{"id":360812,"date":"2025-09-19T14:30:47","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=360812"},"modified":"2025-09-23T09:37:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T04:07:38","slug":"kerla-hc-no-cognizanceof-rape-under-s-376b-without-separated-wife-complaint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2025\/09\/19\/kerla-hc-no-cognizanceof-rape-under-s-376b-without-separated-wife-complaint\/","title":{"rendered":"S. 198-B CrPC bars Magistrate from taking cognizance of rape under S. 376-B IPC without complaint by separated wife: Kerala HC"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Kerala High Court:<\/span> The present petition was filed by the accused-husband under Article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001574971\" target=\"_blank\">227<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726967\" target=\"_blank\">Constitution<\/a> for quashing the proceedings against him for allegedly raping his wife while they were separated, thereby committing offences under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561703\" target=\"_blank\">376-B<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">Penal Code, 1860<\/a> (&#8216;IPC&#8217;) and Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001560359\" target=\"_blank\">31(1)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002829238\" target=\"_blank\">Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005<\/a> (&#8216;DV Act&#8217;). A Single Judge Bench of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">G. Girish, J.<\/span>, quashed the proceedings initiated against the husband on the ground that the cognizance was based on police report and not the wife&#8217;s complaint, contravening the mandate of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519446\" target=\"_blank\">198-B<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/a> (&#8216;CrPC&#8217;).<\/p>\n<h3>Background:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The prosecution submitted that the accused was the husband of the de facto complainant (&#8216;wife&#8217;). He had raped his wife on 16-12-2016, while they were separated, pursuant to a talaq executed on 02-11-2016. The wife was residing in the same house as the husband, as permitted by the order passed by the Judicial First-Class Magistrate, Malappuram, in a domestic violence complaint preferred by her. The prosecution alleged that on 25-12-2016, the husband had expelled the wife from his house, thereby violating the Magistrate&#8217;s order.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">However, the husband contended that the prosecution against him was not maintainable in view of the bar contained under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519446\" target=\"_blank\">198-B<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>. He further stated that the prosecution for the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001560359\" target=\"_blank\">31(1)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002829238\" target=\"_blank\">DV Act<\/a> before the Sessions Court was also not maintainable in view of the provisions contained under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519516\" target=\"_blank\">26(b)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Analysis and Decision:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court opined that for the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561703\" target=\"_blank\">376-B<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a> to be attracted, the marital status of the victim as the wife of the accused must be subsisting at the time when the offence was committed. The Court noted that in the present case, the accused had pronounced talaq on his wife and communicated the same to the Juma Masjid Committee concerned on 02-11-2016.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court observed that according to the personal law of the parties, divorce by way of talaq came into effect only on the expiry of 90 days from the date of pronouncement of talaq, therefore, the marital status of the de facto complainant was as the wife of the accused on 16-12-2016, when she was allegedly subjected to sexual intercourse against her consent by her husband.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court noted that as per Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519446\" target=\"_blank\">198-B<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>, the cognizance of an offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561703\" target=\"_blank\">376-B<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a> could only be taken by the Court concerned upon a complaint filed by the wife, and by no other manner. The Court observed that the accused&#8217;s prayer to quash the proceedings was justified as the Magistrate had taken cognizance of the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001561703\" target=\"_blank\">376-B<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726960\" target=\"_blank\">IPC<\/a> upon the final report filed by the Malappuram Police, against the legal embargo contained in Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519446\" target=\"_blank\">198-B<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further observed that for the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001560359\" target=\"_blank\">31(1)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002829238\" target=\"_blank\">DV Act<\/a>, the accused allegedly committed the offence by forcefully expelling his wife from his house on 25-12-2016, which was nine days after his alleged act of rape on 16-12-2016. Since the act of expulsion was a distinct offence, which took place later, the Investigating Agency was wrong in registering the same FIR in respect of both the offences. The Court further held that the offence under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001560359\" target=\"_blank\">31(1)<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002829238\" target=\"_blank\">DV Act<\/a> was a matter to be dealt with by the Judicial First-Class Magistrate concerned and therefore, the prosecution initiated against the accused in respect of the said offence was also liable to be quashed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Consequently, the Court, while allowing the petition, quashed the proceedings against the accused under both the offences on the files of the Fast Track Special Court, Manjeri and clarified that it would in no way preclude the institution of prosecution proceedings against him in conformity with the procedures prescribed by law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\">X v. State of Kerala, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/28gG54Pp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 SCC OnLine Ker 7738<\/a>, decided on 12-09-2025<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the Accused:<\/span> Thareeq Anver, K.C. Khamarunnisa, K. Shamsudheen, Arun Chand, Rassal Janardhanan A., Govind G. Nair, Shinto Mathew Abraham<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For the Respondents:<\/span> Pushpalatha M.K., Sr. Public Prosecutor.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Constitution of India &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product\/the-constitution-of-india-coat-pocket-edition?products_id=100647\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product\/the-constitution-of-india-coat-pocket-edition?products_id=100647\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/ebcwebstore\/images\/the-constitution-of-india-coat-pocket-edition-Gopal-Sankaranarayanan-ebc-front-cover.JPG\" alt=\"Constitution of India\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294438\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Penal Code, 1860 &nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"penal code, 1860\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/penal-code-1860-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Code of Criminal Procedure\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;The Magistrate had taken cognizance of the offence under Section 376-B IPC upon the final report filed by the Malappuram Police, against the legal embargo contained in Section 198-B CrPC.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67011,"featured_media":360818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[89449,2523,21092,36021,32129,2572,89451,89454,89453,89450,89452,13261],"class_list":["post-360812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-justice-g-girish","tag-Kerala_High_Court","tag-marital-rape","tag-marital-status","tag-police-report","tag-Rape","tag-section-198-b-crpc","tag-section-26b-crpc","tag-section-311-dv-act","tag-section-376-b-ipc","tag-separated-wife","tag-talaq"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - 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