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2025 DAILYLAW 43169 (KAR)

THE BRANCH MANAGER v. KRISTANA S/O PUNDALIK NAYAK AND ANR

MFA/200077/2020 · 2025-08-22

H P Sandesh, T M Nadaf

body2025

Judgment text

Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.

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D<49@53 <4 84 93A 523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 5285 523 8993::8=5684C<=7A847=523D8537GG<:<=>7G523935<5<7= 4 4@B2 523 B:8<C 935<5<7= <543:G <4 =75 C8<=58<=8;:3 8=D :<8;:3 57 ;3 D<4C<443D 8=D 523 8:53A=85<H3 B7C93=485<7= 868AD3D<43I7A;<58=5B7C93=485<7=(@A523A7=52397<=5 5285 523 A<D3A 7G 523 C757AB?B:3 684 27:D<=> 85 523 5<C3 7G 8BB<D3=5 8=D 523A3 684 =7 93A47= 8BB7C98=?<=> - 5 - 2<C 27:D<=> 8GG3B5<H3 DA<H<=> :<B3=B3 4 4@B2 523A3 <4 H<7:85<7=7G9A7H<4<7=47G 757A32<B:34B58=D;A38B27G 97:<B? B7=D<5<7=4 3=B3 523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? <4 =75 :<8;:35798?523B7C93=485<7= , 38AD A< 8=F8? 742< :38A=3D B7@=43: 89938A<=> G7A 523 8993::8=5 <= ( 7 !!!++ ! ! 8=D A< 7@F8:8>< 28=DA8J8=5 8IC8= :38A=3D B7@=43: 89938A<=>G7A5238993::8=5<= (7 !&!* !- * 75<B357A3497=D3=57 <423:D4@GG<B<3=5H<D3 7AD3A D853D *!% ! <= ( 7 !!!++ ! ! 75<B3 57 A3497=D3=5 7 <4 23:D 4@GG<B<3=5 H<D3 7AD3A D853D %!+ ! <= (7 !&!* !- $ A<8=F8? 742<:38A=3DB7@=43:H323C3=5:? 4@;C<553D5285855235<C37G8BB<D3=55238993::8=5684 ;3:76 % ?38A4 2<4 G8B5 284 ;33= 8DC<553D ;? 523 B:8<C8=5D@A<=>2<4BA7443I8C<=85<7=8=D<=53AC47G523 8DC<44<7= A3>8AD<=> 2<4 D853 7A ;<A52 23 684 ;3:76 % ?38A484 7=523 D853 7G 8BB<D3=5 5285 <4 57 ;3 9A3B<43 23 - 6 - 684+?38A4 C7=524847=523D8537G8BB<D3=58=D84 7=523D8537GG<:<=>7G523935<5<7=<37=!*!& !*4 4@B223<4<=B898;:357C8<=58<=523B:8<C935<5<7=<=523 8;43=B37G8=?=3I5GA<3=D285898A5523A<D3A7G523 C757AB?B:3 684 27:D<=> A<H<=> <B3=B3 8=D 85 523 5<C37G8BB<D3=5523A3684=793A47=27:D<=>H8:<DDA<H<=> :<B3=43 8BB7C98=?<=> 2<C <= 53AC4 7G 523 9A7H<4<7=4 7G 757A32<B:34B544@B2523A3<4H<7:85<7=7G9A7H<4<7=4 7G 757A 32<B:34 B58=D 52348C3 8C7@=557;A38B27G 97:<B? B7=D<5<7=4 4 4@B2 523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? <4 =75 :<8;:3 57 98? B7C93=485<7= 7= ;752 523 97<=54 7 8:47 5238C7@=5868AD3D;?523A<;@=8:<47=5232<>23A4<D3 8=D52348C3<4A3E@<A34<=53AG3A3=B38552328=D47G52<4 7@A5 BB7AD<=>:? 47@>25 57 8::76 523 89938: 8=D 435 84<D38=DD<4C<44523B:8<C935<5<7=84=75C8<=58<=8;:3<= 523 8:53A=85<H3 3I7=3A853 523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? GA7C 98?<=>B7C93=485<7= - 7 - & (@A523A<=5233H3=5523<=4@A8=B3B7C98=?<4 :<8;:3 57 A3D@B3 523 B7C93=485<7= 84 523 48C3 ;3<=> 3I7A;<58=5:?868AD3D + 3G@5<=> 523 4@;C<44<7=4 7G A< 7@F8:8>< 28=DA8J8=5 8IC8= :38A=3D B7@=43: 89938A<=> G7A 523 8993::8=5 <= ( 7 !&!* !- 6<52 8:: H323C3=B3 4@;C<553D 5285 527@>2 523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? ;3G7A3 A<;@=8:84B7=53=D3D52348<D8493B5284=76B7=53=D3D ;3G7A352<4 7@A52763H3AG8<:3D578DD@B38=?3H<D3=B3 57 5285 3GG3B5 57 4@;458=5<853 <54 B7=53=5<7= 3IB395 3I8C<=<=> <54 7GG<B3A 523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 284 =75 58J3=8=?98<=573I8C<=35238@527A<5<34GA7CA8=497A5 398A5C3=5 57 4@;458=5<853 523<A B:8<C 23 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 284 =75 G<:3D 8=? B7=5A8 3H<D3=B37AD7B@C3=5579A7H35238>37G523B:8<C8=58 45A8? 8DC<44<7= C8? =75 3=@A3 57 523 ;3=3G<5 7G 523 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 57 B7=53=D 5285 523 B:8<C 935<5<7=<543:G<4=75C8<=58<=8;:38428H<=>;33=G<:3D;?8 C<=7A6<527@58<D7G=3I5GA<3=D=52343B<AB@C458=B34 - 8 - 523 A<;@=8: 62<:3 8=463A<=> 523 97<=5 7G :<8;<:<5? 85 98A8>A892 * B7=4<D3A<=> 523 3=5<A3 C8553A 23:D 5285 523A3 <4 =7 ;A38B2 7G 97:<B? B7=D<5<7=4 8=D 8BB7AD<=>:? C8D3 523 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 84 :<8;:3 57 98? 523B7C93=485<7=62<B2D734=75B8::G7A8=?<=53AG3A3=B3 8552328=D47G52<4 7@A5 % 7 G8A 84 E@8=5@C 7G B7C93=485<7= <4 B7=B3A=3D A< 7@F8:8>< 28=DA8J8=5 8IC8= 6<52 8:: H323C3=B3 4@;C<553D 5285 523 A<;@=8: 284 58J3= 523 <=B7C385523A8537G4$!!!#93AC7=52DC<553D:? 523 8BB<D3=5 684 7G 523 ?38A !, 4 93A 523 B28A5 9A398A3D ;? 523 3>8: 3AH<B34 @527A<5? 523 <=B7C3 G7A !,<4G<I3D854+!!!#93AC7=5223<=F@A3D684- ?38A4855235<C37G8BB<D3=532844@GG3A3D5758:;7D? D<48;<:<5? 85 ,!0 23 A<;@=8: 3AA3D 57 27:D 5285 523 8993::8=5 284 4@458<=3D D<48;<:<5? 7=:? 57 523 3I53=5 7G !0<=523533527G3H<D3=B3;?523D7B57A23A3<=523 D7B57A 284 B:38A:? 45853D A3>8AD<=> 523 =3@A7:7><B8: B7=D<5<7= 7G 523 8993::8=5B:8<C8=5 8=D 28D ><H3= 523 - 9 - D<48;<:<5?85523A8537G,!057523627:3;7D?4<=B3523 <=F@A? 4@GG3A3D <4 57 523 ;A8<= 23 D<48;<:<5? 84 45853D <= 523B3A5<G<B8537GD<48;<:<5?8493AI523<=53::3B5@8: D<48;<:<5? 4276= 85 $0 <= A3493B5 7G 2<4 =3@A7:7><B8: B7=D<5<7= 8=D !0 <= H<36 7G 53=D3A=344 G7@=D 7= 523 <=F@A3D 4<53 8=D =@C;=344 7H3A 523 G8B3 7H3A8:: 523 9A343=5 D<48;<:<5? 4276= 57 ;3 ,$0 7G =3@A7:7><B8: B7=D<5<7=23D7B57A45853D52855238993::8=5B:8<C8=5<4 28H<=>238D8B238=D;7D?8B23328443H3A3><DD<=344 7= 8=D 7G53= 3 ;3B7C34 D39A3443D 7= 8=D 7G53=3 284:745<=53A345<=D7<=>2<4A7@5<=367AJ3284:7447G B7=B3=5A85<7=8=D23;3B7C34<AA<58;:347C35<C34=523 533527G3H<D3=B3;?523D7B57A5235A<;@=8:284G8<:3D57 B7=4<D3A 523 48C3 8=D 58J3= 523 D<48;<:<5? 85 !0 <3 ,AD 7G 523 D<48;<:<5? 45853D ;? 523 D7B57A 23 48C3<4 3AA7=37@48=DA3E@<A34A3B7=4<D3A85<7= - 7G8A84523B7C93=485<7=868AD3D@=D3A38B2 238D 8A3 7= 523 :763A 4<D3 8=D 523 48C3 A3E@<A34 A3B7=4<D3A85<7= 3IB395 C3D<B8: 3I93=434 BB7AD<=>:? 23 - 10 - 284 47@>25 57 D<4C<44 523 89938: G<:3D ;? 523 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3B7C98=?8=D8::7652389938:G<:3D;? 523B:8<C8=5<=@A3D ! 8H<=>238AD523:38A=3DB7@=43:89938A<=>G7A 523 98A5? 93A@43D ;752 89938: 9893A4 84 63:: 84 5A<8: 7@A5A3B7AD 23 97<=54 5285 8A<43 G7A 7@A B7=4<D3A85<7= 8A3 84G7::764/ 23523A 523 A<;@=8: <4 F@45<G<3D <= 27:D<=> 5285 523 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? <4 A3497=4<;:3 57 98? 523 B7C93=485<7=K 23523A 523 B7C93=485<7= 868AD3D ;? 523 A<;@=8: ;3G<5 6<52<= 523 3I9A344<7=F@45B7C93=485<7=<G523 8=463A <4 7523A6<43 623523A 523 48C3 A3E@<A34 8=? <=53AG3A3=B3 85 52328=D47G52<4 7@A5<4A3E@<A3DK , 23523A 523 8993::8=5#<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=?28H3C8D37@58B8435285 - 11 - 523 8993::8=5 684 C<=7A 84 7= 523 D8537GG<:<=>523935<5<7=K @A8=463A575238;7H397<=548A384@=D3A/ 7<=57 / =5238GG<AC85<H3 7<=57 / 8A5:?<=8GG<A8C5<H3 7<=57, / =523=3>85<H3 G7A523G7::76<=>/ , 7<=57/4B7@:D;3433=GA7C523A3B7AD4 527@>2 523 8993::8=5=4@A8=B3 7C98=? 284 58J3= <54 B7=53=5<7= 5285 523 A<D3A 7G 523 H32<B:3 684 27:D<=> 8=D523B:8<C8=5684;3:768>37G%?38A42763H3A523 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 284 =75 9A7D@B3D 8=? D7B@C3=5 57 4@;458=5<853 <54 B:8<C 7= ;752 523 B7@=54 27@>2 523 <=4@A8=B3 98A5<B@:8A4 8A3 9A7D@B3D 523 A<;@=8: 62<:3 8=463A<=>523E@345<7=7G:<8;<:<5?5798?523B7C93=485<7= 8598A8>A8927 *284B:38A:?23:D5285<=H<367G27:D<=> 523 :38A=<=> :<B3=43 523A3 <4 =7 E@345<7= 7G H<7:85<7= 7G 8=? 97:<B? B7=D<5<7= ;? 523 A3497=D3=5 7 23 A3497=D3=57 <35238993::8=5<=4@A8=B3B7C98=?284 - 12 - G8<:3D 57 3458;:<42 5285 523 A3497=D3=5 7 284 H<7:853D 523 97:<B? B7=D<5<7=4 8=D <= H<36 7G 523 H8:<D <=4@A8=B3 97:<B? 7G 523 7GG3=D<=> C757AB?B:3 6<52 523 8993::8=5<=4@A3A23<=4@A8=B3B7C98=?684C8D3:<8;:3 57 C8J3 >77D 523 B7C93=485<7= 868AD3D 3 G<=D =7 <=G<AC<5? <= 523 G<=D<=>4 7G 523 A<;@=8: BB7AD<=>:? 523 48C3 <4 8=463A3D 8>8<=45 523 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? * 7<=5 7,/ 7 G8A 84 523 B7=53=5<7= 7G 523 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? A3>8AD<=> 523 8>3 7G 523 8993::8=5 <4 B7=B3A=3D 23 <=4@A8=B3 B7C98=? 284 =75 9A7D@B3D 8=? D7B@C3=5 57 4@;458=5<853 523<A B7=53=5<7= 6<52A3493B5575234@>>345<7=4C8D3<=5233H<D3=B3(7A 523 4@>>345<7= A3>8AD<=> 523 D853 7G ;<A52 523A3 <4 =7 D7B@C3=5 G7A52B7C<=> 62<B2 <4 523 ;84<4 G7A 4@B2 4@>>345<7= 23 <=F@A3D 684 =75 B7=GA7=53D 6<52 8=? D7B@C3=5 57 4@997A5 523 4@>>345<7= = 523 8;43=B3 7G 8=? 4@B2 D7B@C3=5 <= 4@997A5 7G 523 4@>>345<7= <5 844@C34 84 8 A8=D7C 4@>>345<7= 8=D 8=? 8=463A 57 523 - 13 - 48<D E@345<7= 8C7@=54 57 45A8? 8DC<44<7= 84 523A3<4=7 G7@=D85<7= G7@=D G7A 523 48<D E@345<7= 57 9@5 57 523 6<5=344 <= 523 BA744 3I8C<=85<7= = 523 8;43=B3 7G 8=? D7B@C3=5 G7A 523 4@>>345<7= 57 9@5 <= 523 BA744 3I8C<=85<7= 63 G33: 5285 523 4@>>345<7= 8=D523 8=463A ><H3= 57 523 48<D 4@>>345<7= 6<:: =75 B7C3 57 523 8<D 7G 8993::8=5<=4@A8=B3B7C98=?57B7=53=D52855238993::8=5 684C<=7A855235<C37GG<:<=>7G523B:8<C935<5<7=23A3 <4 =7 ;843 G7A 523 48<D B7=53=5<7= (@A523AC7A3 523A3 <4 8;47:@53:? =7 <44@3 G7A52B7C<=> GA7C 523 F@D>C3=5 <= 53AC4 7G 523 B7=53=5<7= 7G 523 8993::8=5=4@A8=B3 7C98=?A3>8AD<=>5238>37G935<5<7=3A62<B2>73457523 A77547G523B8438493A5238993::8=5=4@A8=B3 7C98=? = 5285 H<36 7G 523 C8553A 523 97<=5 G7A B7=4<D3A85<7= A8<43D 23A3<= A3>8AD<=> 523 8>3 7G 523 <=F@A3D B:8<C8=5 8=463A3D8>8<=455238993::8=5=4@A8=B3 7C98=? $ 7<=5 7 / 7 G7A 84 B7C93=485<7= <4 B7=B3A=3D 4 A<>25:? B7=53=D3D ;? 523 :38A=3D B7@=43: 89938A<=>G7A5238993::8=5<= (7 !&!* !-?38A - 14 - 7G5238BB<D3=5684 !,493A523<=B7C3G<I3D@=D3A 523B28A59A398A3D;?5233>8:3AH<B34@527A<5?<=B7C3 G<I3D 85 4+!!!# G7A 523 ?38A !, <= A3493B5 7G @=4J<::3D:8;7@A238993::8=5<=F@A3D6848DC<553D:?- ?38A4 85 523 5<C3 7G 8BB<D3=5 3 684 67AJ<=> 84 8= 8>A<B@:5@A<4576<=H<367G<=F@A<344@GG3A3D57523;A8<= A34@:5<=><=D<48;<:<5?7G,$023<47@57G67AJ8493A523 8993::8=5 763H3A 58J<=> <=57 B7=4<D3A85<7= 7G 523 3H<D3=B3 7G 523 D7B57A 623A3<= 523 985235<B B7=D<5<7= 7G 523 8993::8=5 284 ;33= A3G:3B53D 47 8:47 523 D<48;<:<5? B3A5<G<B853 84 93A I 23 A<;@=8: G3:: <= 3AA7A 57 B7=4<D3A523D<48;<:<5?<=9A793A93A493B5<H323A<;@=8: 3AA7=37@4:? 58J3= 523 D<48;<:<5? 85 !0 <3 ,AD 7G 523 5758: D<48;<:<5? 62<B2 <4 8BB7AD<=> 57 @4 @=4@458<=8;:3 <= :8623=523<=F@A?284;33=4@GG3A3D;?5238993::8=5 57238DA34@:5<=><=;A8<=<=F@A?8=DB7=43E@3=5:?A34@:5<=> <= D<4G@=5<7=<=> 7G523 ;7D?85 523A8537G ,$0<=H7:H<=> GA3E@3=5 238D8B234 ><DD<=344 :744 7G B7=B3=5A85<7= <AA<58;:3 B7=D<5<7= 3 G33: 523 D<48;<:<5? 7@>25 57 28H3 - 15 - ;33=58J3=85523A8537G $057523<=53::3B5@8:D<48;<:<5? 8=D$07@57G!0G7A523GA8B5@A3<=F@A<345758:,!0= 53AC47G523:86:8<DD76=;?5237=.;:393I 7@A5G7A 8=?5758:D<48;<:<5?3IB33D<=> !0523<=F@A3D3=5<5:3DG7A 8DD<=>*!057523<=B7C3575233I<45<=><=B7C384523A3 <4D3BA38437G2<438A=<=>B898B<5?52A7@>27@5:<G3<=H<36 7GD<48;<:<5?4@GG3A3D57523627:3;7D?=H<367G<=B7C3 G7A523?38A !,G<I3D854+!!!8=DD<48;<:<5?58J3=85 ,!08=D84523B7C93=485<7=868AD3D@=D3A38B2238D <4 7= 523 :763A 4<D3 523 48C3 A3E@<A34 A3B7=4<D3A85<7= 8=D A3#D353AC<=85<7= BB7AD<=>:? 7= A3#D353AC<=85<7= 523B7C93=485<7=B7C3457/ 8<=8=D4@GG3A<=> # 4$!!!!# 3D<B8:3I93=434 # 4*-,+# , 553=D8=5B28A>34 # 4,!!!!# =@A4<=>3I5A8 =7@A<42C3=557B28A>3 8=DB7=H3?8=B3B28A>34 * 7447GG@5@A338A=<=>4 # 4&,$!*!# +!!!L*!0I I%I,!0 $ 7447G<=B7C3D@A<=> :8<D@993A<7D+!!!I, # 4 !!!# & 7447G8C3=<5<34 # 4$!!!!# ,-. /0 ' 7@=D3D7GG57 # 4%,$ !!# - 16 - & BB7AD<=>:? 523 8993::8=5B:8<C8=5 <4 3=5<5:3D 57 8 4@C 7G 4%,$ !!# 84 8>8<=45 4 + !!# 868AD3D ;? 523 A<;@=8: = A3#D353AC<=85<7= 523 8993::8=5 <4 3=5<5:3D 57 4&!+-++#3=28=B3D B7C93=485<7=<5428::B8AA?85523A8537G&093A8==@C G7A523D8537G935<5<7=5<::<54A38:<485<7= + (7A 523 G7A>7<=> A3847=4 63 8=463A3D 523 97<=54 A8<43D G7A B7=4<D3A85<7= 8BB7AD<=>:? 4@9A8 8=D 9A7B33D579844523G7::76<=>/ 23 89938: G<:3D ;? 8993::8=5=4@A8=B3 7C98=?<=89938:<= (7 !!!++ ! !<4 D<4C<443D 23 8C7@=5 <= D3974<5 <= 523 48<D 89938: 6<:: ;3 5A8=4C<553D 57 523 A<;@=8: G7A526<52 G7AD<4;@A43C3=5 23 89938: <= ( 7 !&!* !- <4 8::763D <= 98A5 523A3;? C7D<G?<=> 8=D - 17 - 3=28=B<=> 523 B7C93=485<7= 8A<4<=> 7@5 7G F@D>C3=5 8=D 868AD D853D -!& !- <= 7%&& !*98443D;?DD:<45A<B5 8=D 344<7=4 @D>3 M 7 <F8?89@A8 23 8993::8=5=4@A8=B3 7C98=? <= ( 7 !!!++ ! ! 8=D A3497=D3=5 <= ( 7 !&!* !- 428:: D3974<5 ;8:8=B3 A3# D353AC<=3D B7C93=485<7= 7G 4%,$ !!# 8:7=>6<528BBA@3D<=53A34585523A8537G&0 GA7C 523 D853 7G 935<5<7= 5<:: <54 A38:<N85<7= ;3G7A3523B7=B3A=3DA<;@=8:6<52<=&633J4 GA7C523D8537GA3B3<957GB79?7G52<47AD3A 97= D3974<5 %!0 7G 523 B7C93=485<7= 8C7@=5 8:7=> 6<52 8BBA@3D <=53A345 428:: ;3 D3974<53D<=8=?<=53A345;38A<=>G<I3DD3974<5 7G 8=? 85<7=8:<N3D 8=J G7A 8 93A<7D 7G , ?38A46<52A3=368;:3B:8@43G7A,C7A353AC4 38B2,?38A423;8=J427@:D=7593AC<58=? - 18 - :78= 7= 523 G<I3D D3974<5 8C7@=5 6<527@5 8= 899A79A<853 7AD3A <44@3D <= 5285 A3493B5 ;? 523B7=B3A=3DA<;@=8: 77AD3A8457B745 1' $!& # 1' $& # <457/:7/+ /