SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2023 Supreme(Raj) 2220

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Manoj Kumar Garg, J.
Himmat Kumar – Petitioner
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Others – Respondents
S.B. Criminal Misc. (Pet.) No. 643 of 2023
Decided On : 17-02-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners: Kuldeep Sharma, Love Jain
For the Respondents: Mool Singh Bhati, Naresh Khatri

Headnote:(A) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 482 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 376, 344 - Quashing of FIR - Complainant and petitioner entered into a compromise; trial continuation would be futile - Court considered relevant precedent (Gian Singh v. State of Punjab) on the nature of offences that can be quashed due to compromise - The criminal proceedings were quashed as there was no possibility of conviction. (Paras 1, 2, 8, 10)

(B) Legal Principle - Inherent powers of High Court can quash FIRs for private offences upon compromise between parties, considering the nature and gravity of the crime. (Paras 7, 8)

Facts of the case:
Petitioner sought to quash FIR for alleged offences under IPC. Compromise between parties acknowledged by respondent; no pending dispute remaining.

Findings of Court:
With the compromise, no useful purpose in proceeding with trial; criminal dispute resolved amicably.

Issues: Whether the trial should continue given the entered compromise.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the continuation of criminal proceedings post-compromise serves no useful purpose, reaffirming the power of quashing under Section 482 Cr.P.C.

Result: FIR No. 12/2023 and all proceedings quashed.

Table of Content
1. petition for quashing fir under ipc (Para 1)
2. compromise between parties affects prosecution (Para 2 , 3)
3. court's discretion to quash based on settlement (Para 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9)
4. guidelines for quashing criminal proceedings (Para 7)
5. final order quashing the fir (Para 10 , 11)

ORDER :

1. This criminal misc. petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been preferred by the petitioner with the prayer for quashing the FIR No. 12/2023 registered at Police Station Falasiya, Udaipur for the offence under Sections 376 , 344 of IPC and the entire criminal proceedings pursuant thereto qua the petitioner.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the complainant-respondent No. 2 and the petitioner 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 376 , 344 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. 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 petitioner in relation to offences punishable under Sections 376 , 344 of IPC.

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

5. 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.”

6. 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 and the complainant have entered into a compromise and thus, no dispute remains pen

    Click Here to Read the rest of this document
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    SupremeToday Portrait Ad
    supreme today icon
    logo-black

    An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

    Please visit our Training & Support
    Center or Contact Us for assistance

    qr

    Scan Me!

    India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

    For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

    whatsapp-icon Back to top