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2023 Supreme(Raj) 2226

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Manoj Kumar Garg, J.
Khetpuri and Others – Petitioners
Versus
State of Rajasthan and Others – Respondents
S.B. Criminal Misc. (Pet.) No. 3958 of 2023
Decided On : 07-08-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Raghunath Bishnoi
For the Respondents: Mahipal Bishnoi, Vikash Vishnoi

Headnote:(A) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 482 - Quashing of conviction - Petitioners sought to quash their conviction for offences under Sections 323, 365, 379, 451 IPC based on compromise with the complainant during the pendency of their appeal - Parties entered into a compromise in the spirit of Lok Adalat. (Paras 1-3, 11)

(B) Powers of High Court - The High Court has inherent power under Section 482 to quash convictions under particular circumstances, including when there is a compromise between the parties and to prevent abuse of the process of law. (Paras 5, 9, 10)

(C) Judicial precedents - The court cites several judgments clarifying that a compromise can be a mitigating factor but does not automatically result in quashing convictions for non-compoundable offences. (Paras 6-10)

Facts of the case:
The petitioners were convicted for offences under Sections 323, 365, 379, and 451 IPC and filed a petition to quash their conviction based on a compromise with the complainant who expressed no objection to the quashing.

Findings of Court:
The court concluded that there is no fruitful purpose in continuing criminal proceedings as the parties have compromised, thus quashing the conviction.

Issues: Whether the High Court could quash the conviction based solely on a compromise between the convict and the complainant.

Ratio Decidendi: The court highlighted that the inherent power under Section 482 should be exercised with caution and mainly to prevent abuse of judicial process, allowing quashing in rare cases where compromise serves justice.

Result: The criminal miscellaneous petition is allowed, and the conviction is quashed.

Table of Content
1. quashing conviction based on compromise. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. power under section 482 cr.p.c. for quashing. (Para 4 , 5)
3. historical legal precedents on compounding. (Para 6 , 7 , 8)
4. conditions for exercising inherent jurisdiction. (Para 9 , 10)
5. final order quashing conviction. (Para 11 , 12)

ORDER :

1. Instance misc petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the petitioners for quashing and setting aside of the judgment of conviction dated 16.09.2017, passed by learned Judicial Magistrate, Balesar, District Jodhpur on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the learned trial court vide judgment dated 16.09.2012 convicted and sentenced the petitioners for offences under Sections 323 , 365, 379, 451 IPC. Against their conviction, the petitioners filed an appeal before the learned Sessions Judge, Jodhpur, which is pending consideration. Counsel submits that during the pendency of the appeal, the petitioners and respondent No. 2-complainant have entered into a compromise in the spirit of Lok Adalat. Therefore, it is prayed that the petitioners' conviction may be quashed and set aside and they may be acquitted for the aforesaid offences on the basis of the compromise arrived at between the parties.

3. Learned counsel for the respondent No. 2 has submitted that the respondent No. 2 has no objection if the conviction of the petitioners for offence under Sections 323 , 365, 379, 451 IPC is set aside.

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

5. Admittedly, the parties have entered into a compromise and the question before this court is whether the power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. can be exercised for quashing of prosecution/ conviction upon compromise arrived at between the convict and the complainant.

6. In Khursheed and others v. State of U.P., Appeal (crl.) 1302 of 2007, decided on 28-9-2007, the appellants were convicted by Trial Court under sections 325, 323 read with 34 IPC. Their appeal against conviction was dismissed by the Sessions Court and revision petition was also dismissed by High Court. The convicts approached the Apex Court and Hon'ble Supreme Court held as under:

    [12] An offence of causing grievous hurt punishable under Section 325 IPC is covered by sub-section (2) of Section 320 of the Code. It is thus clear that an offence punishable under Section 325 IPC is also compounded with the permission of the Court.

    [13] The parties have compounded the offences. As stated in the compromise deed, Gurfan Ahmad, complainant and his mother Kulsoom @ Bhoori (injured) did not want any action against the appellants (accused). The parties are neighbours, their houses are situated adjacent to each other and they have been living peacefully for last many years and there is no dispute among them. It is further stated that to continue sweet relationship and harmony, complainant side does not want to take any action against the accused. A prayer is, therefore, made to accept the compromise.

    [14] On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, and considering the Deed of Compromise and having heard learned counsel for the parties, in our opinion, ends of justice would be met if we grant necessary permission for compounding an offence punishable under Section 325 read with Section 34 IPC as required by sub-section (2) of Section 320 of the Code. The offence punishable under Section 323 IPC has already been compounded by the parties.

    [15 Sub-section (8) of Section 320 states that the compounding of offence under the section shall have an effect of acquittal of the accused with whom the offence has been compounded. The resultant effect of compounding of offences would be that the accused should be acquitted. In other words, once the offences have been compounded and the requisite permission is granted by the Court, the accused must be acquitted.”

7. In Dr. Arvind Barsaul e

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