HARDEEP SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present petition is filed for quashing of FIR No. 68 dated 21.7.2011 under Sections 307/498A/34, IPC read with Section 31 of Domestic Violence Act, 2005 registered at P.S. Fathudhinga, District Kapurthala. Learned Counsel for the petitioners has vehemently argued that statement of the victim was recorded under Section 164, Cr. P.C, however, copy thereof is not available with the petitioners. He further states that matter is being investigated by the police; his only grievance is that from the assertions made in the FIR, offence under Section 307, IPC is not made out and police has no power to register a case under the Domestic Violence Act. He, however, fairly admits that from the assertions made in the FIR, offence under Section 498A, IPC is made out.

(2.) FIR in question was registered for offences punishable under Sections 307/498A, IPC read with Section 31 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

(3.) From the perusal of Section 31, I have no hesitation to hold that Magistrate shall take cognizance of the offence if final or interim protection order passed under the Act has been violated. In the present case, FIR is silent as to whether any protection order was ever passed under the Act and same was violated. Therefore, it seems that no offence under Section 31 of the Act is made out. However, since police is investigating the matter and it is still to be found out by the police as to whether offence under Section 307, IPC is also made out, I am not inclined to quash the FIR in question at the initial stage of the investigation for the offences punishable under Sections 307/498A/34, IPC.