Delhi High Court Discourages Routine Perjury Pleas in Matrimonial Cases

The Delhi High Court advises against habitual use of perjury pleas in matrimonial disputes to settle personal scores. Justice Amit Mahajan emphasized that using section 340 of the CrPC on mere suspicion to harass the opposing party should be discouraged. The court upheld reduced maintenance of Rs 12,000 for the wife.

In an effort to curb the misuse of judicial proceedings, the Delhi High Court has urged litigants in matrimonial cases to refrain from routinely filing perjury pleas as a means to satiate personal animosities. The court underscored that such actions make a mockery of the justice system.

Justice Amit Mahajan asserted that the growing trend of parties embroiled in matrimonial disputes to initiate proceedings under section 340 of the Criminal Procedure Code based on unfounded suspicions is problematic. He stated that such practices needed to be discouraged to maintain the integrity of the judicial process.

The remarks came in a case involving maintenance payments where the family court had reduced the wife's maintenance and initiated perjury proceedings against her on her estranged husband's claim of false affidavit about her income. Justice Mahajan noted that inquiries under section 340 should only be conducted in clear-cut cases of falsehood.

(With inputs from agencies.)