R.K. GAUBA, J.

1. In the context of these petitions invoking the inherent power of this court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.PC), and similarly placed other petitions which are routinely presented, to seek quashing of criminal proceedings on account of “settlement” of the dispute with the party perceived to be the victim, questions have arisen as to whether the process of mediation, particularly one under the aegis of the court, should be permitted or encouraged to be availed of for bringing about such settlement as may possibly not be taken by the court to be a just or sufficient reason for such intervention, this having regard to the nature of the crime involved. In the course of the scrutiny, some concerns as to the manner in which cases involving grave and serious crimes have been dealt with by the criminal courts have also come up for consideration and directions.

BACKGROUND FACTS

The case of rape and sexual assaults

2. On 15.11.2018, a petition under Section 482 Cr. PC had come up for consideration before this court, it being Crl. MC 5731/2018 titled Manmeetsingh and Ors vs. State (NCT of Delhi) and Anr., wherein prayer was made for quashi