IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Anoop Chitkara, J.
Aryan @ Ajay Kumar - Appellant
Versus
State Of Punjab & Ors. – Respondents
CRM-M No. 32898 of 2022
Decided On : 08-09-2022
Compromise - Quashing of FIR - 323, 341, 324, 379, 506, 148, 149 IPC 1860, 307 and 427 IPC - 307 IPC, 320 CrPC, 482 CrPC - The court analyzed the compromise between the accused and the aggrieved person and the nature of the offences under section 307 IPC. The court referred to various judicial precedents on quashing under section 307 IPC and laid down principles for exercising the power under section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings for non-compoundable offences. The court considered the nature and gravity of the offence, societal impact, and the possibility of conviction in deciding to quash the FIR and all subsequent proceedings.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner sought quashing of the FIR and all consequential proceedings based on a compromise with the aggrieved person. The accused and the aggrieved person had compromised the matter, and the parties consented to the quashing of the FIR and consequent proceedings without any threat or coercion.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the compromise between the accused and the aggrieved person, the nature of the offences under section 307 IPC, and the societal impact were crucial in deciding to quash the FIR and all subsequent proceedings.
Issues: The issues involved the nature and gravity of the offence, societal impact, and the possibility of conviction in deciding to quash the FIR and all subsequent proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi: The court invoked the inherent jurisdiction under section 482 CrPC and quashed the FIR and all subsequent proceedings based on the compromise between the accused and the aggrieved person, considering the nature and gravity of the offence, societal impact, and the possibility of conviction.
Final Decision: The court allowed the petition, quashed the FIR and all subsequent proceedings, and discharged the bail bonds of the petitioner.
JUDGMENT
Anoop Chitkara, J. - The petitioner, arraigned as accused in the above captioned FIR, has 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.
| FIR No. | Dated | Police Station | Sections |
| 0083 | 21.04.2022 | Kharar, District SAS Nagar | 323, 341, 324, 379, 506, 148, 149 IPC 1860 (section 307 and 427 IPC added later on) |
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 petitioner came up before this Court to quash the FIR, and in the quashing petition, the aggrieved person has been impleaded as respondent.
4. On 1-8-2022, the aggrieved persons Gaurav (R-2), Ramandeep Sngh (R-3), Sahil (R-4), and Aurav (R-5) appeared before the JMIC Kharar that there would be no objection if the court quashes this FIR and consequent proceedings. Even the accused appeared and sought the quashing of FIR based on compromise. As per the concerned court's report dated 5-8-2022, 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 prosecution qua the non- compoundable offences can be closed by quashing the FIR and consequent proceedings.
7. It shall be appropriate to refer to the relevant portions of compromise deed, (Annexure P-1)as per which one of the reasons for compromise is that all the accused persons are young and want to pursue higher studies. A reading of the memo of parties and the identity documents of the accused also reveal that the accused Aryan is aged 20. Given the young age of the accused and the statement that he wants to pursue higher studies, would be favourable factor to accept the compromise.
8. When the parties have buried their hatchets, the continuation of criminal proceedings will not advance the reformative purposes of jurisprudence just for the sake of deterrence.
9. The following aspects would be relevant to conclude this petition: -
a) The accused and the private respondent(s) have amicably settled the matter between them in terms of the compromise deed and the statements recorded before the concerned Court;
b) A perusal of the documents reveal that the settlement has not been secured through coercion, threats, social boycotts, bribes, or other dubious means;
c) The victim has willingly consented to the nullification of criminal proceedings;
d) There is no objection from the private respondents in case present FIR and consequent proceedings are quashed;
e) In the given facts, the occurrence does not affect public peace or tranquillity, moral turpitude or harm the social and moral fabric of the society or involve matters concerning public policy;
f) The rejection of compromise may also lead to ill will. The pendency of trial affects career and happiness;
g) There is nothing on the record to prima facie consider the accused as an unscrupulous, incorrigible, or professional offender;
h) The purpose of criminal jurisprudence is reformatory in nature and to work to bring peace to family, community, and society;
i) The exercise of the inherent power for quashing the conviction, sentence and all previous proceedings is justified to secure the ends of justice.
JUDICIAL PRECEDENTS ON QUASHING UNDER SECTION 307 IPC:
10. In Ram Prasad v State of Uttar Pradesh, (1982) 2 SCC 149, Supreme Court holds,
The appellants, who are the accused and the complainant, Shri Ram,
Dimpey Gujraj v Union Territory
Gulab Das and Ors. V. State of M. P.
Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab
Parbatbhai Aahir v State of Gujarat
Ram Prasad v State of Uttar Pradesh
Shakuntala Sawhney v Kaushalya Sawhney
State of M.P. v. Rajveer Singh
State of Madhya Pradesh v. Dhruv Gurjar
State of Madhya Pradesh v. Kalyan Singh
State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan & others
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 the importance of considering the nature of the offence, societal impact, and the possibility of conviction while exercising the power under Sectio....
The court emphasized the reformatory purpose of criminal jurisprudence and the need to secure the ends of justice in exercising the inherent power for quashing the proceedings based on a compromise.
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 main legal point established in the judgment is the exercise of inherent power under Section 482 of CrPC to quash criminal proceedings based on a compromise, considering the nature of the offence....
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 High Court can quash FIRs for non-compoundable offences if a genuine compromise exists and public interest is not adversely affected.
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 is that the court can invoke its inherent jurisdiction under section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings based on a genuine compromise, even for non-compoundable o....
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