#mediation timeline

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that in dowry prohibition cases, coercive steps like arrest must be stayed for up to five months or until mediation concludes, making mediation a mandatory pre-condition to prosecution. This sets a precedent for settlement-driven disposal in criminal matrimonial disputes, shifting focus from punitive action to amicable resolution under the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Allahabad HC allows mediation in criminal complaints under BNSS Section 528, suspending coercive action for five months or until mediation concludes. The ruling enables voluntary settlement even in non-compoundable offences, offering parties an alternative dispute resolution path before trial proceeds.