Dancing In Pub Or Wearing Revealing Clothes Doesn't Make Woman 'Bad': Karnataka High Court In Dowry Case
While hearing an amendment application to a quashing plea arising from a dowry harassment case, the Karnataka High Court verbally questioned the husband's attempt to bring on record certain documents regarding the estranged wife's past life and her lifestyle.
The single judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna opined that a woman who lives a fast-paced life need not necessarily be a difficult person to live with.
Today, the senior counsel C.V Nagesh, appearing for the petitioner husband and parents, sought the court's permission to bring on record certain documents and correspondence against the respondent wife.
“Let these documents go along with the petition. Kindly imagine this situation, suppose I file the documents, correspondence, tape recordings, her photographs with four or five other boys, and she dancing in the nightclub with skimpy dresses...”, the counsel tried to explain the relevance of documents in his client's possession.
At this juncture, the court paused the counsel and clarified as follows:
“What's wrong with it? If girls wear revealing clothes, can they be bad? Just because she lets herself loose, doesn't mean she is bad. If she dances in a nightclub or a pub, that's fine...”
Senior Advocate Lakshmi Iyengar, appearing for the respondent wife, intervened the discussion and submitted that “unfortunate submissions are being made by the petitioner”.
The judge observed that it was unnecessary to bring up the past life or past affairs of the woman, especially if it is before her marriage.
When Justice Nagaprasanna enquired if the woman had indulged in affairs out of wedlock, the petitioner's counsel answered in the affirmative. He also alleged that his wife led a fast-paced life, which was difficult to keep up with.
“Would your Lordship say that I should live my life with a characterless lady”, submitted the senior counsel.
The court, however, expressed a different viewpoint about judging a woman's character based on her lifestyle:
“It's the husband's personal perception. But a lady who leads a fast life is difficult to live with is not digestible. The allegations against you are different ...”
Senior Counsel Lakshmi Iyengar added that her client had no shame in any of the documents that the petitioner intends to produce.
Afterwards, the court allowed the interim order of stay on proceedings against the petitioners to continue and listed the connected matters on 27th March.
Case Title: Shahshank C v. State of Karnataka & Anr.
Case No: CRL.P 3124/2025 & Connected Matter