ALLAH BUX Versus THE STATE

1. This is an application under section 561-A, Cr. P. C. to quash the proceedings pending against the applicant under section 420, P. P. C. In the Court of Additional City Magistrate, Hyderabad. The parties are related to each other. Applicant No. 1 is Disband of applicant No. 2 while applicants Nos. 3 and 4 are others of applicant No. 1. Niamat Hussain filed a complaint, the Court of Additional City Magistrate, Hyderabad alleging at the applicants had come to Hyderabad and requested him to ange for a piece of land as they intended to settle there. He made the necessary arrangement. Applicants Nos. 1 and 2 had three grown-up daughters. Applicants Nos. 3 and 4 arranged his betrothal with one of the daughters of applicants 1 and 2. On sat occasion he gave clothes, ornaments and Rs. 3,000 in cash after some time the applicants stealthily left the place where they had settled and returned to Karachi.

2. Against this complaint the present application was filed on the ground that no criminal offence had been made out and therefore, the entertainment of the complaint by the learned Magistrate was abuse of the process of the Court. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties as well as the State and I am of the view that no offence of cheating has been committed. There is nothing in the complaint to show even if the allegation are true, that the applicants had any dishonest intention at the inception of the agreement between the parties to give one of the girls in marriage to Niamat Hussain. The basic ingredients o deception is lacking in the present case. The mere fact that subsequently the applicants changed their mind and declined to give the girl in marriage does not necessarily mean they had dishonest intention at the time when the agreement was entered into.

3. In the circumstances, the entertainment of the complaint by the learned Magistrate is abuse of the process of the Court. The proceedings are, therefore, quashed.

4. Petition accepted.