Orissa High Court Fines Woman Who Sought Pet Dog's Custody From Daughter-In-Law After Dowry Dispute

In a peculiar case, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday imposed a cost of rupees one thousand on a lady who filed a writ petition seeking to get back the custody of her pet dog from her daughter-in-law.

The matter reportedly emanated from a dowry dispute whereby the daughter-in-law lodged an FIR against the in-laws and left the matrimonial home. Subsequently, the dowry properties were seized from the in-laws and along with those properties, the daughter-in-law allegedly took away the family pet dog with her.

Being aggrieved by such action, the mother-in-law filed a writ petition, making the State also a party to the dispute, praying that the custody of the pet be restored with her. The Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi heard Advocate Byomakesh Tripathy appearing for the petitioner at length.

However, after arguing for some time, he sought permission of the Court to withdraw the writ petition with liberty to take shelter of the appropriate authority to redress the grievances. Accordingly, the Court permitted the petitioner to withdraw the petition granting liberty to approach the appropriate authority. But the Bench was irked by the frivolous nature of the petition, which led to wastage of judicial time.

“At this juncture, this Court also imposes a cost of Rs.1000/- (Rupees One thousand only) on the Petitioner as she has unnecessarily wasted the valuable time of this Court. The said cost shall be deposited in favour of the “Orissa High Court Bar Association Welfare Fund” within a period of ten days hence,” it ordered.

Case Title: Tilottama Padhihari v. State of Odisha & Ors.

Case No: W.P.(C) No. 7963 of 2025

Date of Order: March 25, 2025

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr. Byomakesh Tripathy, Advocate

Counsel for the State: Smt. Jyotsnamayee Sahoo, Addl. Standing Counsel

Click Here To Read/Download Order