Research › Search › Judgment
High Court of Karnataka · body
2025 DAILYLAW 63577 (KAR)
SONABAI v. UMESH AND ORS
MFA/203607/2024 · 2025-09-10
H P Sandesh, T M Nadaf
body2025
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 63577 (KAR) · dailylaw.ai ]
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 63577 (KAR) · dailylaw.ai ]
Judgment text
Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
- 1 -
! ! "#! "#
!! $%& '( !! )*+
$%&
'
(
! "
#
$% & '()
'
! # $"
)(
Digitally signed by BASALINGAPPA SHIVARAJ DHUTTARGAON Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
- 2 -
$ '&
'
$"
)( ! *
)+,-#
)
$
'&
'
$
" )( ! * )
(-#
( *
* ,
+(
! & *. *(. $-(
)$#
* * $ ,)!#*
#
*
,$ &&* #
$ * & ,(
,$
&
&*
*
- 3 -
)*+'
(
$% & '() '
! # $
"
)(
! &
#
$ '&
'
$
"
), ! *
)+,-#
$
'&
'
$
" ), ! * )$
(-#
) *
* ,
+(
(
- 4 -
! *). "*(.
$,,
$#
* * $ ,)!#*
&
*
/012 * & ,(
& /,$
*
* *
&
' ' 3 &
3 & *
- 5 -
# !'3 & *#
*/(-$(4567289:;;9<<:=2>=501:=?9 ?/@;:=7:=A*/)+,$(4567289:;;9<<:=2> ?<:4@:=2?:<<4=B4=C09524/=289D0AB@9=2:=A:E:1AA:29A ,) 4=
/,,$ ;:559A 67 289 AA<
9=4/1
4F4<&0AB9:=A&*
:=AAA<
:2:<:601:B4 !G/1 58/12 H289 1460=:<I# /= 289 <4:64<427 :5 E9<< :5 C0:=20@/G?/@;9=5:24/=
9:1A 14/8:@@9A 6A0< "0:70@ <9:1=9A ?/0=59< :;;9:14=B G/1 289 :;;9<<:=2 4= * /(-$( :=A 14 :=D4F :24< <9:1=9A ?/0=59< G/1 195;/=A9=2/4A9 /1A91 A:29A -( =/24?9 2/ 195;/=A9=2/5:=A)45A45;9=59AE428 ) 9:1A
14 :=D:7 :24< <9:1=9A ?/0=59< :;;9:14=B G/1 289 :;;9<<:=2 4= * /)+,$( :=A
@219924:24<<9:1=9A?/0=59<G/1195;/=A9=2/):=A
14 14/8:@@9A 6A0< "0:70@ <9:1=9A ?/0=59< G/1
- 6 -
195;/=A9=2 /( 4A9 /1A91 A:29A ,( =/24?9 2/ 195;/=A9=2/5:=A45A45;9=59AE428 ( 8/0B8 289 * /)+,$( E:5 G4<9A 69G/19 <9:1=9A 4=B<9 &0AB9 4= F49E /G :;;9:< G4<9A 67 =501:=?9
/@;:=7;9=A4=B69G/19284569=?8289:;;9:< 8:5 699= 21:=5G9119A 2/ 2845 69=?8 G/1 A45;/5:< ??/1A4=B<7 6/28 289 :;;9:<5 E919 2:J9= 0; G/1 G4=:< A45;/5:<E428289?/=59=2/G<9:1=9A?/0=59<:;;9:14=BG/1 289;:12495
14 14/8:@@9A 6A0< "0:70@ <9:1=9A ?/0=59< :;;9:14=B G/1 289 :;;9<<:=2 4= * /(-$( F989@9=2<7 506@4229A 28:2 289 1460=:< 8:5 G:4<9A 2/ ?/=54A91 289 ?/=214602/17 =9B<4B9=?9 /= 289 ;:12/G:02/14?J58:E/E9F91G:529=9A2899=2419<4:64<427 /=289B//A5?:114:B94?89128/0B8289?8:1B9589928:5 699=G4<9A:B:4=526/28289A14F915 + 8/0B85509/8:5699=G1:@9A19B:1A4=B 1:58 :=A =9B<4B9=2 A14F4=B /G 289 A14F915 /G 6/28 289 F984?<958/E9F91E84<9:=5E914=B289455092895:@945
- 7 -
89<A H;:12<7 4= :GG41@:24F9I 8/<A4=B 28:2 289 A14F91 /G 289 </11745195;/=546<9G/1289=9B<4B9=2;:1J4=B:=AG:529=9A 2899=2419<4:64<427/=2894=50191/G2895:4A</117 /G:1:5 289C0:=20@45?/=?91=9A28/0B80=A91289?9124G4?:29/G A45:64<427 :2K,49289A45:64<427E:5 52:29A:2L 602 289 1460=:< 8:5 ?/=54A919A 289 5:@9 :2 L :=A 2:J9=4=?/@9:25$;@:=A:AA9ALG02019 ;1/5;9?25 :=A :E:1A9A : 80B9 ?/@;9=5:24/= /G 5+$2/E:1A5 H /55 /G*02019=?/@9I E84?8 45 F917 84B8 :=A 9K/1642:=2 / :<5/ 289 ?/@;9=5:24/= :E:1A9A 0=A91 :<< 89:A5 :19 9K?9554F9 :=A 19C04195 19?/=?4<4:24/=??/1A4=B<75/0B822/:<</E289:;;9:<:=A 19A0?9289?/@;9=5:24/=67@/A4G74=B289D0AB@9=2:=A :E:1A;:559A672891460=:< , 9G024=B289506@4554/=5/G289<9:1=9A?/0=59< G/1289:;;9<<:=2 14 :=D99F:24<<9:1=9A?/0=59<4=* /)+,$( E428 :<< F989@9=?9 506@425 28:2 289 1460=:< :G291 ?/=54A914=B 289 9=2419 @:2914:< /= 19?/1A E84<9 :=5E914=B 45509 / ;1/;91<7 ?/=54A919A 289 ?:59
- 8 -
:=A?/@92/:14B82?/=?<054/=28:24245289A14F91/G289 4?891 </117 E8/ 45 195;/=546<9 G/1 19?J<955 ;:1J4=B 2891967 F4/<:29A 0<9 /G 289 /:A 9B0<:24/=5 -- 89 ?8:1B955;9?4G4?:<<7 4=F/J9A :B:4=52289A14F91 /G 289 4?891:5;91 9?24/=/G/2/1984?<95?2E84?845 ;0=458:6<90=A91 9?24/=)/G=A4:=9=:<
/A9!
# = 28959 ?41?0@52:=?95 289 1460=:< 8:5 ?/=54A919A 289 G:?2 28:2 289 A14F918:5 ;:1J9A 289 F984?<9 4= C09524/= 4= A:=B91/05;/5424/=/=;06<4?;<:?95/:52/?:059A:=B91 :=A?:059/65210?24/=/10=A094=?/=F9=49=?92/289/2891 05915 /G 289 ;06<4? 1/:A :=A 8:5 14B82<7 ?/@9 2/ 289 ?/=?<054/= 28:2 42 45 289 A14F91 /G 289 </117 E8/ 45 195;/=546<9 G/1 =9B<4B9=2 :?25 E84?8 8:5 1950<29A 4= :??4A9=2 E89194= 289 :;;9<<:=2 8:5 5052:4=9A 59F919 4=D01495 4=?<0A4=B :@;02:24/= /G <9G2 <9B :6/F9 J=99 E428 520@; 69</E , ?@ 8/0B8 K, ?<9:1<7 58/E5 28:2LA45:64<4272/289E8/<96/A7602289:@;02:24/= 694=B : 5?89A0<9 4=D017 :5 52:29A 4= 289 @;</7995 /@;9=5:24/=?25;912895?89A0<9289A45:64<427A09
- 9 -
2/:@;02:24/=:6/F9J=99E428520@;=/29K?99A4=B, ?@ E/0<A 69 L ??/1A4=B<7 289 1460=:< 8:5 ;1/;91<7 2:J9= 289 A45:64<427 4=?9 289 A45:64<427 45 2:J9= :2L?/=54A914=B289:B9/G289?<:4@:=22891460=:< 8:5:;;1/;14:29<72:J9=L/G2894=?/@92/E:1A5</55/G G02019;1/5;9?25:=A:;;<49A:;;1/;14:29@0<24;<491:2H(I /E9F91 289 1460=:< 8:5 ?/@@4229A 5914/05 911/1 4= 2:J4=B 4=?/@9 :2 5$ 4=529:A /G 5($ :5 ;91 289 4=?/@9 G4K9A 0=A91 289 ?8:12 ;19;:19A 67 289 :1=:2:J:
2:29 9B:< 91F4?95 028/1427 G/1 289 79:1
/ :<5/ 89 8:5 506@4229A 28:2 289 ?/@;9=5:24/= :E:1A9A 0=A91 :<< /2891 89:A5 :19 /= 289 </E91 54A9 E84?819C0419519?/=54A91:24/=9K?9;2@9A4?:<64<<5
89 1460=:< 8:5 G:4<9A 2/ :E:1A :=7 ?/@;9=5:24/= 2/E:1A5 :124G4?4:< <4@6 49 *02019 9A4?:< K;9=A42019 ??/1A4=B<7 89 5/0B82 2/ :<</E 289 :;;9:< :=AA45@455289:;;9:<G4<9A67289=501:=?9
/@;:=7
- 10 -
- :F4=B89:1A289<9:1=9A?/0=59<:;;9:14=BG/1 ;:12495;91059A2899=2419:;;9:<;:;9154=6/28:;;9:<5 89;/4=2528:2E/0<A:1459G/1/01?/=54A91:24/=:19' M
! "
#
" $
01 :=5E915 2/ 289 :6/F9 ;/4=25 G/1 ?/=54A91:24/=:19. /4=2/>GG41@:24F9 /4=2/>:12<7:GG41@:24F9
/4=2 /' 5 ;91 289 ?/=29=24/=5 /G <9:1=9A ?/0=59<:;;9:14=BG/1289:;;9<<:=2=501:=?9
/@;:=74= * /(-$( 289 1460=:< 8:F4=B G1:@9A 455095 19B:1A4=B2891:58:=A=9B<4B9=2A14F4=B67289A14F915/G 6/28 289 F984?<95 49 :02/14?J58:E :5 E9<< :5 4?891 </117 8/E9F91 :=5E919A 289 5:4A 45509 :5 H;:12<7 4=
- 11 -
:GG41@:24F9I8/<A4=B28:22899=24194=?4A9=22//J;<:?9A09 2/ =9B<4B9=2 ;:1J4=B /G 289 A14F91 /G 289 </117 69:14=B /)
(-
5 ?/0<A 69 599= G1/@ 289 19?/1A5 289 /<4?9 8:F9 G4<9A ?8:1B9 58992 :B:4=52 6/28 289 A14F915 /G :02/14?J58:E :5 E9<< :5 289 </117 /E9F91 289 ;/<4?9 8:F94=F/J9A 9?24/=/G289/2/1984?<95?2- :B:4=52289A14F91/G289</117G/1=9B<4B9=2;:1J4=B4=289 ;06<4? ;<:?9 4= : A:=B91/05 ;/5424/= 89 1460=:< E84<9 :=5E914=B45509/;:124?0<:1<7:2;:1:B1:;8/5+:=A , 8:5 ?<9:1<7 ?/=54A919A 289 ;1/F454/=5 /G <:E 49
9?24/= /G ?2 :5 E9<< :5 0<9 /G 289 /:A 9B0<:24/=5 ?2 -- :=A ?/@95 2/ := 4119545246<9 ?/=?<054/=28:2289A14F91/G289</117E:5L=9B<4B9=2 4= ;:1J4=B 289 </117 4= : A:=B91/05 ;/5424/= A@4229A<7 289:??4A9=2/??0119A:2+);@/=)A014=B E4=29159:5/=8:2:;:1228919E:5=/50GG4?49=2<4B824= 289;<:?9/G/??0119=?989</117E:5;:1J9A4=289;<:?9 E8919 42 E:5 =/2 9K;9?29A 2/ ;:1J :5 289 5:@9 E:5
- 12 -
=942891:</117<:767=/1@9:=2G/1;:1J4=B289</11728:2 2// E428/02 /6591F4=B :=7 21:GG4?
10<95 = 28959 ?41?0@52:=?95 289 1460=:< 8:5 ?/@9 2/ 289 4119545246<9 ?/=?<054/=28:24245289A14F91/G289</117E8/45=9B<4B9=2 4=;:1J4=B289</1174=A:=B91/05;/5424/=:=A195;/=546<9 G/1289:??4A9=2??/1A4=B<75:AA<9A2899=2419<4:64<427/= 289 A14F91 /G 289 </117 :=A A419?29A 289 =501:=?9 /@;:=7/G289</1172/5:245G7289?/@;9=5:24/= ) 9A/=/2 G4=A :=7 4=G41@427 4= 289 G4=A4=B5:5 E9<< :5 19:5/=4=B /G 289 1460=:< ??/1A4=B<7 E9 :=5E919A 289 ;/4=2 / 4= H:GG41@:24F9I :B:4=52 289 :;;9<<:=2$=501:=?9 /@;:=7 :=A 4= G:F/01 /G :;;9<<:=25$?<:4@:=254=289?/==9?29A:;;9:< ( /4=2 /' 5 G:1 :5 C0:=20@ 45 ?/=?91=9A 28/0B8 289 1460=:< 8:5 2:J9= 289 A45:64<427 :2 L 4= 291@5/G5:4A4=D01752:29A/E9F912891460=:< 8:5G:4<9A2/?/=54A912894=?/@9:5G4K9A0=A91289
:25($G/128979:1894=D019AE:5:B9A () 79:15 :=A289 <9G2 <9B E:5 :@;02:29AE428520@;=/2
- 13 -
9K?99A4=B,?@E84?8 E/0<A69LA45:64<427= F49E /G 289 5922<9A ;14=?4;<9 /G <:E 67 289 /=I6<9 ;9K /0124=289?:59/G
289 1460=:< 8:5 ;1/;91<7 :AA9A L 2/E:1A5 289 M /55 /G *020191/5;9?25N2/2899K4524=B4=?/@9E84?858/0<A69 :25($;@4=529:A/G5$;@
;9105:< /G 289 ?/@;9=5:24/= :E:1A9A 0=A91 9:?8 89:A E89= ?/@;:19A 2/ 289 4=D01495 50GG919A 1950<24=B4=:@;02:24/=289?/@;9=5:24/=:E:1A9A0=A91 9:?8 89:A 19C04195 19?/=54A91:24/= 9K?9;2 @9A4?:< 64<<5 8:2:;:122891460=:<8:5G:4<9A2/:E:1A?/@;9=5:24/= 0=A9128989:A/GG02019@9A4?:<9K;9=59549G/1:124G4?4:< <4@649;1/528924?<9B5 + =A9128959?41?0@52:=?952845
/01219:55955 289?/@;9=5:24/=0=A91:<<89:A59K?9;2@9A4?:<64<<5 , 805/=19A9291@4=:24/=:=A19?/=54A91:24/= 289 :;;9<<:=25 :19 9=242<9A G/1 2/2:< ?/@;9=5:24/= :5 G/<</E5'
- 14 -
,-./012,3/-453
1634 /55/G4=?/@9 !(OLKK(K $# 5 ()+$ :4=:=A50GG914=B
5 $ /55 /G 4=?/@9 A014=B <:4A /GG ;914/A+@/=285 !(K+#
5 $ 229=A9A ?8:1B95 21:=5;/12:24/= :=A @45?9<<:=9/05 9K;9=595 4=?<0A4=B G//A :=A =/01458@9=2
5 ,$ /55/G:@9=42495
5 $ 9A4?:<4<<5
5 ,,-$ G02019@9A4?:<9K;9=595 !124G4?4:<<4@6#
5 )$
/ ))'
=*/)+,$(2892/2:<?/@;9=5:24/= 19A9291@4=9A 67 2845
/012 E/1J5 /02 2/ 5))-$ :5:B:4=525+),-$:E:1A9A672891460=:<:</=B E428 4=291952 :2 +L ;91 :==0@ G1/@ 289 A:29 /G G4<4=B/G
- 15 -
289 ;92424/= 24<< 19:<4P:24/= ??/1A4=B<7 289 ;/4=2 G/1 ?/=54A91:24/=45:=5E919A;:12<74=:GG41@:24F9 - */1 289 G/19B/4=B 19:5/=5 2845
/012 ;1/?99A5 2/;:55289G/<</E4=B'
4# 89 :;;9:< G4<9A 67 289 :;;9<<:=2 > 4=501:=?9?/@;:=74=*/(-$( 45 !" !!#$ 44# 89:;;9:<G4<9A67289:;;9<<:=2>?<:4@:=2 4= * /)+,$( 45 %&& '#( )( *%+,. 444# 89D0AB@9=2:=A:E:1AA:29A,) 4=
/,,$ ;:559A 67 289 AA424/=:< 9=4/1
4F4< &0AB9 :=A &*
:2 :<:601:B445@/A4G49A. 4F# 89:;;9<<:=2$?<:4@:=2459=242<9AG/1:2/2:< ?/@;9=5:24/= /G 5))-$ :5 :B:4=52 5+),-$ :</=B E428 4=291952 :2 +L
- 16 -
;91 :==0@ G1/@ 289 A:29 /G G4<4=B /G 289 ;92424/=24<<19:<4P:24/=. F# = F49E /G 289 A45;/5:< /G 4=501:=?9 ?/@;:=7I5:;;9:<4=*/(-$( 289 :@/0=2 4= A9;/542 69G/19 2845
/012 58:<< 69 21:=5@4229A G/128E428 2/ 289 ?/=?91=9A1460=:<G/1A4560159@9=2.
F4# 89 :;;9<<:=2$4=50191 4= * /(-$( :=A 195;/=A9=2 4= /)+,$( 58:<< A9;/542 289 6:<:=?9 19A9291@4=9A ?/@;9=5:24/= :</=B E428 +L4=291952 G1/@ 289 A:29 /G ;92424/= 24<< 289 19:<4P:24/= 69G/19 289 ?/=?91=9A 1460=:< E4284= 54K E99J5 G1/@ 289 A:29/G19?94;2/G:?/;7/G2845/1A91 F44# G291A9;/542,L/G28919A9291@4=9A:@/0=2 /G?/@;9=5:24/=:</=BE428289:??109A4=291952 58:<< 69 4=F9529A 4= G4K9A A9;/542 /G :=7 :24/=:<4P9A :=J G/1: ;914/A/G 79:15 89 6:=J 58:<< =/2 ;91@42 :=7 </:= /= 289 G4K9A
- 17 -
A9;/542 E428/02 :=7 /1A91 G1/@ ?/=?91=9A 1460=:<$
/012. F444# 89 6:<:=?9 L /G 289 19A9291@4=9A ?/@;9=5:24/= :</=B E428 289 :??109A 4=291952 50;1: 58:<< 69 19<9:59A 4= G:F/01 /G 289 :;;9<<:=2$?<:4@:=20;/=;1/;914A9=24G4?:24/= 4K# //1A91:52/?/52
.' $!& #
.' $& #
452/' </'+