Counsel first in marital war: SC

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, May 8 : The Supreme Court has directed criminal courts dealing with cases of dowry harassment to refer the parties to a mediation centre before they start hearing the case, if they feel a settlement is possible and both parties are willing.

While setting aside an order passed by the AP High Court in a matrimonial case, the apex court observed that “marriage is a sacred ceremony, the main purpose of which is to enable the couple to settle down in life and live peacefully”.

Give mediation a chance, says SC

A Division Bench comprising Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai of the Supreme Court pointed out that “little matrimonial skirmishes suddenly erupt which often assume serious proportions resulting in commission of heinous crimes in which elders of the family are also involved, with the result that those who could have counselled and brought about rapprochement are rendered helpless on their being arrayed as accused in the criminal case”.

Pointing out that though the offence of dowry harassment, punishable under Section 498A of the IPC, is non-compoundable (meaning it cannot be withdrawn by the petitioner), the Bench said that in appropriate cases, if the parties are willing and if it appears to the criminal court that there exist elements of settlement, it should direct the parties to explore the possibility of settlement through mediation.

A complaint under Section 498A of the IPC (husband or relatives of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) presents a difficulty because the offence is not compoundable except in AP, where, by a state amendment, it was made compoundable, the SC added.

The Bench made it clear that “this is, obviously, not to dilute the rigour, efficacy and purport of Section 498A of the IPC, but to locate cases where the matrimonial dispute can be nipped in the bud in an equitable manner. It will be for the concerned court to work out the modalities taking into consideration the facts of each case”.

The Bench cautioned that the judges must ensure that this exercise does not lead to the erring spouse using mediation process to get out of the clutches of the law.