Gujarat High Court Judge Justice JB Pardiwala has observed that modern marriages fixed on Facebook are bound to fail.

Justice Pardiwala made this comment while hearing a petition filed under Section 482 of Criminal Procedure Code for quashing FIR filed under Sections 498A, 323, 504 read with Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 3 and 5 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Facts

X got married with Y on 8th February 2015. According to the first informant (X), she came in contact with Y [accused no.1 in FIR] on Facebook and thereafter, they started meeting with each other. They got married and within two months thereafter problems cropped up in their marital life. The husband [Y] is not a party in the proceedings before the High Court. However, the father-in- law, mother-in-law and brother-in-law have also been arraigned as the accused. They filed the present petition to quash the proceedings against them. But he allegations in the FIR are, by and large, against the husband.

During the hearing Advocate for X submitted that the applicants may not be concerned with the dispute between the husband and wife. In such circumstances, he submitted that the FIR may be quashed so far as the applicants are concerned. After recording this submission, the Court has quashed the FIR against them.

The Court also requested that the parties did try to settle the matter; however, the settlement could not be arrived at.

“I am still of the view that the parties should explore the possibility of settlement and put an end to the marriage with consent. Both the sides are young. Once the marriage is dissolved, they can think about their future avenues in life”, said the Court.