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2023 Supreme(Raj) 2217

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Manoj Kumar Garg, J.
Chandan Singh – Petitioner
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Others – Respondents
S.B. Criminal Misc. (Pet.) No. 746 of 2023
Decided On : 08-02-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Chandan Singh
For the Respondents: Anil Joshi, Rajat Chhaparwal, Chhotu Singh

Headnote:(A) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 482 - Quashing of FIR - Proceedings against petitioner quashed based on compromise between parties for offences under IPC sections 147, 148, and 149 - Court emphasizes the exercise of inherent power to prevent abuse of process when disputes are settled. (Paras 1-10)

(B) Compounding of Offences - The court may quash criminal proceedings if felon and victim have settled their dispute based on mutual interests, barring heinous offences. Hence, no prosecution serves useful purpose post-compromise. (Paras 6-8)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner sought to quash criminal proceedings for alleged offences following a compromise with the complainant, confirming no possibility of conviction.

Findings of Court:
The court found that compromise negated any grounds for conviction and allowed the petition to quash the FIR and all consequential proceedings.

Issues: Whether criminal proceedings should continue after a compromise between the parties involved.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that quashing criminal proceedings is justified when a full settlement removes the possibility of conviction and serves the interests of justice.

Result: The FIR and all related proceedings against the petitioner are quashed.

Table of Content
1. quashing of criminal proceedings is sought. (Para 1)
2. parties have entered into a compromise. (Para 2)
3. court considered previous judgments on compromise. (Para 3 , 4)
4. criminal proceedings can be quashed due to compromise. (Para 5 , 6)
5. conditions for quashing criminal proceedings. (Para 7 , 8)
6. fir and criminal proceedings are quashed. (Para 9 , 10)

ORDER :

1. This criminal misc. petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been preferred for quashing of the criminal proceedings pending against the petitioner before the court of Additional Chief Judical Magistrate, Osiya in Criminal Case No. 269/2020 (State v. Shambhu Singh and ors.) arising out of FIR No. 90/2020, Police Station Kherapa, Jodhpur for offence under Sections 147 , 447, 427, 323 of IPC. Learned Magistrate vide order dated 30.01.2023 while partly allowing the application filed by the parties accept the compromise for offences under Sections 323 , 447, 427/149 but refused to compound the offence under Sections 147 , 148/149 IPC.

2. The complainant-respondent No. 2 has concurred the fact of compromise and submits that they have already entered into compromise and on the basis of it, there is no possibility of conviction of the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 147 , 148/149 of IPC. It is also argued that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the trial against the petitioner for the aforesaid offences because the same may derail the compromise arrived at between the parties.

3. I have considered the arguments advanced before me and carefully gone through the material available on record.

4. This Court is conscious of the judgment rendered by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter of Prashant Bhartiya v. State of Delhi and Ors. in Criminal Appeal No. 708 of 2021 decided on 30.07.2021, relevant portion of which reads as follows:-

    “3. Respondent No. 2 had lodged a complaint alleging, inter alia, that the Appellant had committed an offence under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. It is undisputed that both the Accused (Appellant) and Respondent No. 2 were living together for a considerable while. The complainant's allegation is that the Appellant duped her by misrepresenting to her that he is divorced. The complainant, according to the accused, is not unmarried and her marriage subsists.

    4. During pendency of the proceedings, the parties were referred to mediation having regard to the fact that a child was born in the meanwhile (i.e. in the year 2018). As a consequence, a mediated settlement limited to the maintenance and upkeep of the child was arrived at by them.

    5. Having regard to these facts and the submissions made on behalf of the complainant - who does not dispute that this may not be an appropriate case for pursuing the prosecution further, this Court is of the considered view that the criminal proceedings must be quashed.

    6. In the peculiar circumstances of the present case, the impugned judgment of the High Court is set aside; the FIR (No. 616) and all consequent proceedings be quashed. It is, however, made clear that this order will not come in the way or in any manner prejudice the contentions of the parties in any other pending proceedings, which shall 20-09-2022 be decided in accordance with law.

    7. The appeal is allowed to the above extent.”

5. Learned counsels for the petitioner has submitted the following order for consideration passed by this Court in S.B. Criminal Misc. (Petition) No. 4119/2021 decided on 06.04.2022 (Dhabba Nath v. State of Rajasthan and Anr.), which reads as follows:

    “1. By way of this criminal misc. petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the accused-petitioner has approached this Court with a prayer to quash the FIR No. 94/2021 registered at Police Station Gida, District Barmer for the offences punishable under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code and Section 67 of the I.T. Act.

    2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that during pendency of investigation, the petitioner

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