Back
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
ABHAY S. OKA, UJJAL BHUYAN, JJ.
Vandna Rani - Appellant
Versus
Sandeep Popli - Respondent
Criminal Appeal No(s).89 of 2025 (ARISING OUT OF S.L.P. (CRIMINAL) NO(S).8599/2024)
Decided on : 07-01-2025
ORDER :
1. Leave granted.
2. A Settlement Agreement dated 1st October, 2024 duly signed by the appellant, her son, the respondent and their respective learned counsel, is placed on record. The Settlement Agreement is also signed by the learned Mediator appointed by the Supreme Court Mediation Centre.
3. It is an admitted position that the main condition of settlement regarding the payment of a sum of Rs.19,00,000/-(Rupees Nineteen Lakh) by the respondent to the appellant has been complied with. In fact, it is an accepted position that in terms of the settlement, the parties applied for dissolution of marriage before the competent Court and a decree of divorce under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 has been passed.
4. What remains is the quashing of the pending proceedings between the parties.
5. Accordingly, we pass the following order:
(ii) FIR No.1127 dated 13th November, 2018 registered at Police Station – City Sirsa and the proceedings initiated on the basis of the same are hereby quashed in the light of the settlement.
6. We record our appreciation for the reasonable stand taken by the parties as well as by their respective learned counsel for putting an end to the matrimonial dispute. The role played by the learned Mediator is also appreciated.
7. The Appeal is, accordingly, disposed of.
Settlement agreements in matrimonial disputes can lead to the quashing of pending legal proceedings when terms are fulfilled.
The central legal point established is the court's authority to quash an FIR and its proceedings when the parties have amicably settled their disputes through mediation, leading to a peaceful resolut....
Amicable settlements can lead to the quashing of FIRs when both parties agree not to pursue prosecution, emphasizing judicial economy and resolution of disputes.
Matrimonial disputes should be put to quietus if the parties have arrived upon a genuine settlement, and provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, allow for divorce by mutual consent.
The court can exercise inherent powers to quash non-compoundable offences in matrimonial disputes upon amicable settlement, ensuring justice and preventing abuse of the court process.
Courts have a duty to encourage amicable settlements in matrimonial disputes.
An FIR can be quashed when the complainant does not wish to prosecute after reaching an amicable settlement.
The court affirmed that mutual consent and voluntary agreements between parties can lead to the dissolution of marriage and resolution of disputes under Article 142 of the Constitution.
Mediation agreements are binding and can lead to the quashing of criminal proceedings, especially where both parties mutually agree to dissolve the marriage and resolve all disputes.
An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers
Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance
Scan Me!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :
Back to top
