SC: Vague allegations no basis for dowry case | India News
New Delhi: Criminal proceedings cannot be initiated based on vague and unsupported allegations alone, the SC has ruled, quashing a case of dowry harassment and cruelty filed against a Kanpur-based couple by their daughter-in-law.A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuiyan noted that the case was filed nearly seven years after the allegations of cruelty and observed that citizens must be vigilant about their rights and take timely action especially in cases of matrimonial disputes.SC: Mere statement demanding dowry is not enough to initiate criminal proceedingsThe complainant and the prosecution have failed to produce any material evidence or material to support the allegations contained in the FIR and charge sheet. A mere statement that the accused/petitioners herein often demand dowry and harass the complainant is not sufficient to initiate criminal proceedings against them…” the apex court bench said.In a petition filed by the couple and their daughter to quash the case against them, the Supreme Court also said that the prosecution had failed to give any sufficient reason for the delay, casting doubt on its case.“We find that the rights of citizens who complain of crimes should not be shunned but pursued in real time to achieve the ends of justice – vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt, which means the law is vigilant about the rights of those who protect them”. The court emphasized that such delay (or lack thereof) in matrimonial cases or criminal cases between spouses is important because, due to the personal nature of the allegations and the relationship, such cases often lack sufficient evidence to prove or disprove the claims.
