RENU KUMARI vs SANJAY KUMAR .

The Supreme Court held that the exercise of inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, is an exception and not a rule, emphasizing that it does not confer new powers but preserves existing ones. The Court found that the High Court had erred in quashing the proceedings against the respondents, as the parameters for such jurisdiction were not properly considered. The appeal was allowed, reinstating the proceedings initiated under Section 498A IPC and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.