IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI, J.
Dharmendra Rajak @ Dharmendra Ram – Petitioner
Versus
State of Jharkhand – Respondent
Cr. M.P. No. 3363 of 2019, I.A. No. 2546 of 2020
Decided On : 31-08-2021
Criminal Procedure Code,1973 - Section 482 and 320 - Indian Penal Code,1860 - Sections 498A/323/354A/34 - Constitution of India,1950 - Article 226 - Dowry Prohibition Act. - Section 3/4 - House trespass to commit – Husband of a women subjecting her to cruelty - Petitioners have filed petition for quashing of order taking cognizance and entire criminal proceeding arising out of P.S. Case, corresponding to G.R. pending in court of learned J.M. learned counsel for petitioners further submits that except sections 498A/354A of I.P.C. and section 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, all other sections are compoundable - He further submits that now is residing with family members and petitioner is husband - He submits that in view of compromise, one I.A. being joint compromise petition, has been filed which is numbered as I.A. - Whether it is expedient and in interest of justice to permit a prosecution to continue – Held, Where, in opinion of court, chances of an ultimate conviction are bleak and, therefore, no useful purpose is likely to be served by allowing a criminal prosecution to continue, the court may, while taking into consideration the special facts of a case, also quash the proceedings - Special features in such matrimonial matters are evident. It becomes the duty of the court to encourage genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes Court view of above facts, and considering judgment delivered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in case and interlocutory application, where compromise has been entered into between parties, order taking cognizance and entire criminal proceeding arising out of P.S. Case corresponding to G.R. pending in court of learned J.M. is hereby quashed – Petition allowed disposed of.
JUDGMENT :
SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI, J.
1. Heard Mr. Awrind Kumar, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Mr. Arup Dey, the learned State counsel and Mr. Shree Niwas Roy, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the O.P. No. 2.
2. This petition has been heard through Video Conferencing in view of the guidelines of the High Court taking into account the situation arising due to COVID-19 pandemic. None of the parties have complained about any technical snag of audio-video and with their consent this matter has been heard.
3. The petitioners have filed this petition for quashing of the order dated 10.02.2016 taking cognizance and the entire criminal proceeding arising out of Dhanwar P.S. Case No. 442/2013, corresponding to G.R. No. 4087/2013, pending in the court of learned J.M. 1st Class, Giridih.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the case was registered under sections 498A/323/354A/34 of the I.P.C. and section 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that except sections 498A/354A of the I.P.C. and section 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, all the other sections are compoundable. He further submits that now the O.P. No. 2 is residing with the family members and the petitioner no. 1 is the husband. He submits that in view of the compromise, one I.A. being joint compromise petition, has been filed which is numbered as I.A. No. 2546/2020.
5. Mr. Shree Niwas Roy, the learned counsel for the O.P. No. 2 submits that the compromise is there and the I.A. has been filed on the affidavit of O.P. No. 2 as well as the pairvikar of the petitioners. Restitution of conjugal life has been stated in paragraph no. 6 of the I.A. petition.
6. Mr. Shree Niwas Roy, the learned counsel appearing for the O.P. No. 2 submits that the compromise has been taken place between the parties and this matter can be allowed in terms of judgment delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of B.S. Joshi vs. State of Haryana, (2003) 4 SCC 675. Both the counsels have jointly submit that this case is arising out of matrimonial dispute and there is no public interest involved in this matter and no adverse inference will fall in the society in quashing of the cognizance order. Paragraph no. 3 to 6 of the compromise petition is incorporated as under:
4. That there is no public policy involved in the present case as such dispute personal in nature as the dispute involved is of matrimonial/personal nature.
5. That the O.P. No. 2 does not want to proceed with the case since cordial relationship is prevailed between her and accused persons.
6. That O.P. No. 2 is living in the house of her Husband Dharmendra Rajak and their matrimonial/conjugal life has restored.”
7. He submits that in the case of B.S. Joshi (Supra) the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the complaint filed under Sections 498A, 323, 406 of the IPC quashed the F.I.R. for the ends of justice. Paragraph Nos. 8, 10, 11, 12 and 15 of the judgment are quoted herein-below:
10. In State of Karnataka vs. L. Muniswamy considering the scope of inherent power of quashing under Section 482, this Court held that i
The main legal point established in the judgment is the court's power to quash criminal proceedings in cases of compromise between the parties in matrimonial disputes where no societal interest is in....
The central legal point established in the judgment is the importance of considering societal interest, timing of settlement, and nature of the offense in deciding whether to quash criminal proceedin....
The High Court can quash non-compoundable offences in matrimonial disputes if the parties have settled amicably, emphasizing the importance of encouraging genuine settlements.
In cases of compromise between parties and absence of societal interest, criminal proceedings can be quashed.
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