Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2026 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 6151

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
C. PRATHEEP KUMAR, J
RANJITH AGED 35 YEARS,S/O MOHANDAS, CHEMPAN HOUSE, POKKULANGARA, ENGADIYOOR, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN - 680615 – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031 – Respondent
CRL.MC NO. 44 OF 2026

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: SRI.RAJESH CHAKYAT
For the Respondents: SRI.JOSEPH M.P., SMT. C. SEENA

The court can quash proceedings in cases of non-serious matrimonial disputes settled amicably by the parties.

Headnote:This judgment explores a petition under Section 528 of B.N.S.S., concerning Crime No.181/2022 at Guruvayoor Temple Police Station, where the accused allegedly subjected the complainant to cruelty. The complainant affirmed an amicable settlement, agreeing to quash proceedings. The court recognized the nature of the dispute as matrimonial and non-serious. Hence, it quashed further proceedings under Section 528 of B.N.S.S.

Table of Content
1. petition filed under section 528 related to an ongoing case at guruvayoor temple police station. (Para 1 , 2)
2. complainant expressed intention to drop charges after reaching an amicable settlement. (Para 3 , 4)
3. prosecutor agrees to quashing as the dispute is non-serious and settled amicably. (Para 5 , 6)
4. court quashes all proceedings due to amicable resolution between the parties. (Para 7)

O R D E R Dated this the 29^th day of January, 2026 This is a petition filed under Section 528 of B.N.S.S. , by the accused persons 1 to 3 in Crime No.181/2022 of Guruvayoor Temple Police Station, Thrissur, which is pending as CC. No.510/2022 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Chavakkad. The offence alleged against the petitioners is under Section 498-A r/w 34 IPC.

2. The prosecution case is that the 1^st accused being the husband of the defacto complainant and the other accused being his relatives subjected her to cruelty both physically and mentally on the ground of dowry and thereby they are alleged to have committed the aforesaid offence.

3. According to the petitioners, the dispute has been settled with the defacto complainant/victim/respondent No.3 and she agreed to drop all further proceedings relating to the above dispute. Therefore, the petitioners prayed for quashing all further proceedings against them.

4. The defacto complainant/victim filed affidavit endorsing the averments in the Criminal MC. According to her, the case has been amicably settled and that she does not intend to proceed with the case and also that all further proceedings in the case can be quashed. She has no further grievance against the petitioners.

5. The learned Public Prosecutor, after getting instruction from the investigating officer also submitted that the dispute has been amicably settled between the parties and that the victim is not at all interested in continuing the prosecution against the petitioners.

6. Considering the fact that the offence involved in this case is not heinous and very serious, but purely a matrimonial and private dispute, which has been amicably settled between the parties, quashment of further proceedings is necessary for maintaining harmonious relationship between the parties.

7. In the result, this Crl. M.C is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioners in CC. No.510/2022 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Chavakkad, stands quashed under Section 528 of B.N.S.S.

Sd/-

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