IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
Gita Gopi, J.
Veerjibhai Jethabhai Dhaval & others – Applicants
Versus
State of Gujarat & others – Respondents
R/Criminal Misc.Application No. 8460 of 2018
Decided On : 10-01-2023
Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Sections 307, 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 114 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482 – Gujarat Societies Act, 1961 – Quashing First Information Report – Whether an FIR lodged for 2 offences punishable under sections 307 and 34 IPC could be quashed on basis of settlement between parties – Held, Admittedly, dispute is a private and personal affair – Injury sustained does not involve any mental depravity nor amounts to a heinous crime – In view of settlement arrived at between parties, there exists no scope for any further proceeding in matter – Continuance of proceedings would lead to wastage of precious judicial time as there would remain no possibility of any conviction in case – Hence, Court is of opinion that this is a fit case where inherent powers of Court under section 482 of Cr.P.C. could be exercised for securing ends of justice – Petition allowed.
ORDER :
1. The present application has been filed under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing and setting aside the FIR being C.R. No.60 of 2018 registered before the Vadaj Police Station, Dist.: Ahmedabad City for offfence punishable under Sections 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 & 114 of the Indian Penal Code.
2. Learned advocate for the applicants, submitted that the parties have settled the disputes amicably outside the Court and that there remains no grievance between them. Therefore, in the larger interest of the society, the impugned complaint may be quashed and set aside.
2.1 Learned advocate submitted that the Court may verify the said aspect from the original complainant - respondent no.2.
3. Mr. Pawan A. Barot, learned advocate for respondent No.2 - original complainant, concurred with the factum of settlement of the dispute, as advanced by learned advocate appearing for the applicants.
4. The complainant - Hasmukhbhai Nathubhai Dhaval, who is present before the Court and identified by Advocate Mr. Pawan Barot, by relying on his Affidavit-in-reply dated 30.04.2019 submits that, he has already informed about the settlement and has expressed desirous to quash and set aside the FIR. He states that he has affirmed the contents of the said Affidavit-in-reply and today too, has same desire of not pursuing the FIR; thus, makes a request to quash the FIR.
5. Mr.Hardik Mehta, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, submitted that any First Information Report should be quashed in accordance with the guidelines of the Apex Court and the parameters laid down therein.
6. This Court has heard the learned advocates on both the sides and has perused the material on record. The issue is with regard to the ancestral property between five heirs of the deceased and it is alleged that by Resolution of the Co-operative Housing Society meeting, the name of only one member was added in the sale property. As per the Gujarat Societies Act, naming only one heir as a nominee would not takeaway the others rights, who continued to have their share in the property.
6.1 In the Affidavit dated 30.04.2019 filed by respondent No.2 - original complainant, it has been categorically averred that the dispute with the applicants has been amicably resolved. It is also averred that there is no ill-will between the parties and that the original complainant had not sustained any serious injury in the alleged incident.
7. In case of State of Haryana V. Bhajan Lal and others, AIR 1992 SC 604, the Apex Court formulated as many as seven categories of cases, wherein the extraordinary power under Section 482 could be exercised by the High Court to prevent abuse of process of the court. It was clarified that it was not possible to lay down precise and inflexible guidelines or any rigid formula or to give an exhaustive list of circumstances in which such power could be exercised. The Apex Court in the said case made the following observations:-
(a) where the allegations made in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused;
(b) where the allegations in the First Information Report and other materials, if any, accompanying the F.I.R. do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate wit
Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another
The Court can exercise inherent powers under section 482 of the Cr.P.C. to quash proceedings based on a settlement between the parties, especially in cases with a private or civil nature, to prevent ....
The court can exercise inherent powers under section 482 of the Cr.P.C. to quash a criminal proceeding based on the settlement of a dispute between the parties, as laid down by the principles establi....
whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to framing the charge under Section 307 IPC
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