WP(Crl.) 194/17: Signature Not Verified

WWW.LIVELAW.IN WP(Crl.) 194/17 1

ITEM NO.53

COURT NO.1 S U P R E M E C O U R T O F RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

SECTION PIL-W I N D I A

Writ Petition (Crimin!" No.1#$%&'1 )OSEP* S*INE

Petitioner(+"

 

,ERSUS

UNION OF INDIA

Re+onent(+"

(Wit/ !n.(+" 0or interention%im!ement" Dte 2 '5-'1-&'1 T/i+ etition 4+ !!e on 0or /erin6 to7. CORAM 2 *ON89LE T*E C*IEF )USTICE *ON89LE MR. )USTICE A.M. :*ANWIL:AR *ON89LE DR. )USTICE D.;. C*ANDRAC*UD For Fo r Peti Petiti tion oner er(+ (+" "

Mr. :!e Mr. :!ee+ e+4 4r rm m Rtt M.+.= AOR

For Fo r Re Re+ +on one ent nt(+ (+" "

Mr. R. 9 Mr. 9! !+> +>?r ?rm mn ni in= n= A A. . Mr. 9.,. 9!rm D+= A. Mr. S/in S/rm= A.

UPON /erin6 t/e o>n+e! t/e Co>rt me t/e 0o!!o4in6 O R D E R *er Mr. :!ee+4rm Rn+e! 0or t/e etitioner n Mr. R. 9!+>?rmnin= !erne o>n+e! !on6 4it/ Mr. 9.,. 9!rm D+= !erne o>n+e! 0or t/e Union o0 Ini. T/i+ Co>rt on  t/ De Deem? em?er= er= &'1= &'1= t t/e +t +t6e 6e o0 mi++ion= / ++e t/e 0o!!o4in6 orer2-

Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by CHETAN KUMAR Date: 2018.01.05 17:53:20 IST Reason:

@In t/i+ etition= re0erre >ner Arti!e 3& o0 t/e Con Con+ti +tit>t t>tion ion o0 In Ini= i= t/e et etiti itione oner r /+ / /!! !!e en6 n6e e t/e on on+ +ti tit> t>ti tio on n! ! !i  !ii it t7 o0 Setio Se tion n $# $# o0 t/e t/e Ini Inin n Pen! Pen! Co Coe e n n n Setion 1#(&" o0 t/e Crimin! Proe>re Coe. T/e +i roi+ion+ re + >ner2

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@$#. A>!ter7. W/oeer /+ +eB>! intero>r+e 4it/  er+on 4/o i+ n 4/om /e no4+ or /+ re+on to ?e!iee to ?e t/e 4i0e o0 not/er mn= 4it/o>t t/e on+ent or onnine o0 t/t mn= +>/ +eB>! intero>r+e not mo>ntin6 to t/e o00ene o0 re= i+ 6>i!t7 o0 t/e o00ene o0 >!ter7= n +/!! ?e >ni+/e 4it/ imri+onment o0 eit/er e+rition 0or  term 4/i/ m7 eBten to 0ie 7er+= or 4it/ 0ine= or 4it/ ?ot/. In +>/ +e t/e 4i0e +/!! not ?e >ni+/?!e + n ?ettor. 1#.Pro+e>tion mrri6e

0or

o00ene+

6in+t

(&" For t/e >ro+e+ o0 +>?- +etion (1"= no er+on ot/er t/n t/e />+?n o0 t/e 4omn +/!! ?e eeme to ?e 66riee ?7 n7 o00ene >ni+/?!e >ner +etion $# or +etion $# o0 t/e +i Coe2 Proie t/t in t/e ?+ene o0 t/e />+?n= +ome er+on 4/o / re o0 t/e 4omn on /i+ ?e/!0 t t/e time 4/en +>/ o00ene 4+ om- mitte m7= 4it/ t/e !ee o0 t/e Co>rt= me  om!int on /i+ ?e/!0. Lerne o>n+e! +>?mit+ t/t t/e +i roi+ion+ /e ?een trete to ?e on+tit>tion!!7 !i in t/ree )>6ment+= nme!7= Yusuf Abdul Aziz vs. State of Bombay  = 1#5$ SCR #3'  AIR 1#5$ SC 3&1 Sowmithri Vishnu vs. Union of India and Another= (1#5" S>!.SCC 13 n V. Revathi vs. Union of India and Others= (1#" & SCC &. *e /+ !+o r4n o>r ttention to t/e ei+ion in W. alyani vs. State throu!h Ins"e#tor of $oli#e and Another= (&'1&" 1 SCC 35 4/erein  t4o-)>6e 9en/ o0 t/i+ Co>rt= 0ter re0errin6 to t/e roi+ion= o?+ere t/>+2 @1'. T/e roi+ion i+ >rrent!7 >ner ritii+m 0rom ertin >rter+ 0or +/o4in6  +tron6 6ener ?i+ 0or it me+ t/e o+ition o0  mrrie 4omn !mo+t +  roert7 o0 /er />+?n. 9>t in term+ o0 t/e !4 + it +tn+= it i+ eient 0rom  !in rein6 o0 t/e Setion t/t on!7  mn n ?e roeee 6in+t n >ni+/e 0or t/e o00ene o0 >!ter7. Inee= t/e Setion roie+ eBre++!7 t/t t/e 4i0e nnot ?e >ni+/e een + n ?ettor. T/>+= t/e mere 0t t/t t/e e!!nt i+ 

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4omn me+ /er om!ete!7 imm>ne to t/e /r6e o0 >!ter7 n +/e nnot ?e roeee 6in+t 0or t/t o00ene. On  er>+! o0 t/e 6ment in Yusuf   Abdul Aziz%s  +e= it +eem+ t/t t/e roi+ion 4+ >/e! on t/e ?+i+ o0 Arti!e 15(3" o0 t/e Con+tit>tion. In Sowmithri Vishnu%s +e (+>r"= t/e Co>rt 4/i!e re!7in6 on t/e rini!e+ !i o4n in Yusuf Abdul Aziz%s +e oine t/t t/e roi+ion i+ intra vires. For t/e +i >ro+e= t/e Co>rt /+ eBre++e t/e ie4 t/>+2 @L4 oe+ not on0er 0reeom >on />+?n+ to ?e !ientio>+ ?7 6!!intin6 4it/ >nmrrie 4omn. It on!7 me+  +ei0i in o0 eBtr-mrit! re!tion+/i n o00ene= t/e re!tion+/i ?et4een  mn n  mrrie 4omn= t/e mn !one ?ein6 t/e o00ener. An >n0it/0>! />+?n ri++ or= er/+= inite+  ii! tion ?7 t/e 4i0e 0or +ertion. T/e !e6i+!t>re i+ entit!e to e! 4it/ t/e ei! 4/ere it i+ 0e!t n +een mo+t 2 A mn +e>in6 t/e 4i0e o0 not/er. Mr+. C/im?rm +7+ t/t 4omen= ?ot/ mrrie n >nmrrie= /e /n6e t/eir !i0e +t7!e oer t/e 7er+ n t/ere re +e+ 4/ere t/e7 /e 4ree t/e ee n /ine++ o0 ot/er mtrimoni! /ome+. We /oe t/i+ i+ not too ri6/t ?>t= n >ner-in!>+ie e0inition i+ not nee++ri!7 i+rimintor7. T/e !!e6e trn+0ormtion in 0eminine ttit>e+= 0or 6oo or ? m7 +t!7 en66e t/e ttention o0 t/e !4-mer+ 4/en t/e re0orm o0 en! !4 i+ >nerten. T/e7 m7 en!r6e t/e e0inition o0 >!ter7 to ee e 4it/ t/e moin6 time+. 9>t= >nti! t/en= t/e !4 m>+t remin + it i+. T/e !4= it i+= oe+ not o00en eit/er Arti!e 1$ or Arti!e 15 o0 t/e Con+tit>tion. Inient!!7= t/e emn o0 t/e etitioner t/t +eB>! re!tion+/i o0  />+?n 4it/ n >nmrrie 4omen +/o>! !+o ?e omre/ene 4it/ in t/e e0inition o0 8>!ter78 i+  r>+e ?7  4omn 6in+t  4omn. I0 t/e rmo>r o0  mrrie 4omn n ?e 6>i!t7 o0 >!ter7= 4/7 n n >nmrrie 6ir! 4/o /+ +eB>! re!tion+ 4it/  mrrie mn not ?e 6>i!t7 o0 >!ter7H T/t i+ t/e 6riene

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o0 t/e etitioner. In V. Revathi%s +e (+>r"= !erne )>6e+ too t/e 0mi!7 + t/e !t0orm n 6e em/+i+ on t/e mtrimoni! >nit n t/ere0ter o?+ere2 @5. Setion $# o0 t/e Inin Pen! Coe n Setion 1#(1" re 4it/ Setion 1#(&" o0 t/e Crimin! Proe>re Coe 6o /n in /n n on+tit>te  !e6i+!tie et to e! 4it/ t/e o00ene ommitte ?7 n o>t+ier to t/e mtrimoni! >nit 4/o ine+ t/e ee n ri7 o0 t/e mtrimoni! >nit n oi+on+ t/e re!tion+/i ?et4een t/e t4o rtner+ on+tit>tin6 t/e mtrimoni! >nit. T/e omm>nit7 >ni+/e+ t/e 8o>t+ier8 4/o ?re+ into t/e mtrimoni! /ome n o+ion+ t/e io!tion o0 +ntit7 o0 t/e mtrimoni! tie ?7 ee!oin6 n i!!iit re!tion+/i 4it/ one o0 t/e +o>+e+ +>?ni+/e n not t/e errin6 4omn. It oe+ not rm t/e t4o +o>+e+ to /it e/ ot/er 4it/ t/e 4eon o0 rimin! !4. T/t i+ 4/7 neit/er t/e />+?n n ro+e>te t/e 4i0e n +en /er to te t/e />+?n n +en /im to t+ier 4/o io!te+ t/e +ntit7 o0 t/e mtrimoni! /ome i+ >ni+/e  rier /+ ?een e t/t i0 t/e o>t+ier i+  4omn +/e i+ not >ni+/e. T/ere i+ t/>+ reer+e i+rimintion in 80o>r8 o0 t/e 4omn rt/er t/n 86in+t8 /er. T/e !4 oe+ not eni+6e t/e >ni+/ment o0 n7 o0 t/e +o>+e+ t t/e in+tne o0 e/ ot/er. T/>+ t/ere i+ no i+rimintion 6in+t t/e 4omn in +o 0r + +/e i+ not ermitte to ro+e>te /er />+?n. A />+?n i+ not ermitte ?e>+e t/e 4i0e i+ not trete n o00ener in t/e e7e o0 !4. T/e 4i0e i+ not ermitte + Setion 1#( !" re 4it/ +etion 1#(&" oe+ not ermit /er to o +o. In t/e >!timte n!7+i+ t/e !4 /+ mete o>t een /ne +tie to ?ot/ o0 t/em in t/e mtter o0 ro+e>tin6 e/ ot/er or +e>rin6 t/e inrertion o0 e/ ot/er. T/>+ no i+rimintion /+ ?een rti+e in ir>m+ri?in6 t/e +oe o0

WWW.LIVELAW.IN WP(Crl.) 194/17 5

Setion 1#(&" n 0+/ionin6 it +o t/t t/e ri6/t to ro+e>te t/e >!terer i+ re+trite to t/e />+?n o0 t/e >!tere++ ?>t /+ not ?een eBtene to t/e 4i0e o0 t/e >!terer. @ $rima fa#ie= on  er>+! o0 Setion $# o0 t/e Inin Pen! Coe= 4e 0in t/t it 6rnt+ re!ie0 to t/e 4i0e ?7 tretin6 /er +  itim. It i+ !+o 4ort/7 to note t/t 4/en n o00ene i+ ommitte ?7 ?ot/ o0 t/em= one i+ !i?!e 0or t/e rimin! o00ene ?>t t/e ot/er i+ ?+o!e. It +eem+ to ?e ?+e on  +oiet! re+>mtion. Orinri!7= t/e rimin! !4 roee+ on 6ener ne>tr!it7 ?>t in t/i+ roi+ion= + 4e ereie= t/e +i onet i+ ?+ent. T/t rt= it i+ to ?e +een 4/en t/ere i+ on0erment o0 n7 00irmtie ri6/t on 4omen= n it 6o to t/e eBtent o0 tretin6 t/em + t/e itim= in !! ir>m+tne+= to t/e eri! o0 t/e />+?n. >ite rt 0rom t/t= it i+ erei?!e 0rom t/e !n6>6e em!o7e in t/e Setion t/t t/e 0>!r>m o0 t/e o00ene i+ e+tro7e one t/e on+ent or t/e onnine o0 t/e />+?n i+ e+t?!i+/e. ,ie4e 0rom t/e +i +enrio= t/e roi+ion re!!7 rete+  ent on t/e inii>! ineenent ientit7 o0  4omn 4/en t/e em/+i+ i+ !i on t/e onnine or t/e on+ent o0 t/e />+?n. T/i+ tntmo>nt+ to +>?orintion o0  4omn 4/ere t/e Con+tit>tion on0er+ e>! +tt>+. A time /+ ome 4/en t/e +oiet7 m>+t re!i+e t/t  4omn i+ e>! to  mn in eer7 0ie!. T/i+ roi+ion= "rima fa#ie= er+ to ?e >ite r/i. W/en t/e +oiet7 ro6re++e+ n t/e ri6/t+ re on0erre= t/e ne4 6enertion o0 t/o>6/t+ +rin6= n t/t i+ 4/7= 4e re in!ine to i++>e notie. On  er>+! o0 t/e 0ore+i ei+ion+= it i+ 0o>n t/t t/e on+tit>tion! !iit7 o0 Setion $# o0 t/e Inin Pen! Coe /+ ?een >/e!. One o0 t/em= nme!7= Yusuf Abdul  Aziz +e (+>r" /+ ?een e!iere ?7  0o>r-)>6e 9en/. A+ i+ notie?!e= t/e 0o>r-)>6e 9en/ /+ oine t/t t/e +i

o00ene

oe+

not

o00en

Arti!e+

1$

n

15

o0

t/e

Con+tit>tion. In Sowmithri Vishnu%s +e (+>r"= it /+ ?een /e! t/>+2

WWW.LIVELAW.IN WP(Crl.) 194/17 6

@T/o>6/ it i+ tr>e t/t t/e errin6 +o>+e+ /e no reme7 6in+t e/ ot/er 4it/in t/e on0ine+ o0 Setion $# o0 t/e Pen! Coe= t/t i+ to +7= t/e7 nnot ro+e>te e/ ot/er 0or >!ter7= e/ one /+  reme7 6in+t t/e ot/er >ner t/e ii! !4 0or iore on t/e 6ro>n o0 >!ter7. @A>!ter7 >ner t/e ii! !4 /+  4ier onnottion t/n >ner t/e Pen! Coe. I0 4e 4ere to et t/e r6>ment o0 t/e etitioner= Setion $# 4i!! ?e o?!iterte 0rom t/e +tt>te ?oo n >!tero>+ re!tion+ 4i!! /e  more 0ree !7 t/n no4. For t/en= it 4i!! ?e imo++i?!e to onit n7one o0 >!ter7 t !!. It i+ ?etter= 0rom t/e oint o0 ie4 o0 t/e intere+t+ o0 t/e +oiet7= t/t t !e+t  !imite !++ o0 >!tero>+ re!tion+/i i+ >ni+/?!e ?7 !4. St?i!it7 o0 mrri6e+ i+ not n ie! to ?e +orne. In Sowmithri Vishnu%s +e (+>r"= t/e Co>rt /+ !i em/+i+ on t/e 0mi!7 !t0orm n 0>rt/er oine t/t no i+rimintion /+ ?een rti+e. A+ inite in o>r er!ier orer= 4e / note t/t t/e roi+ion +eem+ >ite r/i n e+ei!!7= 4/en t/ere i+



+oiet!

rorite

t/t

reon+iere eret>!

ro6re++. t/e

re6r

+/i0t=

T/>+

er!ier

?ein6

6ener

/

n!7Je= 6ment+

4e

t/in

re>ire

it

to

?e

to

t/e

+oi!

ro6re++ion=

e>!it7

n

6ener

+en+itiit7.

T/t rt= t/ere /+ to ?e  i00erent in o0 0o>+ on t/e 00irmtie ri6/t on0erre on 4omen >ner Arti!e 15 o0 t/e Con+tit>tion. In ie4 o0 t/e 0ore+i= 4e t/in it rorite to re0er t/e mtter to  Con+tit>tion 9en/.

Let t/e er+ ?e

!e

o0

?e0ore

mini+trtie

t/e +ie

!erne 0or

C/ie0

)>+tie

on+tit>tion

o0

Ini

t/e

on

t/e

rorite

!r6er 9en/.

(C/etn :>mr" Co>rt M+ter

(*.S. Pr+/er" A++i+tnt Re6i+trr