In a remarkable legal development, the Karnataka High Court has stayed the investigation into a case against a man who was alleged to have prevented his wife from eating French fries after the birth of their child in the United States. The decision, made by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, deemed the allegations as trivial and not worth pursuing further, describing the complaint as an abuse of the legal process.
The complaint, filed by the man’s wife, included allegations that he had restricted her from eating French fries, rice, and meat shortly after their child’s delivery. The husband, who is employed in the United States, had faced a Look Out Circular (LOC) which barred him from returning to his job, thus causing a significant disruption to his professional life.
The man petitioned the Karnataka High Court to stay the investigation, arguing that the complaint was frivolous. His lawyer highlighted that the LOC issued against him was unnecessary and obstructed his ability to fulfill his work obligations.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, in his ruling, found the allegations to be minor and not warranting a legal investigation. “Allowing any investigation against the husband would become an abuse of the process of law and putting a premium on the allegations of the wife that she was not given to eat French fries at the relevant point of time,” remarked Justice Nagaprasanna. The judge issued an interim order to stay all investigations related to the husband and granted him permission to return to his job in the US.
The court also criticized the use of the LOC in this context, calling it an abuse of the legal system. This ruling reflects a broader concern about ensuring that legal procedures are not misused for trivial disputes.
The court had previously stayed the investigation against the man’s parents, who were also named in the complaint. The husband’s petition indicated that the allegations were not only frivolous but had also caused undue harm to his career and personal life. He countered the claims by mentioning that during their stay in the US, his wife had made him perform all household chores, which she allegedly did not acknowledge.
This case highlights the need for careful consideration before legal action is taken on seemingly trivial matters. The Karnataka High Court’s decision underscores the importance of not allowing the legal system to be used for disputes that do not merit serious judicial intervention.