner.o o o o o o o *****oo o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o TheoinstantopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoArticleso226/227oofotheo Constitutiono ofo Indiao foro seekingo quashingo ofo theo FIRo No.o 93o datedo

01.05.2023o(AnnexureoP-1)othatohasobeenoregisteredoagainstotheopetitionersoato Policeo Station-Dallanwala,o Dehraduno foro commissiono ofo offenceso undero Sectiono498-A,o323,o504oando506oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o1860oandoundero Sectiono3oando4oofotheoDowryoProhibitionoAct,o1961.o

2.o o Learnedo Senioro Counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo petitionero contendsothatotheopetitioneroNo.1oisoaopracticingoAdvocateoatoChandigarhoando theopetitionersoareoaggrievedooforegistrationoofoFIRobyotheopoliceoauthoritiesoato Dehradun,oUttrakhandoonotheogroundothatotheosameoisowithoutojurisdictionoeveno ifotheoallegationsolevelledoinotheoFIRoareotakenoasogospelotruth.o o o

¶3Briefly summarized the facts as narrated by the petitioners are that Shaurya Gupta, the elder son of the petitioners completed his B.E. from Chandigarh in the year 2011 and was initially employed at Pune and thereafter at Noida and lastly at Gurugram. The respondent No.4 completed her studies from Chandigarh in the year 2007-2010 and after qualifying MBA from Bangalore in the year 2010-11 secured a job at ICICI Bank in Delhi where she remained posted from 2012 to 2018. Marriage of Shaurya Gupta was solemnized with respondent No.4 on 18.01.2019 at Chandigarh. Respondent No.4 also got a transfer to Gurugram in January, 2019 and remained posted in the said Bank as such till January, 2020. Thereafter she joined HDFC Bank, Gurugram as a Senior Manager February, 2020 and is currently working there. The son of the petitioners and respondent No. 4 started residing at House No. 163, Block-N, South City-I, Sector-40, Gurugram. It is alleged that on account of routine bickering between the husband wife, the respondent No.4 left the matrimonial house on 25.08.2022 and stayed at Hotel in Gurugram and is still staying there as had been stated by her in reply to the petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 pending at Chandigarh. Despite persuasion by the son of the petitioners, respondent No.4 refused to return. Consequently, a petition under Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 seeking restitution of the conjugal rights was filed by Shaurya Gupta at Chandigarh on 15.12.2022 where the respondent No.4 has already entered an appearance. It is alleged that as a counter blast and to harass the petitioners, the respondent No.4 made a false and malicious complaint in Dehradun on 22.02.2023 and that notwithstanding the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, the SHO, Dehradun had registered the above said FIR. The quashing of the aforesaid FIR registered at Dehradun is sought and the same is challenged on the ground of o o lack of jurisdiction. It is averred that no cause of action ever accrued at Dehradun for registration of FIR and that respondent No.4 as well as son of the petitioner had resided in Gurugram since the inception of marriage and were staying there even till the time of filing of the complaint for registration of criminal case. It was also referred that as per Sections 177 & 178 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, the place of the inquiry and the trial is the place where the offence in question is alleged to have been committed and that no cause of action or part cause of action ever took place in Dehradun and as such registration of an FIR at Police Station Dallanwala, Dehradun is without jurisdiction and deserves to be quashed on the said ground alone.

¶4An additional ground was also raised that no offence is made out even in case the entire FIR is accepted as gospel truth. Alongwith the petition, the petitioners have also appended judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court as well as the High Court to substantiate that only the Court where the cause of action has arisen would have the jurisdiction to entertain the offence and that the case cannot be registered at another place. A reference was made to the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter of "Y. Abraham Ajith and others versus InspectoroofoPolice,oChennaioandoanother",oreportedo#soo2004o

(3)oR.C.R.o(Crl.)o988o)$ereo$#r#ss!entotoo)i+eo*=o$%s*#ndo)#so#""e3edoooooooooooooo too $#'eo t#2eno p"#(eo #to p"#(eo #to N#3er(oi".o >i+eo (#!eo too "i'eo #toooooooooooooooo 1$enn#iot$ere#+ter.oT$ereo)#sonoo#""e3#tiono#*o%to#n=ode!#ndoo+odo)r=oooooooooooo #to s%($o p"#(e.o Ito )#so $e"do t$#to ito iso noto #o (ontin%in3o o++en(eo )it$ino t$eo !e#nin3o o+o Se(tiono 10<o 1r.P.1.o #ndo 1$enn#io 1o%rto )o%"do $#'eo noo ?%risdi(tiono #ndo t$eo propero 'en%eo +oro tri#"o o+o o++en(eo iso t$eo #re#o o+o ?%risdi(tionoino)$i($ot$eoe'entso(onstit%tin3ot$eoo++en(eoo((%r.oRe+eren(eoiso #"soo !#deo too t$eo ?%d3!ento o+o Hon@*"eo S%pre!eo 1o%rto ino t$eo !#ttero o+ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-4-o o "RupalioDevioversusoStateoofoUttaroPradesho&oOthers"oreportedoaso(2019)o5o SCCo384owhichoholdsothatotheoCourtoatotheoplaceowhereowifeotakesosheltero aftero leavingo matrimonialo homeo shallo alsoo haveo jurisdictiono too entertaino complaintoallegingocommissionoofooffenceounderoSectiono498-AoofotheoIndiano PenaloCode,o1860.o

5.o o Referenceo waso alsoo madeo too theo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo theo SupremeoCourtoinotheomatteroofo"NavinchandraoN.oMajithiaoversusoStateoofo Maharashtraoandoothers"oreportedoaso2000o(7)oSCCo640.oo

6.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo theo petitioneroandohaveogoneothroughotheodocumentsoappendedoalongwithotheo presentopetition.oo

7.oo o Articleo226o(2)oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoconfersojurisdictiono ono ao Higho Courto ino relationo too theo territorieso withino whicho theo causeo ofo action,o whollyo oro ino parto ariseso foro theo exerciseo ofo sucho power,o notwithstandingo thato theo seato ofo sucho Governmento oro authorityo oro theo residenceoofosuchopersonoisonotowithinothoseoterritories.oo

8.o o Articleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoreadsoasofollows:o "226.oPoweroofoHighoCourtsotooissueocertainowritso

(1)oNotwithstandingoanythingoinoArticleo32,oeveryoHighoCourto shallo haveo powers,o throughouto theo territorieso ino relationo too whicho ito exerciseo jurisdiction,o too issueo too anyo persono oro authority,o includingo ino appropriateo cases,o anyo Government,o withino thoseo territorieso directions,o orderso oro writs,o includingo writsoinotheonatureoofohabeasocorpus,omandamus,oprohibitions,o quoo warrantoo ando certiorari,o oro anyo ofo them,o foro theo enforcementoofoanyoofotheorightsoconferredobyoPartoIIIoandoforo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-5-o o

(2)oTheo powero conferredo byo clauseo (1)o too issueo directions,o ordersoorowritsotooanyoGovernment,oauthorityooropersonomayo alsoobeoexercisedobyoanyoHighoCourtoexercisingojurisdictionoino relationo too theo territorieso withino whicho theo causeo ofo action,o whollyo oro ino part,o ariseso foro theo exerciseo ofo sucho power,o notwithstandingothatotheoseatoofosuchoGovernmentooroauthorityo orotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoisonotowithinothoseoterritories.o

(3)oWhereoanyopartyoagainstowhomoanointerimoorder,owhetherobyo wayoofoinjunctionoorostayooroinoanyootheromanner,oisomadeoon,ooro ino anyo proceedingso relatingo to,o ao petitiono undero clauseo (1),o withouto

(a)ofurnishingo too sucho partyo copieso ofo sucho petitiono ando allo documentsoinosupportoofotheopleaoforosuchointerimoorder;oando

(b)ogivingosuchopartyoanoopportunityoofobeingoheard,omakesoano applicationotootheoHighoCourtoforotheovacationoofosuchoordero andofurnishesoaocopyoofosuchoapplicationotootheopartyoinowhoseo favourosuchoorderohasobeenomadeoorotheocounseloofosuchoparty,o theoHighoCourtoshallodisposeoofotheoapplicationowithinoaoperiodo ofotwooweeksofromotheodateoonowhichoitoisoreceivedoorofromotheo dateo ono whicho theo copyo ofo sucho applicationo iso soo furnished,o whicheveroisolater,oorowhereotheoHighoCourtoisoclosedoonotheolasto dayoofothatoperiod,obeforeotheoexpiryoofotheonextodayoafterwardso onowhichotheoHighoCourtoisoopen;oandoifotheoapplicationoisonoto soodisposedoof,otheointerimoorderoshall,oonotheoexpiryoofothato period,oor,oasotheocaseomayobe,otheoexpiryoofotheoaidonextoday,o standovacated.o

(4)oTheopoweroconferredoonoaoHighoCourtobyothisoarticleoshallo notobeoinoderogationoofotheopoweroconferredoonotheoSupremeo courtobyoclauseo(o2o)oofoArticleo32."o

9.o oo Itoisoclearofromotheoperusaloofotheosameothatoforotheopurposesoofo maintainabilityoorootherwiseoofoaowritopetitionoinoaoHighoCourt,otheoprimeo aspectoisowhetherotheocauseoofoactionoaroseowhollyooroinopart,owithinotheo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-6-o o territorialojurisdictionoofosuchoCourt.oTheoprimeoquestionowhichonecessarilyo flowsofromotheosameoisoasotoowhatowouldoconstituteoao"causeoofoaction".oTheo aboveosaidoexpressionohasobeenodealtowithobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino theojudgmentoofo"NavinchandraoN.oMajithiaoversusoStateoofoMaharashtrao andootherso(supra)owhereinotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:oo o o "18.oInolegaloparlanceotheoexpressiono"causeoofoaction"oiso generallyounderstoodotoomeanoaosituationoorostateoofofactsothato entitlesoaopartyotoomaintainoanoactionoinoaocourtooroaotribunal;oao groupoofooperativeofactsogivingoriseotoooneooromoreobasesoforo suing;oaofactualosituationothatoentitlesooneopersonotooobtainoao remedyoinocourtofromoanotheroperson.o(Black'soLawoDictionary)oo o 19.oInoStroud'soJudicialoDictionaryoao"causeoofoaction"oiso statedo too beo theo entireo seto ofo factso thato giveso riseo too ano enforceableoclaim;otheophraseocomprisesoeveryofact,owhich,oifo traversed,otheoplaintiffomustoproveoinoorderotooobtainojudgment.oo o 20.oo Ino "Wordso ando Phrases"o (4tho Edn.)o theo meaningo attributedo too theo phraseo "causeo ofo action"o ino commono legalo parlanceoisoexistenceoofothoseofactsowhichogiveoaopartyoaorightotoo judicialointerferenceoonohisobehalf.o o 21.oo AoBenchoofothreeolearnedoJudgesoofothisoCourtoino theocaseoofoOiloandoNaturaloGasoCommissionov.oUtpaloKumaro Basuo reportedoaso (1994)o4oSCCo711consideredo atolengtho theo questionoofoterritorialojurisdictionounderoArticleo226(2)oofotheo ConstitutionoofoIndia.oSomeoofotheorelevantoobservationsomadeo ino theo judgmento areo extractedo hereunder:o (SCCo pp.o 716-17,o paraso5-6)o "5.oClauseo(1)oofoArticleo226obeginsowithoaononoobstanteo clauseo notwithstandingo anythingo ino Articleo 32-o -o ando provideso thato everyo Higho Courto shallo haveo powero throughoutotheoterritoriesoinorelationotoowhichoitoexerciseso o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-7-o o jurisdiction',o too issueo too anyo persono oro authority,o includingoinoappropriateocases,oanyoGovernment,o'withino thoseo territories'o directions,o orderso oro writs,o foro theo enforcementoofoanyoofotheorightsoconferredobyoPartoIIIooro foroanyootheropurpose.oUnderoclauseo(2)oofoArticleo226otheo HighoCourtomayoexerciseoitsopoweroconferredobyoclauseo

(1)oifotheocauseoofoaction,owhollyooroinopart,ohadoariseno withinotheoterritoryooverowhichoitoexercisesojurisdiction,o notwithstandingo thato theo seato ofo sucho Governmento oro authorityoorotheoresidenceoofosuchopersonoisonotowithino thoseoterritories.oOnoaoplainoreadingoofotheoaforesaidotwoo clausesoofoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoitobecomesoclearo thato ao Higho Courto cano exerciseo theo powero too issueo directions,oordersoorowritsoforotheoenforcementoofoanyoofo theo fundamentalo rightso conferredo byo Parto IIIo ofo theo Constitutiono oro foro anyo othero purposeo ifo theo causeo ofo action,owhollyooroinopart,ohadoarisenowithinotheoterritorieso ino relationo too whicho ito exerciseso jurisdiction,o notwithstandingo thato theo seato ofo theo Governmento oro authorityoorotheoresidenceoofotheopersonoagainstowhomotheo direction,oorderoorowritoisoissuedoisonotowithinotheosaido territories.o Ino ordero too confero jurisdictiono ono theo Higho CourtoofoCalcutta,oNICCOomustoshowothatoatoleastoaoparto ofotheocauseoofoactionohadoarisenowithinotheoterritorialo jurisdictionoofothatoCourt.oThisoisoatobestoitsocaseoinotheo writopetition.o

6.oItoisowellosettledothatotheoexpressiono'causeoofoaction'o meanso thato bundleo ofo factso whicho theo petitionero musto prove,oifotraversed,otooentitleohimotooaojudgmentoinohiso favourobyotheocourt.oInoChandoKourov.oPartaboSinghoLordo WatsonoreportedoasoILRo(1889)o16oCalo98osaid:o ...otheocauseoofoactionohasonoorelationowhateverotoo theodefenceowhichomayobeosetoupobyotheodefendant,o o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-8-o o norodoesoitodependouponotheocharacteroofotheoreliefo prayedoforobyotheoplaintiff.oItorefersoentirelyotootheo groundosetoforthoinotheoplaintoasotheocauseoofoaction,o or,oinootherowords,otootheomediaouponowhichotheo plaintiffoasksotheocourtotooarriveoatoaoconclusionoino hisofavour.'o Therefore,o ino determiningo theo objectiono ofo lacko ofo territorialojurisdictionotheocourtomustotakeoallotheofactso pleadedo ino supporto ofo theo causeo ofo actiono intoo considerationoalbeitowithoutoembarkingouponoanoinquiryo asotootheocorrectnessoorootherwiseoofotheosaidofacts.oIno othero wordso theo questiono whethero ao Higho Courto haso territorialojurisdictionotooentertainoaowritopetitionomustobeo answeredo ono theo basiso ofo theo avermentso madeo ino theo petition,otheotruthoorootherwiseowhereofobeingoimmaterial.o Tooputoitodifferently,otheoquestionoofoterritorialojurisdictiono musto beo decidedo ono theo factso pleadedo ino theo petition.o Therefore,otheoquestionowhetheroinotheoinstantocaseotheo Calcuttao Higho Courto hado jurisdictiono too entertaino ando decideo theo writo petitiono ino questiono eveno ono theo factso allegedomustodependouponowhetherotheoavermentsomadeoino paragraphso5,o7,o18,o22,o26oando43oareosufficientoinolawotoo establishothatoaopartoofotheocauseoofoactionohadoariseno withinotheojurisdictionoofotheoCalcuttaoHighoCourt."o o o o o o o o o (emphasisosupplied)o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o

38.o"Causeoofoaction"oisoaophenomenonowellounderstoodoinolegalo parlance.oMohapatra,oJ.ohasowellodelineatedotheoimportoofotheo saidoexpressionobyoreferringotootheocelebratedolexicographies.o Theocollocationoofotheowordsoao"causeoofoaction,owhollyooroino part,oarises"oseemsotoohaveobeenoliftedofromoSectiono20oofotheo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-9-o o Codeo ofo Civilo Procedure,o whicho sectiono alsoo dealso witho theo jurisdictionaloaspectoofotheocourts.oAsoperothatosectionotheosuito couldobeoinstitutedoinoaocourtowithinotheolegalolimitsoofowhoseo jurisdictiono theo "causeo ofo actiono whollyo oro ino parto arises".o Judicialo pronouncementso haveo accordedo almosto ao uniformo interpretationotootheosaidocompendiousoexpressionoevenopriorotoo theoFifteenthoAmendmentoofotheoConstitutionoasotoomeano"theo bundleoofofactsowhichowouldobeonecessaryoforotheoplaintiffotoo prove,oifotraversed,oinoorderotoosupportohisorightotootheojudgmento ofotheocourt".o

39.oInoReadov.oBrowno(1888)o22oQBDo128oLordoEsher,oM.R.,o adoptedotheodefinitionoforotheophraseo"causeoofoaction"othatoito meantoo "everyofactowhichoitowouldobeonecessaryoforotheoplaintiffotoo prove,oifotraversed,oinoorderotoosupportohisorightotootheo judgmentoofotheocourt.oItodoesonotocompriseoeveryopieceoofo evidenceowhichoisonecessaryotooproveoeachofact,obutoeveryo factowhichoisonecessaryotoobeoproved"oo

40.o Theo Privyo Councilo haso notedo ino Mohd.o Khalilo Khano v.o Mahbubo Alio Miano reportedo aso AIRo 1949o PCo 78o thato theo aforesaido definitiono adoptedo byo Lordo Eshero M.R.o hado beeno followedo ino India.o Eveno thereaftero theo courtso ino Indiao haveo consistentlyofollowedotheosaidointerpretationowithoutoexceptiono forounderstandingotheoscopeoofotheoexpressiono"causeoofoaction".o

41.oEvenoinotheocontextoofoArticleo226(2)oofotheoConstitutionothiso Courtoadoptedotheosameointerpretationotootheoexpressiono"causeo ofoaction,owhollyooroinopart,oarises"ovideoStateoofoRajasthanov.o SwaikaoPropertieso(1985)o3oSCCo217.oAothree-JudgeoBenchoofo thisoCourtoinoOiloandoNaturaloGasoCommissionov.oUtpaloKumaro Basuo(supra)oobservedothatoitoisowellosettledothatotheoexpressiono "causeo ofo action"o meanso thato bundleo ofo factso whicho theo petitioneromustoprove,oifotraversedotooentitleohimotooaojudgmento o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-10-o o inohisofavour.oHavingogivenosuchoaowideointerpretationotootheo expressionoAhmadi,oJ.o(asotheolearnedoChiefoJusticeothenowas)o speakingoforoM.N.oVenkatachaliah,oC.J.oandoB.P.oJeevanoReddy,o J.,outilisedotheoopportunityotoocautionotheoHighoCourtsoagainsto transgressingo intoo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo othero Higho Courtso merelyo ono theo groundo ofo someo insignificanto evento connectedo withotheocauseoofoactionotakingoplaceowithinotheoterritorialolimitso ofotheoHighoCourtotoowhichotheolitigantoapproachesoatohisoowno choiceooroconvenience.oTheofollowingoareosuchoobservations.oo "Ifoanoimpressionogainsogroundothatoevenoinocasesowhicho fallooutsideotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofotheocourt,ocertaino memberso ofo theo courto wouldo beo willingo too exerciseo jurisdictionoonotheopleaothatosomeoevent,ohoweverotrivialo andounconnectedowithotheocauseoofoactionohadooccurredo withinotheojurisdictionoofotheosaidocourt,olitigantsowouldo seekotooabuseotheoprocessobyocarryingotheocauseobeforeo sucho memberso givingo riseo too avoidableo suspicion.o Thato wouldo lowero theo dignityo ofo theo institutiono ando puto theo entireosystemotooridicule.oWeoareogreatlyopainedotoosayosoo butoifoweodoonotostronglyodeprecateotheogrowingotendencyo weo will,o weo areo afraid,o beo failingo ino ouro dutyo too theo institutionoandotheosystemoofoadministrationoofojustice.oWeo doohopeothatoweowillonotohaveoanotherooccasionotoodealo withosuchoaosituation."o

10.o o Aofurtheroreferenceoisoalsoomadeotootheofollowingoextractoofotheo judgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinomatteroofo"RupalioDevioversuso StateoofoUttaropradeshoandoOthers"oreportedoaso2019o(5)oSCCo384.oo o o "6.o oAolookoatotheoprovisionsoofoChapteroXIIIoofotheoCodeoofo CriminaloProcedure,o1973o(CrPC)odealingowithotheojurisdictiono ofo theo criminalo courto ino inquirieso ando trialso willo nowo beo required.o Sectiono 177o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo contemplateso thato"everyo offenceoshallo ordinarilyo beo inquiredoVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-11-o o intooandotriedobyoaocourtowithinowhoseolocalojurisdictionoitowaso committed".oItois,otherefore,oclearothatoinotheonormalocourse,oitoiso theo courto withino whoseo localo jurisdictiono theo offenceo iso committedo thato wouldo haveo theo powero ando authorityo too takeo cognizanceoofotheooffenceoinoquestion.o

7.oo Sectionso178oando179oareoexceptionsotootheoaboveoruleo andomayobeosetooutohereinunder:o "178.oPlaceoofoinquiryoorotrial.-(a)oWhenoitoisouncertaino inowhichoofoseveralolocaloareasoanooffenceowasocommitted,o oro

(b)o whereo ano offenceo iso committedo partlyo ino oneo localo areaoandopartlyoinoanother,ooro o(c)owhereoanooffenceoisoaocontinuingoone,oandocontinueso toobeocommittedoinomoreolocaloareasothanoone,ooroo

(d)owhereoitoconsistsoofoseveraloactsodoneoinodifferentolocalo areas,oo itomayobeoinquiredointooorotriedobyoaocourtohavingojurisdictiono overoanyoofosucholocaloareas.o

179.oOffenceotriableowhereoactoisodoneooroconsequenceo ensues.oWhenoanoactoisoanooffenceobyoreasonoofoanythingo whichohasobeenodoneoandoofoaoconsequenceowhichohaso ensued,otheooffenceomayobeoinquiredointooorotriedobyoao courtowithinowhoseolocalojurisdictionosuchothingohasobeeno doneoorosuchoconsequenceohasoensued."o

8.o Sectiono 178o createso ano exceptiono too theo "ordinaryo rule"o engraftedoinoSectiono177obyopermittingotheocourtsoinoanothero localo areao whereo theo offenceo iso partlyo committedo too takeo cognizance.o Alsoo ifo theo offenceo committedo ino oneo localo areao continuesoinoanotherolocaloarea,otheocourtsoinotheolatteroplaceo wouldobeocompetentotootakeocognizanceoofotheomatter.oUndero Sectiono179,oifobyoreasonoofotheoconsequencesoemanatingofromoao criminaloactoanooffenceoisooccasionedoinoanotherojurisdiction,o theocourtoinothatojurisdictionowouldoalsoobeocompetentotootakeo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-12-o o cognizance.oThus,oifoanooffenceoisocommittedopartlyoinooneoplaceo andopartlyoinoanother;ooroifotheooffenceoisoaocontinuingooffenceo orowhereotheoconsequencesoofoaocriminaloactoresultoinoanooffenceo beingo committedo ato anothero place,o theo exceptiono too theo "ordinaryorule"owouldobeoattractedoandotheocourtsowithinowhoseo jurisdictiono theo criminalo acto iso committedo willo ceaseo too haveo exclusiveojurisdictionotootryotheooffence.o o9.oo Atothisostageoitomayoalsoobeousefulotootakeonoteoofowhatocano beounderstoodotoobeoaocontinuingooffence.oTheoissueoisonoolongero reso integrao havingo beeno answeredo byo thiso Courto ino Stateo ofo Biharov.oDeokaranoNenshiso(1972)o2oSCCo890.oParao5omayobeo usefullyonoticedoinothisoregard:o(SCCop.o892,oparao5)o "5.oAocontinuingooffenceoisooneowhichoisosusceptibleoofo continuanceoandoisodistinguishableofromotheooneowhichoiso committedoonceoandoforoall.oItoisooneoofothoseooffenceso whichoarisesooutoofoaofailureotooobeyoorocomplyowithoao ruleooroitsorequirementoandowhichoinvolvesoaopenalty,otheo liabilityo foro whicho continueso untilo theo ruleo oro itso requiremento iso obeyedo oro compliedo with.o Ono everyo occasiono thato sucho disobedienceo oro non-complianceo occursoandoreoccurs,othereoisotheooffenceocommitted.oTheo distinctionobetweenotheotwookindsoofooffencesoisobetweeno anoactooroomissionowhichoconstitutesoanooffenceoonceoando foro allo ando ano acto oro omissiono whicho continues,o ando therefore,o constituteso ao fresho offenceo everyo timeo oro occasiono ono whicho ito continues.o Ino theo caseo ofo ao continuingo offence,o thereo iso thuso theo ingrediento ofo continuanceoofotheooffenceowhichoisoabsentoinotheocaseoofo anooffenceowhichotakesoplaceowhenoanoactooroomissionoiso committedoonceoandoforoall."o

10.oo Theo questiono thato haso beeno posedo foro ano answero haso nothingo too doo witho theo provisionso ofo Sectionso 178(b)o oro (c).o Whato haso too beo reallyo determinedo iso whethero theo exceptionoVISHAL SHARMA o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-13-o o carvedooutobyoSectiono179owouldohaveoanyoapplicationotooconfero jurisdictionoinotheocourtsosituatedoinotheolocaloareaowhereotheo parentalohouseoofotheowifeoisolocated.o

11.oo Tooanswerotheoaboveoquestion,ooneowillohaveotoolookointoo theo Statemento ofo Objectso ando Reasonso ofo theo Criminalo Lawo [Secondo Amendmento Act,o 1983o (Acto 46o ofo 1983)]o byo whicho Sectiono498-AowasoinsertedoinotheoPenaloCode.oTheosectionoitselfo mayobeonoticedoinotheofirstoinstance:oo "498-A.oHusbandoororelativeoofohusbandoofoaowomano subjectingoherotoocruelty.oWhoever,obeingotheohusbandooro theorelativeo ofotheohusbando ofo ao woman,o subjectso sucho womanotoocrueltyoshallobeopunishedowithoimprisonmento foroaotermowhichomayoextendotoothreeoyearsoandoshalloalsoo beoliableotoofine.oo Explanation.oForotheopurposesoofothisosection,o"cruelty"o means-o

(a)oanyowilfuloconductowhichoisoofosuchoaonatureoasoiso likelyotoodriveotheowomanotoocommitosuicideoorotoocauseo graveoinjuryoorodangerotoolife,olimboorohealtho(whethero mentaloorophysical)oofotheowoman;ooro

(b)oharassmentoofotheowomanowhereosuchoharassmentoiso withoaoviewotoocoercingoherooroanyopersonorelatedotoohero toomeetoanyounlawfulodemandoforoanyopropertyoorovaluableo securityooroisoonoaccountoofofailureobyoherooroanyopersono relatedotooherotoomeetosuchodemand."o o12.oSectiono498-AoofotheoPenaloCodeowasointroducedobyotheo CriminaloLawo(SecondoAmendment)oAct,o1983.oInoadditionotoo theoaforesaidoamendmentoinotheoPenaloCode,otheoprovisionsoofo Sectionso174oando176oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o relatingotooinquiriesobyopoliceoinocaseoofodeathobyosuicidesoando inquiriesobyoMagistratesointoocauseoofosuchodeathsowereoalsoo amended.o Sectiono 198-Ao waso alsoo insertedo ino theo Codeo ofo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-14-o o CriminaloProcedureowithoregardotooprosecutionoofotheooffenceso undero Sectiono 498-A.o Furthero byo ano amendmento ino theo firsto scheduleotooCrPC,otheooffenceounderoSectiono498-Aowasomadeo cognizableo ando non-bailable.o Ofo considerableo significanceo iso theointroductionoofoSectiono113-AoinotheoEvidenceoActobyotheo Criminalo Lawo (Secondo Amendment)o Act,o 1983o providingo foro presumptionoasotooabetmentoofosuicideobyoaomarriedodowomanotoo beodrawnoifosuchosuicideohadobeenocommittedowithinoaoperiodoofo sevenoyearsofromotheodateoofomarriageoofotheomarriedowomano andosheohadobeenosubjectedotoocruelty.oSectiono113-Aoisoinotheo followingoterms:o "113-A.o Presumptiono aso too abetmento ofo suicideo byo ao marriedo woman.o Wheno theo questiono iso whethero theo commissionoofosuicideobyoaowomanohadobeenoabettedobyo hero husbando oro anyo relativeo ofo hero husbando ando ito iso shownothatosheohadocommittedosuicideowithinoaoperiodoofo sevenoyearsofromotheodateoofoheromarriageoandothatohero husbandoorosuchorelativeoofoherohusbandohadosubjectedo herotoocruelty,otheocourtomayopresume,ohavingoregardotoo allotheootherocircumstancesoofotheocase,othatosuchosuicideo hadobeenoabettedobyoherohusbandoorobyosuchorelativeoofo herohusband.oo o Explanation.o Foro theo purposeso ofo thiso section,o "cruelty"oshallohaveotheosameomeaningoasoinoSectiono498-AoofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeo(45oofo1860)."o

13.oTheoobjectobehindotheoaforesaidoamendment,oundoubtedly,o wasotoocombatotheoincreasingocasesoofocrueltyobyotheohusbando ando theo relativeso ofo theo husbando ono theo wifeo whicholeadso too commissiono ofo suicideso oro graveo injuryo too theo wifeo besideso seekingotoodealowithoharassmentoofotheowifeosooasotoocoerceohero oroanyopersonorelatedotooherotoomeetoanyounlawfulodemandoforo anyo property,o etc.o Theo abovestatedo objecto ofo theo amendmento cannotobeooverlookedowhileogoansweringotheoquestionoarisingoino o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-15-o o theo presento case.o Theo judicialo endeavouro must,o therefore,o alwaysobeotoo makeotheoprovisiono ofotheolawsointroducedoando insertedobyotheoCriminaloLawso(SecondoAmendment)oAct,o1983o moreo efficaciouso ando effectiveo ino viewo ofo theo clearo purposeo behindotheointroductionoofotheoprovisionsoinoquestion,oasoalreadyo noticed.o

14.oo "Cruelty"owhichoisotheocruxoofotheooffenceounderoSectiono 498-AoIPCoisodefinedoinoBlack'soLawoDictionaryotoomeano"theo intentionalo ando maliciouso ho inflictiono ofo mentalo oro physicalo sufferingoonoaolivingocreature,oesp.oaohuman;oabusiveotreatment;o outrageo(abuse,oinhumanotreatment,oindignity)".oCrueltyocanobeo botho physicalo oro mentalo cruelty.o Theo impacto ono theo mentalo healthoofotheowifeobyoovertoactsoonotheopartoofotheohusbandoorohiso relatives;otheomentalostressoandotraumaoofobeingodrivenoawayo fromotheomatrimonialohomeoandoherohelplessnessotoogoobackotoo theo sameo homeo foro fearo ofo beingo ill-treatedo areo aspectso thato cannoto beo ignoredo whileo understandingo theo meaningo ofo theo expressiono"cruelty"oappearingoinoSectiono498-AoofotheoPenalo Code.o Theo emotionalo distresso oro psychologicalo effecto ono theo wife,o ifo noto theo physicalo injury,o iso boundo too continueo too traumatiseotheowifeoevenoafterosheoleavesotheomatrimonialohomeo ando takeso sheltero ato theo parentalo home.o Eveno ifo theo actso ofo physicalocrueltyocommittedoinotheomatrimonialohouseomayohaveo ceasedoandosuchoactsodoonotooccuroatotheoparentalohome,othereo canobeonoodoubtothatotheomentalotraumaoandotheopsychologicalo distresso causedo byo theo actso ofo theo husbando includingo verbalo exchanges,o ifo any,o thato hado compelledo theo wifeo too leaveo theo matrimonialo homeo ando takeo sheltero witho hero parentso wouldo continueotoopersistoatotheoparentalohome.oMentalocrueltyoborneo outo ofo physicalo crueltyo oro abusiveo ando humiliatingo verbalo exchangesowouldocontinueoinotheoparentalohomeoevenothougho thereomayonotobeoanyoovertoactoofophysicalocrueltyoatosuchoplace.o o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-16-o o

15.oo TheoProtectionoofoWomenofromoDomesticoViolenceoAct,oaso theoobjectobehindoitsoenactmentowouldoindicate,oisotooprovideoao civilo remedyo too victimso ofo domestico violenceo aso againsto theo remedyoinocriminalolawowhichoisowhatoisoprovidedounderoSectiono 498-AoofotheoPenaloCode.oTheodefinitionoofo"domesticoviolence"o inotheoProtectionoofoWomenofromoDomesticoViolenceoAct,o2005o contemplatesoharmooroinjuriesothatoendangerotheohealth,osafety,o life,olimboorowell-being,owhetheromentaloorophysical,oasowelloaso emotionalo abuse.o Theo saido definitiono wouldo certainly,o foro reasonso statedo above,o haveo ao closeo connectiono witho Explanationso (a)o &o (b)o too Sectiono 498-Ao ofo theo Penalo Codeo whicho defineo "cruelty".o Theo provisionso containedo ino Sectiono 498-AoofotheoPenaloCode,oundoubtedly,oencompassobothomentalo asowelloasotheophysicalowell-beingoofotheowife.oEvenotheosilenceo ofotheowifeomayohaveoanounderlyingoelementoofoanoemotionalo distressoandomentaloagony.oHerosufferingsoatotheoparentalohomeo thoughomayobeodirectlyoattributableotoocommissionoofoactsoofo crueltyo byo theo husbando ato theo matrimonialo homeo would,o undoubtedly,obeotheoconsequencesoofotheoactsocommittedoatotheo matrimonialohome.oSuchoconsequences,obyoitself.owouldoamounto toodistinctooffencesocommittedoatotheoparentalohomeowhereosheo hasotakenoshelter.oTheoadverseoeffectsoonotheomentalohealthoino theoparentalohomeothoughoonoaccountoofotheoactsocommittedoino theomatrimonialohomeowould,oinoouroconsideredoview,oamountotoo commissionoofocrueltyowithinotheomeaningoofoSectiono498-Aoato theoparentalohome.oTheoconsequencesoofotheocrueltyocommittedo ato theo matrimonialo homeo resultso ino repeatedo offenceso beingo committedoatotheoparentalohome.oThisoisotheokindoofooffenceso contemplatedounderoSectiono179oCrPCowhichowouldosquarelyobeo applicableo too theo presento caseo aso ano answero too theo questiono raised.o

16.o oWe,otherefore,oholdothatotheocourtsoatotheoplaceowhereotheo wifeo takeso sheltero aftero leavingo oro driveno awayo fromo theo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-17-o o matrimonialohomeoonoaccountoofoactsoofocrueltyocommittedobyo theohusbandoorohisorelatives,owould,odependentoonotheofactualo situation,o alsoo haveo jurisdictiono too entertaino ao complainto allegingo commissiono ofo offenceso undero Sectiono 498-Ao ofo theo PenaloCode."o

11.o o Thereo cano beo noo disputeo quao theo ratioo aso laido downo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court.o Thiso Courto iso requiredo too examineo aso too whato constituteso theo "causeo ofo action"o insofaro aso theo institutiono ofo theo presento proceedingsoareoconcerned.oooTheomeaningoofo"causeoofoaction"othusohasotoobeo seenofromoaofineoprism.o"Causeoofoaction",oasointerpretedobyotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourt,oisoseenoandoexplainedofromotheoperspectiveoofoinitiationoofoao proceedingoandotheosameohasotoobeodistinguishedofromoao"caseoofodefence".o LordoWatsonohadothusointerpretedo"causeoofoaction"oinotheojudgmentoinocaseo ofoChandoKauro(Supra)othatoitohasonoorelationowithotheodefenceothatomayobeo setoupoorouponotheocharacterooforeliefoprayedofor.oItoisothusorequiredotoobeo judiciallyo examinedo aso too whethero theo natureo ofo theo proceedingo broughto beforeo ito iso initiationo ofo ano actiono againsto ao causeo oro ito iso seekingo too enforce/initiateo ao proceedingo aso ao defenceo againstotheo cause.o Theo lineo ofo demarcationo mayo beo fineo buto iso realo ando distinct.o Whereo ao caseo iso filed,o essentiallyoasoaoproceedingoofodefenceooroisopre-emptoryoandoinoanticipation,o theosameowouldostillobeoconstruedoasoaoproceedingoofodefenceoandowouldonoto divesto jurisdictiono ofo theo Courto whereo theo substantiveo actiono iso broughto againstotheocause.oo

12.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasofurtherolaidoaoruleoofocautiono foromaintainingojudicialodisciplineoandosanctityoofojudicialoproceeding,othato theoHighoCourtsoshouldonototransgressointootheojurisdictionoofootheroHigho o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-18-o o Courtsomerelyoonogroundoofocertainoinsignificantoeventsoconnectedowithotheo causeoofoactionothatoalsootookoplaceowithoinotheoterritorialolimitsoofothatoHigho Court,otoowhichoaolitigantoapproachesoatohisoownochoiceooroconvenience,oino theocaseoofoOiloandoNaturaloGasoCommissiono(Supra).o

13.o o Blurringo theo demarcationo wouldo transposeo everyo possibleo defenceo aso ao separateo causeo too eacho individualo (wheno thereo areo moreo defendants/accused,owhooareolocatedoacrossodifferentoterritorialojurisdiction).o Theoconstructionoofo"causeoofoaction"oasoproposed,oifoaccepted,oisolikelyotoo openogatesoforogreateropotentialoofomischieforatherothanoremedyotheocause.oIno todaysoworldoorder,owhenocountryoisogettingosmalleroinotermsoofoPeople'so movement,o migrationo ando settlementso ando peopleo havingo footprintso ino differentoStates,oaomischievousodefendant/accusedowouldobeohighlyotemptedo tooblurotheodemarcationoandoclaimojurisdictionotoobeovestedoinoCourtoofohiso (their)o choiceo oro eveno multipleo jurisdictiono (wheno moreo defendantso oro accusedoresideoinodifferentoterritories)obyoinsisitingoandohammeringoaopleaoofo defenceoasoao"causeoofoaction"oandoclaimovestingoofojurisdictionowithosucho Courtoonoanoallegedobreach/violationooforight.o

14.o o Inomatrimonialodisputes,otheotaskobecomesoevenomoreosensitiveo andoitoisoalsoorequiredotoobeokeptoinomindothatotheoprocessomayonotobecomeoao toolo ofo oppressiono ando justiceo seemo too becomeo ao losto cause.o Sacrificingo justiceo ino theo nameo ofo justiceo oro purportedo portrayedo ofo advancemento ofo justiceohasotoobeoavoided.o

15.o o Theointerpretationoasoisobeingosuggestedobyotheopetitionersomayo beotrueoforoaosituationowhereoaoproceedingoisosoughtotoobeoinstitutedobyoao personoaggrievedofororegistrationoofoaocriminalocase.oTooelucidate,oifoinotheo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-19-o o presento case,o theo wife-respondento No.4o whoo iso ao domicileo ofo Dehraduno wouldohaveoapproachedotheopoliceoauthoritiesoinoGurugramoandoifotheyowouldo haveorefusedotooregisterotheoFIRoforoanyoreason,osheocouldohaveoinvokedotheo jurisdictionoofothisoCourtoforoseekingoregistrationoofoaocaseosinceopartoofocauseo ofoactionoi.e.ootheooffencesohadoalsoooccurredowithinotheoterritorialojurisdictiono ofothisoCourt.oTheopetitioneroare,ohowever,oseekingoquashingoofotheoFIRothato hasobeeno registeredoonovariouso grounds.o Theo causeoofo actiono foro seekingo quashingo ofo theo FIRo iso thuso theo incidento ofo registrationo ofo theo FIR.o Theo petitionerso beingo domicileo ofo theo territorialo jurisdictiono ofo thiso Courto areo merelyoallegingoaohardshipothatohasobeenocausedoasoaoresultoofotheoregistrationo ofotheoFIRoandohaveoraisedotheirodefenceoforoseekingoquashingoofotheosaido FIR.oTheoeffectooroimpact/knowledgeoofocauseoofoactionocannotomasqueradeo asoaocauseoofoaction.o

16.o o oTheo circumstanceso narratedo byo theo petitionero foro seekingo quashingoofotheoFIRoareotheiroresponseoandodefenseotooanoactionothatohaso occurred.oo

17.o o Ino theo saido background,o theo othero judgmentso reliedo byo theo petitionersoareoalsoobeingoexamined.oTheofactsoofotheocaseoino"Y.Abrahamo Ajitho (Supra)o areo too theo effectothatotheocomplainanto filedo aocomplainto ato ChennaioevenothoughoitowasotheocaseothatosheohadoleftoNagercoiloandotheo allegationsoperoseodidonotoshowothatoanyoeventotookoplaceothatowouldoamounto too commissiono ofo offenceo ino Chennai.o Theo saido judgmento wouldo noto beo applicableo too theo factso ofo theo presento caseo inasmucho aso Nagercoilo ando Chennai,obothofallowithinotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofotheosameoHighoCourto andoasosuchotheoquestionoofointeroHighoCourtoterritorialojurisdictionodidonoto o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-20-o o ariseoinotheosaidocase.oInotheomattero"BhuraoRamo&oOthersoversusoStateoofo Rajasthano&oAnother"oreportedoaso2008o(11)oSCCo103,otheoissueoinoquestiono pertainedo too theo incidentso thato tooko placeo whileo theo brideo waso livingo ino PunjaboandolaterosheostartedoresidingoinoRajasthan.oItowasoheldothatoRajasthano Courtohadonoojurisdictionoasonoopartoofotheooffenceowasocommittedowithinotheo territorialojurisdictionoofoRajasthan.oTheopetitionersothereinohadoapproachedo theoHighoCourtoofoRajasthanoraisingotheirodefenceoandoitowasoinotheosaido backgroundothatojudgmentoofoRajasthanoHighoCourtoandoalsootheoproceedingso undertakenobyotheoSubordinateoCourtsothereinowereoconsidered.oTheoissueo wasothusobeforeotheoHighoCourtoinowhose'soterritorialojurisdictionoFIRohado beenoregistered.o

18.o o Theojudgmentoofo"KunaloTyagioandoanotheroversusoStateoofo Uttarakhandoandoanother"oreportedoaso2010o(19)oRCRo(Criminal)o14oareo againoinorelationotootheoincidentothatotookoplaceowithinoterritorialojurisdictiono ofo theo sameo Higho Courto i.e.o Higho Courto ofo Uttrakhand.o Insofaro aso theo judgmentoofotheoUttrakhandoHighoCourtoinotheomattero"RajeshoKumaroversuso Stateo ofo Uttrakhando ando others"o datedo 14.05.2015o ino Criminalo Misc.o Applicationo No.o 438o ofo 2018o iso concerned.o Theo FIRo ino questiono waso registeredoatoHaldwani,oDistrictoNanitalowhereasotheodefenseoofotheopetitionero waso thato theo allegations/offenceso ino questiono tooko placeo ato Delhi.o Theo petitionero ino theo saido caseo hado filedo theo aboveo saido quashingo petitiono challengingotheoproceedingsoatoHaldwaniobeforeotheoUttrakhandoHighoCourto andotheojudgmentoinoquestionohadonotobeenopassedobyotheoDelhioHighoCourt.o Inobothotheseocases,opetitionersohadobeenoprejudicedobeforeotheoHighoCourto exercisingoterritorialojurisdictionowhereoFIRowasoregistered.oo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-21-o o

19.o o ReferenceohasoalsoobeenomadeotootheojudgmentoofoDelhioHigho Courtoino"NirajoTrivedioversusoStateoofoBiharoandoothers"oreportedoaso2008o

(8)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o80oasoperowhichotheoquashingoofotheoFIRoregisteredo wasosoughtobyotheopetitioner,otheoDelhioHighoCourtopassedoanoorder,odirectingo transferoofotheoFIRowithinoterritorialojurisdictionoofoDelhi.oOnotheofactsoofotheo saidocaseowhichosuchofactsocouldonotobeoapplicableoinotheopresentoscenarioo andoalsooinolightoofotheosubsequentojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleotheoSupremeo CourtoinotheomatteroofoRupalioDevio(Supra).o

20.o o InotheojudgmentoofoRupalioDevio(Supra)ohas,ohowever,oheldothato theoemotionalodistressooropsychologicaloeffectoofocrueltyoonotheowife,oifonoto theophysicaloinjury,oisoboundotoocontinueotootraumatizeotheowifeoevenoaftero sheoleavesotheomatrimonialohomeoandotakesoshelteroatoparentalohome.oEveno thoughoactsoofophysicalocrueltyocommittedoinotheomatrimonialohouseomayo haveoseizedoandosuchoactsodoonotooccuroatoparentalohome,oitowasoheldothato thereo cano beo noo doubto thato mentalo traumao andotheopsychologicalo distresso causedobyotheoactsoofohusbandoincludingoverbaloexchanges,oifoany,othatohado compelotheowifeotooleaveotheomatrimonialohouseoandotakeoshelterowithohero parentsowouldocontinueotoopossessedoatotheoparentalohomeoasowell.oItowaso ratheroheldothatotheoCourtsoatotheoplaceowhereotheowifeotakesoshelteroaftero leavingo oro iso driveno awayo fromo hero matrimonialo homeo wouldo alsoo haveo jurisdictionotooentertainotheocomplaintoallegingocommissionoofooffences.oTheo sameothusomayonotobeomuchohelpotootheopetitioners.o

21.o o oInotheojudgmentoofo"AoBalajioandoothersoversusoStateoofoA.P.o andoanother"oreportedoaso2006o(2)oAndho.L.D.o(Criminal)o498.oTheoFIRoino questiono waso registeredo ato Hyderabado againsto theo husbando whoo waso o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-22-o o permanento residento ofo Madras.o Theo mattero hado beeno agitatedo beforeo theo Andhrao Pradesho Higho Courto exercisingo territorialo jurisdictiono overo Hyderabado aftero consideringo theo judgmento ofo "Y.AbrahamoAjitho (Supra)o itself.oHence,otheopersonohadoapproachedotheoHighoCourtowhichoexercisedo territorialojurisdictionoinoFIR.o

22.o o Allotheoaforesaidocases,oexceptoinotheomatteroofoNirajoTrivedio (Supra),otheoquestionoofoterritorialojurisdictionowasoexaminedobyotheoHigho Courto exercisingo territorialo jurisdictiono overo theo placeo whereo theo FIRo ino questionohadobeenoregisteredoandononeoofotheopetitionsohadobeenopreferredoato theoplaceowhereotheohusbandoclaimedotoobeoresiding/ororesidedoalongwithohiso wife.oo

23.o o Havingoobservedoasoabove,otheoallegationsoleveledoinotheoFIRoareo alsoobeingonoticed.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaidoFIRoareoasounder:o o "To,o TheoS.H.O.,o PoliceoStationo Dalanwala,o Dehradun.o Sir,oApplicantoNehaoSharmaowifeoofoShauryaoGupta,odaughteroofo Sh.o Ashoko Sharma,o presentlyo residingo ato #o 209,o D.L.o Road,o Dehradun,odooherebyorespectfullyosubmits:o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o o Theno ono 26.12.2020,o ato abouto 2.30o A.M.,o myo husbando askedomeotooleaveotheohomeoandoalsooaskedotoocallomyoparents,o soothatoheomayodiscussothemotoogetodivorceoinoproperomanner.o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o oOnothis,otheoapplicantohadonoooptionobutotoonarrateotheo matterotooheroparents.o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-23-o o Myohusbandostartedolevelingoallegationoonomyocharactero eveno beforeo havingo theo Pregnancyo Testo reporto byo sayingo aso whoseoissueoyouoareocarrying.oo o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo Thenoono29.1.2021oatoabouto7.00oP.M.,oafteroofficeohours,o IotoldomyohusbandothatoIoamogoingotooMandiroandowillocomeo backo byo 8.30o P.M.,o ono which,o heo resistedo ino inappropriateo manner.o Ono theo askingo ofo myo husband,o Io sharedo myo phoneo locationoalso.oIoreachedoatohomeobyotheotimeotoldobyome,obuto despiteothat,omyohusbando&ofather-oin-lawomadeoaophoneocalloato myo parentalo houseo ando leveledo falseo allegationso ono myo character.o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo o oMyo fathero ino lawo madeo phoneo callo too myo parents,o misbehavedowithothemoandoalsooleveledofalseoallegationsoonomyo character.oThereafteroI,ohavingomentalotension,otalkedowithomyo parentsooverophone.oThenoono30.1.2021,ohavingonoootherooption,o myo parentso cameo too Gurgaono ando broughto meo too Dehradun.o Thereafter,o myo husbando gaveo ao numbero ofo assuranceso too improveohimselfoandomadeoaonumberoofopromises,ohenceoaftero aboutotwoomonths,omyohusbando&odewarocameotoomyoparentalo houseoatoDehradunoandobroughtomeoalong.o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo oIotoldomyoparentsothatomyohusband,oparentsoinolawoareo demandingo casho amounto &o Jeepo Compasso ando areo causingo mentalo&ophysicaloharassmentodueotoonon-ofulfillmentoofotheiro demand,oandoalsoocausingomeoinferiorityocomplexoandothisoway,o areoprovokingomeotoocommitosuicide,oandothatotheyohaveomadeo myolifeoaoHell.o o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo oIotoldomyohusbandothatoIowilloapproachotheoPolice,oono which,oheowantotoosayothatoS.H.O.oofothisoareaoisoknownotoohimo o CWP-10136-2023oo o o o o o o oooooooo-24-o o andowarnedomeonototoogiveohimophoneocall.oOnothisootherohand,o whenomyoparentsocontactedomyoparentsoinolaw,omyofatheroinolawo usedofilthyolanguageoforomyofathero&ohisoprofession,obyosayingo thatoIowilloseeoyouoinoCourt,o Xxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo xxxo

24.o o SinceothisoCourtohasoalreadyoexpressedoitsoopinionoasoregardsotheo maintainabilityoofotheopresentocase,oitowouldorefrainofromocommentingoonotheo meritso ofo theo caseo oro too recordo anyo findingo quao theo same.o However,o aso counselo foro theo petitionero hado laido mucho emphasiso ono theo territorialo jurisdiction,ohence,oreferenceowasomadeotootheoaboveoextractsoofotheoFIRoando Sectiono177oofoCr.P.C.oasowelloasoitsoexceptionsoasoenshrinedounderoSectiono 178o&o179oofoCr.P.C.oandoeffectoofotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeo CourtoinotheomatteroofoRupalioDevio(Supra)oandonotoasoanoexpressionoonotheo meritsoofohisosubmission.oTheopetitionersowould,ohowever,obeoatolibertyotoo raiseo allo sucho issueso beforeo theo competento Courto exercisingo territorialo jurisdiction.oo

25.o o Theo presento petitiono iso accordinglyo dismissedo foro reasono mentionedowitholibertyoasoaboveotootheopetitioners.oo o o oo o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)oo MAYo11,o2023o o o o o o ooJUDGEo VishaloSharmao o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o o WhetheroReportableo o :o Yes/Noo