An IPS officer has been asked to issue an unconditional public apology to her former husband and in-laws for the “physical and mental agony” they underwent after she filed multiple false criminal cases against them during a marital dispute. While ordering this, the Supreme Court also cancelled all the ongoing cases.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih also dissolved the marriage since the couple were separated since 2018. The court ordered that their daughter will stay with her mother and the husband and family members will be able to meet her.
In its verdict, the court said the husband had to spend 109 days and his father 103 days in jail due to criminal cases filed by the wife. “What they have suffered cannot be compensated in any way,” the court said, ordering the officer to tender a public apology.
“The woman and her parents shall tender an unconditional apology to her husband and his family members, which shall be published in the national edition of a well-known English and a Hindi newspaper,” said the judges.
This apology shall also be published and circulated on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other similar social media platforms within 3 days of the order, the judges said. It would not be construed as an admission of liability and shall have no effect on the legal rights, obligations or consequences arising under the law.
The court also asked the woman “not to use her position and power” or that of her colleagues to initiate any proceedings against the husband and his family. The husband was warned not to use her apology in any manner either.
The woman had filed separate criminal cases against the husband and his family and a parallel one in the family court for divorce and maintenance. Her husband too, had filed tit-for-tat cases. Besides, there were cases filed by third parties.
Both husband and wife had filed an application in the Supreme Court to transfer the cases to their respective jurisdiction.
