IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Anoop Chitkara, J.
Shashi Shekhar Alias Tinu & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
State Of Haryana & Ors. – Respondents
CRM-M-13104-2022
Decided On : 14-07-2022
Compromise - Quashing of FIR - 148/149/307/323/324/506 IPC - The judgment discusses the nature of compromise, the non-compoundable nature of section 307 IPC, and the principles for quashing criminal proceedings under section 482 of the CrPC. The court refers to various precedents to establish the principles for accepting or rejecting a compromise and quashing criminal proceedings.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioners sought quashing of the FIR and all consequential proceedings based on a compromise with the aggrieved person. The accused and the aggrieved person compromised the matter, but the State's counsel opposed the compromise due to the heinous nature of the offence. The court analyzed the nature of the compromise and the non-compoundable nature of section 307 IPC.
Finding of the Court:
The court rejected the compromise, citing the non-compoundable nature of section 307 IPC and the lack of sufficient reasons for settlement. The court emphasized the need to prevent abuse of the process of law and considered the societal impact of the offences. The court dismissed the petition but allowed the parties to enter into a fresh compromise and file a new petition for quashing.
Issues: The issues revolved around the acceptance of the compromise, the non-compoundable nature of section 307 IPC, and the principles for quashing criminal proceedings under section 482 of the CrPC.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the non-compoundable nature of section 307 IPC, the societal impact of the offences, and the need to prevent abuse of the process of law. The court referred to various precedents to establish the principles for accepting or rejecting a compromise and quashing criminal proceedings.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, but the parties were allowed to enter into a fresh compromise and file a new petition for quashing, which would be decided on its merits without being influenced by the dismissal of the present petition.
JUDGMENT
Anoop Chitkara, J.
FIR No. | Dated | Police Station | Sections |
300 | 25.09.2021 | Mahesh Nagar, District Ambala | 148/149/307/323/324/506 IPC |
1. The petitioners, arraigned as accused in the above captioned FIR, have come up before this Court under Section 482 CrPC for quashing of the FIR and all consequential proceedings based on a compromise with the aggrieved person.
2. During the pendency of the petition, the accused and the aggrieved person have compromised the matter, and its copy is annexed with this petition as Annexure P-2.
3. After that, the petitioners came up before this Court to quash the FIR, and in the quashing petition, the aggrieved person has been impleaded as respondent.
4. On 31-03-2022, the aggrieved person Rahul (R-2) stated before the Ld. JMIC Ambala that there would be no objection if the court quashes this FIR and consequent proceedings. As per the concerned court's report dated 01-04-2022, the parties consented to the quashing of FIR and consequent proceedings without any threat or coercion.
ANALYSIS & REASONING:
5. The State's counsel has severely opposed this compromise and seeks dismissal of the petition because of the heinous nature of the offence.
6. In the present case, the offences under section 307 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) is not compoundable under Section 320 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC). However, in the facts and circumstances peculiar to this case, the parties have not mentioned any reason which led to settlement of dispute, how were their relations on the date of affidavit and statement, what social objective would by disrupting the motion of criminal prosecution. Thus, based on the nature of compromise papers and the contents of statement of the victim, where he stated that with the intervention of the people of locality, the mater was compromised, is not sufficient to accept the compromise.
7. A perusal of the reasons for settlement as mentioned in the compromise deed, Annexure P-2, are also formal, as if it was drafted by some deed writer in a routine.
8. In Mahesh Chand v State of Rajasthan, 1990 SCC 781, Hon'ble Supreme Court holds as under:
[2]. The accused were acquitted by the trial court, but they were convicted by the High Court for the offence under section 307 Indian Penal Code This offence is not compoundable under law. The parties, however. want to treat it a special case, in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case. It is said and indeed not disputed that one of the accused is a lawyer practising in the lower court. There was a counter case arising out of the same transaction. It is said that this case has already been compromised. The decision of this Court in Suresh Babu v. State of Andhra Pradesh, 1987(2) JT 361, has been also referred to in support of the plea for permission to compound the offence.
9. In DimpeyGujraj v Union Territory, (2013) 11 SCC 497, Supreme Court holds,
[5]. In light of the above observations of this court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, 2012(4) R.C.R.(Criminal) 543 : 2012(4) Recent Apex Judgments (R.A.J.) 549 : 2012(5) CTC 526 (SC) we feel that this is a case where the continuation of criminal proceedings would tantamount to abuse of process of law because the alleged offences are not heinous offences showing extreme depravity nor are they against the society. They are offences of a personal nature and burying them would bring about peace and amity between the two sides. In the circumstances of the case, FIR No. 163 dated 26/10/2006 registered under Section 147, 148, 149, 323, 307, 452 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code at Police Station Sector 3, Chandigarh and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom including the final report presented under Section 173 of the Code and charges framed by the trial court are hereby quashed.
10. In Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, 2014 (6) SCC 466, a two-member bench of Hon'ble Supreme Court holds,
[24]. Thus, we find that in certain circumstances, this Court has approved the quashing of proc
DimpeyGujraj v Union Territory
Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab
Gulab Das and Ors. V. State of M. P.
Mahesh Chand v State of Rajasthan
Narinder Singh vs. State of Punjab
ParbatbhaiAahir v State of Gujarat
State of M.P. vs. Rajveer Singh
State of Madhya Pradesh vs. Dhruv Gurjar
State of Maharashtra vs. Vikram Anantrai Doshi
State of Rajasthan vs. Shambhu Kewat
Suresh Babu vs. State of Andhra Pradesh
The main legal point established in the judgment is the principles for quashing criminal proceedings based on compromise, considering the nature of the offences, societal impact, and the possibility ....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the distinction between heinous and serious offences and those of a predominantly civil character in determining whether to accept a compromise and....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the need to exercise the power under Section 482 of the Code sparingly and with caution, especially for heinous and serious offences, and to consid....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that heinous and serious offences, especially those involving societal impact, cannot be quashed based on compromise. The court emphasized the need....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the importance of considering the nature of the offence, societal impact, and the possibility of conviction while exercising the power under Sectio....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the Court's inherent jurisdiction under section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings based on a genuine compromise, absence of coercion or threat....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the court can exercise its inherent power under section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings for non-compoundable offences, considering the ....
The High Court can quash FIRs for non-compoundable offences if a genuine compromise exists and public interest is not adversely affected.
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