Non-compoundable offences may be quashed if the dispute is personal and does not affect public peace, per Supreme Court guidelines.

ORDER :

FARJAND ALI, J.

1. The instant criminal misc. petition has been filed under Section 482 Cr.PC/528 BNSS on behalf of the petitioners for quashing of the entire proceeding pending against them in the Court of learned Special Judge (SC/ST Cases) Jodhpur Metro in Criminal Case No.53/2020, arising out of FIR No.165/2020 registered at Police Station Chopasani Housing Board, District Jodhpur (City West) for the offence under Sections 323, 341, 329 and 325/34 of the IPC and Sections 3(1)(r)(s), 3(2)(5a) and 3(2)(5a) of the SC/ST Act, on the ground of compromise.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the dispute in this matter is inter se between the parties which does not affect the societal interest or anyway disturb the tranquility or public peace. It is further submitted that both the parties have settled their disputes through amicable settlement, for which a compromise-deed has been executed and submitted before the learned trial court.

3. It is also submitted by learned counsel for the petitioners that the charge-sheet has been filed against the petitioners for the offences under Sections 341, 323, 329 and 325/34 of the IPC and Sections 3(1)(r)(s), 3(2)(5a) and 3(2)(5a) of the SC/ST Act, however, the learned trial court has attested the compromise for the offence under Sections 341, 323 and 325/34 of the IPC but refused to attest the compromise for the offence under Sections 323, 341 and 325/34 of IPC as the same is not compoundable and kept the proceeding pending by it. It is submitted that as the parties have entered into compromise, there remains no controversy in between them and the parties do not wish to continue the criminal proceedings further.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners has relied upon the judgment passed by Hon'ble the Supreme Court in the case of Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab reported in (2012) 10 SCC 303.

5. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for complainant-respondent No.2 admits the fact of compromise and submits that the complainant-respondent No.2 is willing if the FIR and the proceedings are quashed on the basis of compromise entered in between the parties.

6. Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the petition.

7. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record more particularly nature of allegation and the compromise deed executed in between the parties. The parties to the lis have resolved their dispute amicably and do not wish to continue the criminal proceedings and have jointly prayed for quashing of the same.

8. Some of the offences alleged in this matter are non-compoundable, however, Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab reported in (2012) 10 SCC 303 has propounded that if it is convinced that offences are entirely personal in nature and do not affect the public peace or tranquility and where it feels that quashing of such proceedings on account of compromise would bring about peace and would secure ends of justice, the High Court should not hesitate to quash the same by exercising the inherent powers vested in it. It is observed that in such cases, the prosecution becomes a lame prosecution and pursuing such a lame prosecution would be a waste of time and energy that will also unsettle the compromise and obstruct restoration of peace. This court is aptly guided by the principles propounded by Hon’ble the Supreme Court and feels that where the dispute is essentially inter se between the parties, either they are relatives, neighbours or having business relationship and which does not affect the society at large, then in such cases, with a view to maintain harmonious relationships between the two sides, to end-up the dispute in between them permanently as well as for restitution of relationship, the High Court should exercise its inherent power to quash the FIR and all other subsequent proceedings initiated thereto.

9. Here in this case, though some of the offences are not compoundable but the parties ha