IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

Reserved on: 12.02.2007

Date o De!"s"on: Fe#r$ar% 2&' 2007
CRL.(.C.72)2*200)
2&.02.2007
+,t. Neera +"n-. ..... /et"t"oner
T.ro$-.:(r. L.0. Ra" and (r. 1.2. +"n-.'
Advo!ates
vers$s
THE +TATE 3GO1T. OF NCT OF DELHI4andOR+.....Res5ondents
T.ro$-.: (r. 1"6as Arora' Advo!ate or res5ondent
(s. R"!.a 2a5oor 7"t. (s. +$6r"t" 0.ard7a8' Advo!ates or +tate.
CORA(:
9U+TICE +HI1 NARA:AN DHINGRA
1. W.et.er re5orters o ;o!a; 5a5ers ,a% #e a;;o7ed to see t.e 8$d-,ent< :E+.
2.To #e reerred to t.e Re5orter or not< :E+
&.W.et.er t.e 8$d-,ent s.o$;d #e re5orted "n t.e D"-est< :E+
+HI1 NARA:AN DHINGRA' 9
1. T."s 5et"t"on $nder +e!t"on =>2 o Cr./.C. .as #een ,ade on #e.a; o 5et"t"oner or
?$as."n-*sett"n- as"de t.e order dated 20
t.
9$;%' 200) 5assed #% ;earned Add"t"ona; +ess"ons
9$d-e' De;." 7.ere#% t.e ;earned A+9 $5.e;d t.e order o t.e Tr"a; Co$rt d"s!.ar-"n-
a55e;;ants 0"s.an /a; +"n-.' +,t. +antos. Dev"' Ga8endar +"n-. and Tos.an +"n-.. 0"s.an /a;
+"n-. "s t.e at.er@"n@;a7 o t.e !o,5;a"nant' +,t. +antos. Dev" "s t.e ,ot.er@"n@;a7 o
!o,5;a"nant and Ga8ender +"n-. and Tos.an +"n-. are t.e #rot.ers@"n@;a7 3.$s#andAs #rot.ers4
o t.e !o,5;a"nant. T.e !o,5;a"nant ,ade a;;e-at"ons "nvo;v"n- a;,ost ever% ,e,#er o t.e
a,";% o .er "n ;a7s. Learned (etro5o;"tan (a-"strate' ater -o"n- t.ro$-. t.e ev"den!e
o#served as $nder:
</er$sa; o re!ord s.o7s t.at t.e a;;e-at"ons o t.e !o,5;a"nant are a-a"nst t.e a!!$sed 5erson
eB!e5t t.e a!!$sed .$s#and 7"t. res5e!t o ta$nt"n- or #r"n-"n- "ns$"!"ent do7r%. 0$t t.ere
"s not a s"n-;e a;;e-at"on t.at t.e a!!$sed 5ersons ,ade an% s$#se?$ent de,and or do7r% and
!onse?$ent .arass,ent or not ,eet"n- 7"t. t.e"r de,ands. Ad,"tted;% t.e !o,5;a"nant and
.er .$s#and and "n ;a7s o t.e !o,5;a"nant 7ere sta%"n- at G.aC"a#ad. W.ereas t.e
!o,5;a"nant ,ost o t.e t",e res"ded 7"t. .er .$s#and at R"7ar". It 7as .e;d "n AIR
1DD)3+$5re,e Co$rt4 )7 t.at ta$nt"n- or not #r"n-"n- s$"!"ent do7r% "s d"st"n!t ro,
de,and o do7r% and s.o$;d not #e !on$sed 7"t.. T.o$-. ta$nt"n- or #r"n-"n- "ns$"!"ent
do7r% "s a;so an $n!"v";"Ced a!t #$t does not !o,e 7"t."n t.e 5$rv"e7 o +e!t"on =D>A'
s$"!"ent to !onst"t$te t.e oen!e ".e. t.e !r$e;t% to t.e !o,5;a"nant 7"t. res5e!t to not
$;";;,ent o de,and o o do7r%. T.ere "s not a s"n-;e a;;e-at"on t.at eB!e5t or t.e a;;e-ed
ta$nt"n- t.e !o,5;a"nant 7as ever .arassed 7"t. res5e!t to $rt.er de,and o do7r%. Hen!e t.e
5r",a a!"e !ase $nder +e!t"on =D>A "s not ,ade o$t a-a"nst a!!$sed 0"s.an /a;' +antos. Dev"'
GaCender +"n-. and 2a$s.an +"n-..<
2. A-a"nst t."s order' t.e 5et"t"oner 5reerred a rev"s"on 5et"t"on #eore t.e Co$rt o +ess"ons
and t.e ;earned +ess"ons 9$d-e ater !ons"der"n- t.e ent"re ,ater"a; o#served as $nder:
< In t.e 5resent !ase' .$s#and' :as.7ant +"n-.' ater ,arr"a-e 7as res"d"n- se5arate;% ro, ."s
5arent and #rot.ers. He 7as res"d"n- at Re7ar"' Har%ana. T.e Ld. Tr"a; Co$rt o$nd t.at
a;;e-at"on o t.e !o,5;a"nant are a-a"nst t.e .$s#and on;%. T.ere 7ere no s5e!""! a;;e-at"ons
a-a"nst t.e a!!$sed 5ersons' na,e;%' 0"s.an /a; +"n-.' +,t. +antos. Dev"' Ga8ender +"n-. and
Tos.an +"n-.. T.e Ld. Tr"a; Co$rt 7as o t.e o5"n"on t.at t.ere 7as not even a s"n-;e
a;;e-at"on t.at t.e a!!$sed 5ersons ,ade an% s$#se?$ent de,and o do7r% and .arassed t.e
!o,5;a"nant or not $;";;"n- t.e"r de,and. T.e !o,5;a"nant ,ost o t.e t",e 7as res"d"n-
7"t. .er .$s#and at Re7ar"' Har%ana. T.ere ,"-.t .ave #een one or t7o "nstan!es o ta$nt"n-
or not #r"n-"n- s$"!"ent do7r% #$t t.e% are not s$"!"ent eno$-. to attra!t +e!t"on =D>A.
T.ere are not s5e!""! a;;e-at"ons 7"t. res5e!t to entr$st,ent o do7r% "te,s to t.e a!!$sed
5ersons. +"n!e' t.e !o,5;a"nant sta%ed 7"t. .er .$s#and at Re7ar"' Har%ana' t.e entr$st,ent
o do7r% art"!;es !an #e 5res$,ed to #e to t.e .$s#and. T.ere 7ere no s5e!""! a;;e-at"ons o
entr$st,ent to t.e a!!$sed 5erson' na,e;%' 0"s.an /a; +"n-.' +,t. +antos. Dev"' Ga8ender
+"n-. and Tos.an +"n-..<
&. A 5er$sa; o t.e !o,5;a"nt 7o$;d s.o7 t.at as 5er a;;e-at"ons do7r% de,and 7as ,ade even
#eore ,arr"a-e ".e. at t.e t",e o en-a-e,ent and an AC 7as de,anded ro, .er at.er #% .er
"n@;a7s and .er at.er .ad ass$red t.at AC 7o$;d #e -"ven at t.e t",e o ,arr"a-e. Ho7ever'
s.e to;d .er at.er <:o$ .ave -"ven !ar and AC at t.e de,and o "n ;a7s' 7.at 7";; .a55en "
t.e% de,and a ;at to,orro7<. Des5"te .er t."s !onversat"on 7"t. .er at.er and des5"te .er
6no7"n- t.at do7r% de,and .ad a;read% #een ,ade' s.e ,arr"ed "n t.e sa,e a,";%
"rres5e!t"ve o t.e a!t t.at s.e 7as 7e;;@ed$!ated ;ad% and 7as an en-"neer and .er #rot.er
7as "n 5o;"!e. In a!t' t.ese 6"nds o a;;e-at"ons ,ade ater #rea6do7n o t.e ,arr"a-e s.o7
t.e ,enta;"t% o t.e !o,5;a"nant. I !ons"der 7.ere t.ese 6"nds o a;;e-at"ons are ,ade' t.e
5o;"!e s.o$;d s",$;taneo$s;% re-"ster a !ase $nder Do7r% /ro."#"t"on A!t 3"n s.ort < t.e A!t<4
a-a"nst t.e 5arents o t.e !o,5;a"nant as 7e;;' 7.o ,arr"ed t.e"r da$-.ter des5"te de,and o
do7r%. +e!t"on & o t.e A!t 5ro."#"ts -"v"n- and ta6"n- o do7r%. I a 7o,an o -ro7n $5 a-e
and 7e;; ed$!ated -ets ,arr"ed to a 5erson des5"te do7r% de,and' s.e and .er a,";% #e!o,es
a!!o,5;a"!e "n t.e !r",e $nder Do7r% /ro."#"t"on A!t.
=. No7@a@da%s' eBor#"tant !;a",s are ,ade a#o$t t.e a,o$nt s5ent on ,arr"a-e and ot.er
!ere,on"es and on do7r% and -"ts. In so,e !ases !;a", "s ,ade o s5end"n- !rores o r$5ees
on do7r% 7"t.o$t d"s!;os"n- t.e so$r!e o "n!o,e and .o7 $nds ;o7ed. I !ons"der t",e .as
!o,e t.at !o$rts s.o$;d "ns"st $5on d"s!;os"n- so$r!e o s$!. $nds and ver""!at"on o "n!o,e
ro, taB ret$rns and 5o;"!e s.o$;d "ns"st $5on t.e !o,5;"an!e o t.e R$;es $nder Do7r%
/ro."#"t"on A!t and s.o$;d not enterta"n an% !o,5;a"nt' " t.e r$;es .ave not #een !o,5;"ed
7"t.. R$;e 2 o t.e Do7r% /ro."#"t"on3(a"ntenan!e o L"st o /resents to t.e 0r"de and
0r"de-roo,4 R$;es' 1D>E reads as $nder:
<2. RULE+ IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHICH LI+T+ OF /RE+ENT+ ARE TO 0E
(AINTAINED.@314 T.e ;"st o 5resents 7."!. are -"ven at t.e t",e o t.e ,arr"a-e to t.e #r"de
s.a;; #e ,a"nta"ned #% t.e #r"de.
324T.e ;"st o 5resents 7."!. are -"ven at t.e t",e o t.e ,arr"a-e to t.e #r"de-roo, s.a;; #e
,a"nta"ned #% t.e #r"de-roo,.
3&4Ever% ;"st o 5resents reerred to "n +$#@r$;e314 or +$#@r$;e324@ 3a4 s.a;; #e 5re5ared at t.e
t",e o t.e ,arr"a-e or as soon as 5oss"#;e ater t.e ,arr"a-eF
3#4 s.a;; #e "n 7r"t"n-F
3!4 s.a;; !onta"n:@
3"4 a #r"e des!r"5t"on o ea!. 5resentF
3""4 t.e a55roB",ate va;$e o t.e 5resentF
3"""4 t.e na,e o t.e 5erson 7.o .as -"ven t.e 5resentF and
3"v4 7.ere t.e 5erson -"v"n- t.e 5resent "s re;ated to t.e #r"de or #r"de-roo,' a des!r"5t"on o
s$!. re;at"ons."5.
3d4 s.a;; #e s"-ned #% #ot. t.e #r"de and t.e #r"de-roo,.
E. T.e (etro5o;"tan (a-"strates s.o$;d ta6e !o-n"Can!e o t.e oen!e $nder t.e A!t "n res5e!t
o t.e oen!e o -"v"n- do7r% 7.enever a;;e-at"ons are ,ade t.at do7r% 7as -"ven as a
!ons"derat"on o ,arr"a-e' ater de,and. Co$rts s.o$;d a;so "ns"st $5on !o,5;"an!e 7"t. t.e
r$;es ra,ed $nder t.e A!t and " r$;es are not !o,5;"ed 7"t.' an adverse "neren!e s.o$;d #e
dra7n. I .$-e !as. a,o$nts are a;;e-ed to #e -"ven at t.e t",e o ,arr"a-e 7."!. are not
a!!o$nted an%7.ere' s$!. !as. transa!t"ons s.o$;d #e #ro$-.t to t.e not"!e o t.e In!o,e TaB
De5art,ent #% t.e Co$rt so t.at so$r!e o "n!o,e "s ver""ed and t.e 5erson "s #ro$-.t to ;a7.
It "s on;% #e!a$se t.e Co$rts are not "ns"st"n- $5on !o,5;"an!e 7"t. t.e re;evant 5rov"s"ons o
;a7 7.";e enterta"n"n- s$!. !o,5;a"nts and a!t"on "s ta6en ,ere;% on t.e state,ent o t.e
!o,5;a"nant' 7"t.o$t an% ver""!at"on t.at a ;ar-e n$,#er o a;se !o,5;a"nts are 5o$r"n- "n.
). I !ons"der t.at t.e 6"nds o va-$e a;;e-at"ons as ,ade "n t.e !o,5;a"nt #% t.e 5et"t"oner
a-a"nst ever% ,e,#er o t.e a,";% o .$s#and !annot #e a!!e5ted #% an% !o$rt at t.e"r a!e
va;$e and t.e a;;e-at"ons .ave to #e s!r$t"n"Ced !are$;;% #% t.e Co$rt #eore ra,"n- !.ar-e. A
5er$sa; o t.e !o,5;a"nt o t.e 5et"t"oner 7o$;d s.o7 t.at s.e ,ade a;; 6"nds o a;;e-at"ons
a-a"nst .er .$s#and re-ard"n- #eat"n-' t.at .er .$s#and 7as .av"n- ";;"!"t re;at"ons."5 7"t. &E
-"r;sF .e or!ed .er to 7r"te s$"!"de note' a#$sed .er' ta$nted .er' t.reatened and to;d .er t.at .e
7as -ett"n- anot.er #r"de o ,ore r"!.er a,";% 7.";e s.e 7as "n Re7ar" 7"t. .er .$s#and and
s.e ,ade te;e5.one !a;; to .er 5arents 7.o !a,e to Re7ar" and too6 .er to 5arenta; .o,e. +.e
.ad a;so -"ven 5.one to one o .er r"ends 9"-%asa. A 5er$sa; o t.e state,ent o 9"-%asa 7o$;d
s.o7 t.at s.e to;d 9"-%asa t.at "t 7as .er .$s#and 7.o 7as tort$r"n- .er and #e.av"n- 7"t.
!r$e;t%. Ho7ever' "n .er !o,5;a"nt' s.e ,ade va-$e and o,n"#$s a;;e-at"ons a-a"nst ever%
ot.er a,";% ,e,#ers. T.e state,ent ,ade #% .er and ot.er 7"tnesses .ave #een s!r$t"n"Ced
#% ,e' eB!e5t va-$e a;;e-at"ons and a;;e-at"ons o ta$nt"n-' t.ere are no a;;e-at"ons o
5er5et$at"n- !r$e;t% on .er #% an% o t.e o$r res5ondents "n order to !o,5e; .er to #r"n- ,ore
do7r% or an% 5art"!$;ar "te,s.
7. In v"e7 o ,% ore-o"n- d"s!$ss"on' I "nd no reason to d"sa-ree 7"t. t.e order o t7o Co$rts
#e;o7. T.e 5et"t"on "s .ere#% d"s,"ssed #e"n- devo"d o ,er"ts.
Fe#r$ar% 2&' 2007 +HI1 NARA:AN DHINGRA' 9.
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