HC comes down hard on state for frivolous dowry appeal

‘Trresponsible’ challenge to acquittal wastes court time; Rs 25K cost imposed

- Our Staff Reporter

The Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday came down sharply on the State for filing what it termed an ‘irresponsible’ and meritless criminal appeal in an alleged dowry death case, dismissing the plea and imposing a cost of Rs 25,000 on the prosecution.

A Division Bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Vinay Saraf directed that the amount be deposited with the Indian Red Cross Society, Jabalpur, while granting liberty to the State to recover the cost from officials responsible for recommending the appeal.

The appeal had challenged the acquittal of Krishna Singh Maravi byasessions court in Anuppur in a case registered under Sections 304-B (dowry death) and 498-A (cruelty) of the IPC.