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2024 Supreme(P&H) 470

HARPREET SINGH BRAR
Monika – Appellant
Versus
State of Haryana – Respondent


Advocates Appeared:
For the Parties : Mr. Baljeet Beniwal, Mr. G.S. Nehra.

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Based on the provided legal document, here are the key points relevant for legal analysis:

  1. Prosecution for perjury in matrimonial disputes requires clear, deliberate falsehood and must be deemed necessary in the interest of justice. The mere presence of contradictory statements or inaccuracies does not automatically justify prosecution (!) (!) (!) .

  2. Initiating proceedings under Section 340 Cr.P.C. involves two essential conditions: the material must suggest a prima facie case of deliberate falsehood, and the court must find that such prosecution is expedient in the interest of justice. The court must record its opinion that prosecution is in the broader interest of justice, based on an assessment of the factual matrix and the impact on the administration of justice (!) (!) (!) .

  3. The process of forming an opinion for initiating such proceedings is discretionary and requires careful consideration; it is not merely a mechanical or opportunistic act. The court must evaluate whether the falsehood is conspicuous, intentional, and material to the case outcome (!) (!) (!) .

  4. The law emphasizes that proceedings under Section 340 Cr.P.C. should not be misused for personal vendettas or to harass the opposing party. They are meant to serve the larger purpose of protecting the integrity of the judicial process and ensuring that false evidence does not obstruct justice (!) (!) .

  5. The court must distinguish between innocent inaccuracies or misstatements and deliberate falsehood. If a plausible explanation is provided for omissions or discrepancies, and there is no evidence of mala fide intent, initiating perjury proceedings may not be justified (!) .

  6. The order for initiating prosecution must reflect a reasoned application of mind, considering whether the false statement was made consciously and whether prosecuting is expedient in the interest of justice. Orders lacking this assessment are liable to be set aside and remanded for proper consideration (!) .

  7. In the specific case discussed, the court found that the petitioner’s resignation and the reasons for not disclosing certain bank account details were reasonably explained and did not constitute a deliberate falsehood with mala fide intent. Consequently, the order for prosecution was set aside, and the matter was remanded for fresh consideration in accordance with the legal principles outlined above (!) .

Please let me know if you need further analysis or assistance with drafting legal opinions or documents based on this case.


JUDGMENT :

(Harpreet Singh Brar, J.) :

The present revision petition has been preferred against the impugned order dated 16.12.2023 passed by the learned Family Court, Sonipat, vide which Reader of the Family Court was directed to file a complaint under Sections 191, 193, 199 & 209 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short ‘IPC’) read with Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short ‘Cr.P.C.’) on behalf of the Court against the petitioner.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

2. Briefly, the facts are that the marriage between the petitioner and respondent no. 2 was solemnized on 16.04.2016 as per Hindu rites and rituals. However, matrimonial discord ensued and the petitioner filed a petition seeking grant of maintenance under Section 125 Cr.P.C. and both the parties were directed to file affidavits indicating their income and expenditure. In the said affidavit, the petitioner claimed to be unemployed while she was employed with the HDFC Bank for the last four years. Thereafter, respondent no. 2 filed an application under Section 340 Cr.P.C. read with Sections 191, 193, 199 & 209 IPC claiming that the petitioner has misled the Court by giving false information.

CONTENTIONS

3. Lear

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