Order of acquittal ought not be interfered with lightly, says SC
New Delhi(PTI): An order of acquittal ought not be interfered with lightly, the Supreme Court has said while restoring the exoneration of a man accused of subjecting his wife to cruelty.
The apex court observed that the appellate court must deal with every reason, which weighed with the court concerned while recording acquittal, before setting aside such order.
A bench of justices U U Lalit and S R Bhat set aside the March 2019 judgement of the Madras High Court which had restored the order convicting the man for alleged offence under section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with husband or his relative subjecting a married woman to cruelty.
"The judgment under appeal has not set out any reason why the order of acquittal recorded under section 498-A of the IPC was required to be set aside," the bench said.
"It is a settled law that an order of acquittal ought not to be interfered with lightly and before setting aside acquittal, the appellate court must deal every reason which weighed with the concerned court while recording acquittal. No such exercise was undertaken by the High Court," the top court said.
The bench passed the order while hearing the cross appeals filed by the original complainant and the accused challenging the high court verdict.
The high court had acquitted the accused of the charge under section 494 of the IPC, which deals with marrying again during the lifetime of husband or wife, and had restored his conviction for the alleged offence under section 498-A of the IPC.
The apex court also dealt with the challenge raised before it by the complainant in so far as acquittal of the accused under section 494 of the IPC is concerned.
"Having gone through the record, we see no reason to entertain any challenge as against such acquittal," the bench said.
"Consequently, we accept the appeal preferred by the accused, set aside the order passed by the high court and restore the order of acquittal in respect of offence punishable under section 498-A as recorded by the appellate court," the bench said.
According to the prosecution, the accused and the complainant were engaged in 1987 and later, they exchanged rings and lived together as husband and wife.
It was alleged that in 1989, the accused pressured her to abort child but she gave birth to a child.
The prosecution had claimed that she tried to live with the accused, but he refused to take her. She filed a suit to declare herself as the wife of the accused and also for an injunction restraining him from marrying another woman.
The suit was decreed, declaring her as the wife of the accused and restrained him from marrying another woman.
The man thereafter preferred an appeal and subsequently, married the other woman after which the complainant lodged a complaint against him for alleged offences, including under sections 498-A and 494 of the IPC.
A charge sheet was filed against the accused in the case before a judicial magistrate who convicted him for the offences under sections 494 and 498-A of the IPC.
The judgement delivered by the judicial magistrate was challenged before the sessions court which partly allowed the appeal by setting aside his conviction for the offence under section 498-A of the IPC.
However, the sessions court confirmed his conviction for the offence under section 494 of the IPC. The matter thereafter reached the high court.
The high court had noted in the verdict that the complainant had got a decree from a competent civil court that she was the wife of the accused and though he has filed a second appeal, there was no stay granted.
It had also noted that the prosecution has failed to prove that the accused had married the other woman.
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KMES Institutions shine in SSLC result, continue four-decade legacy of education in rural Karkala
Karkala: KMES Institutions of Education at Kukkundooru in Karkala taluk has recorded outstanding results in the 2025-26 SSLC and PUC examinations, continuing a four-decade educational journey that began with just 22 kindergarten students and no building of its own.
The institution secured a 100 per cent result in the SSLC examinations, with all 43 students passing the examination this year.
Muhammad Arman Shahid emerged as the school topper by scoring 619 marks out of 625, securing 99 per cent and also ranking sixth at the state level. He scored full marks in Kannada, Hindi, Mathematics and Social Science.
Krithika V. Nayak secured the second position in the school with 607 marks and 97.12 per cent, while Arhan stood third with 605 marks and 96.8 per cent.
Out of the 43 students, 21 passed with distinction, 19 secured first class, two students obtained second class and one student passed in third class. Fourteen students scored above 90 per cent.
The institution also performed strongly in the PUC examinations. The Science stream recorded a 100 per cent result, with all 44 students passing, while Commerce secured a 98 per cent pass percentage.
Twelve students scored full marks in different subjects, including Mathematics.
In Commerce, Deeksha Acharya topped the college with 588 marks, while Harshitha H. Kini secured the second position with 581 marks.
In Science, Naveen B. Nayak emerged as topper with 586 marks, followed closely by Sameeksha Moily and Aifa Nidha, who both secured 585 marks.
Speaking about the achievement, High School head teacher Shrimati Patkar said the institution has always focused on supporting academically weak students through affordable education and free special classes.
“Our ambition is to provide quality education even to students who struggle in studies. The fees are very low, and free coaching classes are conducted. I have worked here for 28 years and have always found the atmosphere supportive of education,” she said.
Primary School head teacher Lolita Zeena D’Silva appreciated the dedication of the teaching staff and said the school encourages students not only to achieve high marks but also to become role models.
PU College Principal Balakrishna Rao said the institution focuses on value-based education and overall personality development.
“The aim is to help students succeed not only academically but also in cultural activities, sports and leadership. We encourage qualities such as patience, tolerance and discipline,” he said.
Rao also credited the institution’s growth to the support of founders K.S. Mohammed Masood and K.S. Nissar Ahmed, along with President K.S. Imtiaz Ahmed.
Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Ahmed said the institution was built on the dream of making quality education accessible to financially backward families in rural areas.
He said the guidance and encouragement of his elder brothers, Mohammed Masood and Nissar Ahmed, along with the contribution of teachers, students and parents, helped transform the institution into a model educational centre.
The KMES Institutions trace their roots back to 1984, when they were founded by senior social activists Haji P.M. Khan, K.S. Nazeer Ahmed and Haji A.S. Rashid Haider.
The institution initially functioned from the Government Urdu School premises as it did not have a building of its own. Classes began with only 22 students in lower kindergarten and two teachers.
Later, under the leadership of K.S. Mohammed Masood and with continuous financial and moral support from non-resident businessman K.S. Nissar Ahmed, the institution gradually expanded.
In 1993, the school shifted to its own building and began conducting classes from LKG to Class 5.
As student admissions increased, Nissar Ahmed personally funded the construction of three additional classrooms to address infrastructure shortages.
The institution’s new school building was completed in 1997, while the PU College building was constructed in 2001.
From humble beginnings in a borrowed building to producing state-level rank holders and consistent academic results, the KMES Institutions have grown into one of the prominent educational centres in the Karkala region.
