Madduri Gangaraju @ Babu Rao v. Madduri Sunanda 2025 INSC 991 - Matrimonial - Criminal Prosecutions - Settlement
"Where the matrimonial relationship has come to an end by way of divorce, and the parties have since settled into their respective lives, criminal prosecution emanating from that past relationship ought not to be permitted to linger as a means of harassment"
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Constitution of India - Article 142 - Where the matrimonial relationship has come to an end by way of divorce, and the parties have since settled into their respective lives, criminal prosecution emanating from that past relationship ought not to be permitted to linger as a means of harassment. (Para 13) The power under Article 142 must be invoked to advance the cause of complete justice in matters of this nature. Once the parties have genuinely settled all their differences amicably, the continuation of criminal proceedings between the parties serves no legitimate purpose. It only prolongs bitterness and burdens the criminal justice system with disputes that are no longer alive. The law must be applied in a manner that balances the need to address genuine grievances with the equally important duty to prevent its misuse. In appropriate cases, the power to quash such proceedings is essential to uphold fairness and bring quietus to personal disputes that have run their course. (Para 17)
Case Info
Case Name and Neutral Citation
- Case Name: Madduri Gangaraju @ Babu Rao v. Madduri Sunanda & Others
- Neutral Citation: 2025 INSC 991
Coram (Judges)
- Justice B.V. Nagarathna
- Justice K.V. Viswanathan
Judgment Date
- Date: July 30, 2025
Caselaws and Citations Referred
- Dara Lakshmi Narayana vs. State of Telangana
- Citation: (2025) 3 SCC 735
- Mala Kar vs. State Of Uttarakhand
- Citation: Criminal Appeal No.1684 of 2024 dated 19.03.2024
- Arun Jain vs. State of NCT of Delhi
- Citation: Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No.9178 of 2018 dated 01.04.2024
- Ramawatar vs. State of Madhya Pradesh
- Citation: (2022) 13 SCC 635
- Supreme Court Bar Assn. v. Union of India & Another
- Citation: Not specified (referred in context of Article 142 powers)
- State of M.P. vs. Laxmi Narayan
- Citation: (2019) 5 SCC 688
- Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab
- Citation: (2012) 10 SCC 303
- Naushey Ali vs. State of U.P.
- Citation: (2025) 4 SCC 78
Statutes / Laws Referred
- Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC)
- Sections 494 and 498A
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
- Section 12
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC)
- Section 482
- Legal Services Authority Act, 1987
- Section 21
- Constitution of India
- Article 142
- Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Mentioned in context of Ramawatar case
