Dowry death case cannot be quashed based on settlement between parties- Delhi High Court

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Case registered for dowry death of a wife cannot be quashed on the basis of settlement between accused and complainant, the Delhi High Court recently held while refusing to quash the first information report (FIR) registered against accused-husband after his wife died by suicide allegedly due to harassment for dowry [Dalbir Singh and Ors v State GNCT of Delhi and Anr].

"In the present case a woman has committed suicide within five months of the marriage due to the harassment caused by the husband and his family members and the offence punishable under Section 304-B IPC is not only a grave and heinous offence but an offence against the society actuated by the social evil of demand of dowry, thus needs deterrence and, therefore, cannot be quashed on the basis of settlement arrived at between the accused and the complainant,” the Court said.