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2023 Supreme(Guj) 34

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
GITA GOPI, J.
Sandeepbhai Manubhai @ Rameshbhai Patel - Applicant
Versus
State Of Gujarat – Respondent
R/Criminal MISC. Application No. 17962 of 2020
Decided On : 09-01-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Applicant : Jucky Lucky Chan.
For the Respondents: Ghanshyambhai N. Patel, Mr. Hardik Mehta.

Headnote:

Indian Penal code, 1860 – Sections 504, 506(2), 114 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – Section 482 – Extraordinary power – Quashing the First Information Report – Continuance of proceedings – Applicant submitted that quashing of complaint was prayed for on ground of settlement between parties – He submits that parties have settled dispute amicably outside Court and that there remains no grievance between them – Therefore, in larger interest of society, impugned complaint may be quashed and set aside – Held, Impugned complaint was filed Affidavit of original complainant - respondent no.2 herein, regarding settlement of dispute has been executed – 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. This application has been filed under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing and setting aside the FIR being I-C.R. No.11216001200302 of 2020 registered with Adalaj Police Station, Dist.: Gandhinagar for offences punishable under sections 504, 506(2) and 114 of IPC.

2. Mr. Jucky Lucky Chan, learned advocate for the applicant submitted that the quashing of the complaint was prayed for on the ground of settlement between the parties. He submits that parties have settled the dispute 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. Earlier too, the fact of settlement was apprised to the Court, when Mr. G.N. Patel representing the complainant – respondent no.2; since deceased, today Advocate Ms. Anjali Parmar submits that she has instruction to appear on behalf of respondent no.2 - original complainant and seeks permission to file Vakalatnama. The vakalatnama be taken on record.

4. The affidavit of the original complainant was produced on record. The Court verified the contents of the compromise with the original complainant – Amit Madubhai Patel, respondent no.2, who is present before the Court. The respondent no.2 - original complainant, affirmed about the execution of the Affidavit dated 17.09.2020, wherein terms of settlement have been recorded. The respondent no.2 - original complainant, categorically stated that the issues have been settled and he has no grievance against the applicant and that he has no objection to the quashment of the impugned first information report filed by him.

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. In the Affidavit dated 17.09.2020 filed by respondent no.2 - original complainant, it has been categorically averred that the dispute with the applicant has been amicably resolved with the intervention of the elders and family members. It is also averred that there is no ill-will between the parties.

7. In the case of Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, reported in 2012 (10) SCC 303, the Hon’ble Apex Court has observed as under:

    “61. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: the power of the High Court in quashing a criminal proceeding or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is distinct and different from the power given to a criminal court for compounding the offences under Section 320 of the Code. Inherent power is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation but it has to be exercised in accord with the guideline engrafted in such power viz.: (i) to secure the ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or complaint or FIR may be exercised where the offender and the victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case and no category can be prescribed. However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime. Heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victims family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and the offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, etc.; c

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