Matrimonial Dispute Settled: Supreme Court Quashes Criminal Case After Mutual Agreement

The Supreme Court of India, in Ramakant V v. Purnima & Anr., facilitated the resolution of a prolonged matrimonial dispute through mediation and directed the quashing of all pending civil and criminal cases between the parties. The Court’s judgment highlighted the importance of mediation in family disputes and ensured a fair financial settlement.

Background of the Case

The dispute between the appellant, Ramakant V, and the respondent, Purnima, began over eleven years ago due to matrimonial discord. The matter escalated into multiple litigations, including divorce proceedings, financial claims, and criminal cases.

The case reached the Supreme Court through an appeal against an order passed by the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad on September 5, 2017, in Civil Revision Petition No. 4273 of 2017.

Key Events

• Multiple litigations, including divorce and financial claims, were filed over the years.
• The High Court’s ruling prompted the appellant to approach the Supreme Court.
• The Supreme Court appointed a mediator, Ms. Varuna Bhandari, to facilitate a settlement.
• On December 12, 2017, a settlement agreement was reached.
• The Supreme Court recorded the terms of settlement and issued final orders.

Legal Issues Before the Supreme Court

• Whether a mutual settlement between the parties warranted the quashing of criminal and civil cases.
• Whether financial settlements agreed upon should be enforced by the Court.
• Whether bank liabilities related to joint loans should be resolved as part of the settlement.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioner’s (Ramakant V’s) Arguments

• The disputes had been amicably settled, and there was no reason to continue the pending litigations.
• The financial settlement agreed upon should be recognized and enforced.
• Bank liabilities should be fairly divided between the parties.

Respondent’s (Purnima’s) Arguments

• The financial settlement agreed upon should be honored by both parties.
• All pending criminal and civil cases should be quashed to ensure complete closure of disputes.
• The bank liabilities should be settled in a way that does not unfairly burden any party.

Supreme Court’s Analysis and Judgment

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar, carefully examined the settlement agreement and the legal principles governing family disputes.

1. Financial Settlement Terms

The Court noted that as per the agreement:

• The appellant had paid Rs. 40,00,000 to the respondent, which was duly acknowledged.
• The remaining Rs. 48,35,000 was paid through three separate demand drafts on the day of the judgment.

“The financial settlement is complete, and the amount due to the respondent from the appellant has been settled in full.”

2. Settlement of Bank Liabilities

The Court observed that the parties had an outstanding home loan with ICICI Bank, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, amounting to Rs. 75,75,436. The Bank was impleaded in the case and sought full settlement.

The Court directed:

• The respondent to pay Rs. 9,00,000 to ICICI Bank within a week.
• The appellant to pay the remaining Rs. 6,00,000 within eight weeks.
• ICICI Bank to waive penalty charges and additional interest, settling the outstanding dues at Rs. 15,00,000.

“In the interest of justice and fitness of things, ICICI Bank should settle the whole outstanding dues for an amount of Rs. 15,00,000.”

3. Quashing of Pending Cases

The Court directed that all pending litigations between the parties be closed, including:

• Divorce proceedings (O.P. No. 980/2008).
• Debt recovery cases (S.A. No. 214/2014, OA. 2862/2017).
• Criminal cases (Crl.P. No. 10609/2014, Crl.P. No. 4421/2012).

“Having regard to the settlement of the disputes, it is only in the interest of justice that the criminal cases are also put to an end.”

4. Protection Against Future Litigation

The Court directed that:

• No further claims could be made by either party in relation to the settled disputes.
• No future civil or criminal proceedings shall be initiated without the express permission of the Supreme Court.

“The parties shall not institute any civil or criminal proceedings against each other in respect of the disputes referred to in the settlement.”

Final Judgment

The Supreme Court issued the following directives:

• All pending civil and criminal cases were dismissed as per the settlement.
• The financial settlement was recorded and enforced.
• ICICI Bank was directed to issue a ‘No Dues Certificate’ after receiving the payments.
• The appellant was discharged from all bank guarantees related to the case.

Impact of the Judgment

This ruling has significant implications for matrimonial dispute resolutions in India:

• Encouragement of Mediation: The Court highlighted mediation as an effective tool for resolving family disputes.
• Finality in Disputes: By preventing future litigation, the ruling provides complete closure to the parties.
• Judicial Oversight on Settlements: The ruling ensures that financial settlements are honored and legally binding.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Ramakant V v. Purnima & Anr. sets a strong precedent for using mediation in matrimonial disputes. By enforcing a comprehensive settlement and ensuring fair financial distribution, the Court has provided a legal framework for resolving prolonged family litigations effectively.

Petitioner Name: Ramakant V
Respondent Name: Purnima & Anr.
Judgment By: Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar
Place Of Incident: Hyderabad, Telangana
Judgment Date: 19-03-2018

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