HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
Manoj Kumar Garg, J.
Deepak @ Gaourav & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
State Of Rajasthan & Ors. – Respondents
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous (Petition) No. 9616/2022
Decided On : 11-11-2022
Compromise - Quashing of FIR - The court exercised its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C to quash the criminal proceedings based on the compromise between the parties, in line with the guidelines engrafted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab & Anr.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners sought to quash the FIR registered against them for various offences under the IPC, based on a compromise with the complainant-respondent.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the parties had entered into a compromise and resolved their dispute amicably, leading to no possibility of conviction for the accused-petitioners. Citing the guidelines from Gian Singh's case, the court exercised its inherent jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceedings.
Issues: The main issue was whether the court should quash the criminal proceedings based on the compromise between the parties, considering the nature and gravity of the offences involved.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the guidelines from Gian Singh v. State of Punjab & Anr., emphasizing that the power to quash criminal proceedings based on compromise should be exercised in cases where the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak, and continuation of the criminal case would cause oppression and prejudice to the accused.
Final Decision: The criminal misc. petition was allowed, and the FIR and all consequential proceedings for the offences under the IPC against the petitioners were quashed.
JUDGMENT
1. This criminal misc. petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been preferred by the petitioners with the prayer for quashing the FIR No.88/2022 registered at Police Station Shivaji Park Alwar for the offence under Sections 147, 148, 149, 150, 323, 341, 307, 506 of IPC on the basis of compromise.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that the complainant-respondent No.2 and the petitioners have already entered into compromise and on the basis of it, there is no possibility of conviction of the petitioners for the offences punishable under Sections 147, 148, 149, 150, 323, 341, 307, 506 of IPC. It is also argued that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the trial against the petitioners for the aforesaid offences because the same may derail the compromise arrived at between the parties.
3. Learned counsel for the respondent No.2 has admitted that the parties have already entered into compromise and resolved their dispute amicably and the respondent No.2 does not want to press the charges levelled against the petitioners in relation to offences punishable under Sections 147, 148, 149, 150, 323, 341, 307, 506 of IPC.
4. The Hon'ble Apex Court while answering a reference in the case of Gian Singh v. State of Punjab & Anr. reported in JT 2012(9) SC - 426 has held as below:-
"57. 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 F.I.R may be exercised where the offender and 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 victim's family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil flavour stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute. In this category of cases, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceeding or continuation of the criminal proceeding would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and compromise betwe
The court can exercise its inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C to quash criminal proceedings based on compromise, in line with the guidelines engrafted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Gian....
The High Court can quash criminal proceedings based on private compromise when the nature of the offences is such that continuation would lead to oppression or injustice, particularly in civil-center....
The court established that amicable settlement between parties can justify quashing criminal proceedings under certain circumstances.
The court established that mutual compromise can lead to quashing of criminal proceedings under Section 482 Cr.P.C. if the offences are not serious and justice is served.
The court established that FIRs can be quashed when parties reach a compromise, provided the case does not involve serious offences.
The High Court may quash criminal proceedings if the parties have settled their dispute, and continuation would serve no useful purpose, particularly in cases with a civil flavor.
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