NEHA ARORA Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the matter stems from a matrimonial dispute for which the petitioner (wife) had initiated proceedings in Lucknow under Section 498 I.P.C. amongst other sections, proceedings under Section 125 Cr.P.C. and also under Section 12 of the Domestic Violence Act in 2017 against her husband Shri Varun Trikha. Learned counsel submits that, the case that has been instituted before the Courts at Shillong by the opp. Parties under sections 420 IPC and other related sections, is a counterblast to the cases filed in Lucknow, just to cause undue harassment to the petitioner. Learned counsel further submits that the case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Shillong, being without any substance has falsely implicated the petitioner when in fact, the said amounts of money deposited in the bank account of the petitioner, were in furtherance of commercial transactions of her husband himself, which the petitioner had no part of.

(2.) In the course of hearing, Mr. M.F. Qureshi, learned counsel for the opposite parties No. 4 and 5 interjects, to submit that there is still scope for settlement between the parties and this is an option to which the opposite parties are open to. The learned counsel for the petitioner also does not dispute this, and submits that the petitioner also is open to the idea of exploring the possibility of an out of court settlement. At this juncture, the learned counsels for the parties have jointly prayed that the matter be sent for mediation to the Mediation Cell of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority at Shillong to facilitate the same.

(3.) I have heard learned counsel for the parties. In view of the consensus, which is a welcome development, to explore the possibility of settlement by mediation, it is hereby directed that the parties appear before the Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority along with all the materials concerned, who will then initiate the process of mediation by the Mediation Cell of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority.