Legal Abuse in Marriage Dispute: Wife's Father Imposed Rs 5 Lakh Costs

 

I prefer not to write about matrimonial disputes as they are incredibly personal and often filled with complex emotions. However, a recent case of Prateek Bansal v. State of Rajasthan & Ors., Crl.A. No.-002167-002167 / 2024 stands out —not just for the personal drama but because it shows how the legal system can be misused, and that's something we should all care about.

This case involves a Chartered Accountant from Hisar and his wife, a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Udaipur. They got engaged and married in 2015, but by October 2015, complaints were filed by the wife’s father first in Hisar and then in Udaipur, under similar allegations of cruelty. This led to multiple FIRs (First Information Reports) being filed.

The matter escalated to the Rajasthan High Court, which decided not to dismiss the second FIR, stating that the police in Udaipur weren't aware of the first FIR filed in Hisar. This decision was challenged in the Supreme Court, which took a different view.

The Supreme Court looked beyond the personal issues and saw a pattern that concerned them. They noticed that the complaints seemed to be an abuse of the legal system. The wife’s father, despite being aware of the ongoing legal proceedings, initiated multiple complaints that burdened the courts unnecessarily and seemed aimed at harassing the husband.

The Supreme Court's reaction was noteworthy. They criticized the misuse of legal processes and imposed penalties not because of the original domestic violence complaint, but because the wife's father and the wife appeared to be using the law for purposes other than seeking justice.

This case teaches us an important lesson about the legal system, "I will see you in court", often thrown around in heated arguments should be used judiciously. The Courts are here to protect us and to provide a fair outcome when people can't solve their problems alone. But when someone uses legal procedures to intimidate or punish someone else without just cause, it can lead to further injustice. The Supreme Court’s decision reminds us that the law should not be used as a weapon and that legal rights come with the responsibility to use them wisely.