In a significant ruling, the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court nullified an FIR filed by a judicial officer against his in-laws, deeming the charges baseless and rooted in a convoluted matrimonial dispute.
The case, lodged by Durgaprasad Deshpande, an Ad-hoc District Judge-1 in Sangamner, accused his in-laws of conspiring against him during an attempted visit to his wife and children in April 2022. He alleged they barred his entry, obstructed his access to his family, and interfered with his personal and professional affairs, including a property transfer.
Challenging the FIR, the in-laws contended it was a retaliatory move, claiming Deshpande had a history of mistreatment toward his wife, who suffers from schizophrenia. They argued the accusations were fabricated to serve ulterior motives.
The High Court Bench, comprising Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and SG Chapalgaonkar, observed that the allegations lacked the essential elements required to substantiate charges of trespass, conspiracy, and extortion under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Highlighting the existence of 23 ongoing legal battles between Deshpande and his wife, the judges remarked that the matrimonial discord had overwhelmed the legal system.
“Given the exhaustive nature of this matrimonial dispute, it is evident that the legal machinery has been misused, making it challenging to discern where the true fault lies,” the court noted.
Concluding that the FIR did not meet the necessary legal thresholds, the judges ruled that pursuing the criminal proceedings would constitute an abuse of judicial resources, quashing both the FIR and the related case pending in Nanded.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s cautious approach to cases entangled in personal conflicts, emphasizing the importance of not burdening the legal system with disputes better suited for resolution outside the courtroom.
