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2023 Supreme(All) 2742

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
SHIV SHANKER PRASAD, J.
Kamal Kumar - Revisionist
Versus
State of U.P. and anr. - Opposite Party
CRIMINAL REVISION NO. - 5479 OF 2022.
Decided On : 22-08-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Revisionist : Vikrant Rana.
For the Opposite Party : G.A.,Kumar Dhananjay.

Headnote:(A) Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 - Section 138 - Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Sections 397 and 401 - Criminal revision for setting aside judgments related to dishonored cheques - Parties entered into a compromise, verified by the lower court - The court noted that maintaining societal harmony is crucial and compromises can be encouraged even in cognizable offences if they are not heinous - The revisionist acquitted based on the compromise. (Paras 1, 8, 9, 15, 17)

(B) Compromise in Criminal Proceedings - The court acknowledged the power to quash proceedings based on compromise even when a conviction exists where offences are of a private nature - The court emphasized that the objective is to ensure justice and societal peace, allowing for the compounding of offences under certain circumstances. (Paras 11, 12, 14)

Facts of the case:
This criminal revision was sought by a party accused in a Negotiable Instruments Act case, where both parties settled their financial dispute amicably, leading to an affidavit expressing no objection to quash the proceedings.

Findings of Court:
With the compromise verified, the court ruled that continued proceedings were unnecessary and quashed the previous convictions, effectively acquitting the revisionist.

Issues: The main issue addressed was whether the court could quash proceedings based on a verified compromise between the parties.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that it could exercise its inherent powers to quash proceedings when both parties reach a compromise, emphasizing the importance of societal peace and the essence of justice over mere punitive measures.

Result: Criminal revision allowed; the conviction and sentence were annulled and the revisionist acquitted.

JUDGMENT

Shiv Shanker Prasad, J.

Supplementary affidavit filed today on behalf of the revisionist is taken on record.

2. Heard Mr. Vikrant Rana learned counsel for the revisionist, the learned Additional Government Advocate for the State, and learned counsel for opposite party no.2 as well as perused the materials on record.

3. This criminal revision has been filed for setting aside the impugned judgment and order dated 30.09.2022 passed by learned Additional District and Session Judge, Court No. 15, Meerut in Criminal Appeal No. 135 of 2017 (Kamal Kumar v. State of U.P. and Others) and impugned judgment and order dated 18.10.2017 passed by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 5, Meerut in Complaint Case No. 654 of 2008 (Atul Rastogi v. M/s Maci Organics Limited and Others), under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act.

4. On 25.07.2023, the Court has passed following order:

    "Heard learned counsel for the revisionist, Sri Kumar Dhananjay, learned counsel for opposite party no.2 and the learned A.G.A. for the State.

    This revision has been filed for setting aside the impugned judgment and order dated 30.09.2022 passed by learned Additional District and Session Judge, Court No. 15, Meerut in Criminal Appeal No. 135 of 2017 (Kamal Kumar v. State of U.P. and Others) and impugned judgment and order dated 18.10.2017 passed by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No. 5, Meerut in Complaint Case No. 654 of 2008 (Atul Rastogi v. M/s Maci Organics Limited and Others), under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act.

    It is submitted on behalf of the revisionist that both the parties are known to each other very well and the dispute between them is due to money. He further submits that on account of intervention of well-wishers of the revisionist and opposite party no.2, they have settled their disputes and arrived at a compromise. On the basis of said compromise, an affidavit has been filed by opposite party no.2 before the court below that he does not want to press the criminal proceedings initiated by him against the revisionist. It is thus contended to allow this revision and set aside the impugned judgment and order passed by the Trial Court on 30.09.2022 as well as 18.10.2017, under section 138 of N.I. Act and he be acquitted.

    Learned counsel for opposite party no.2 also does not dispute the correctness of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the revisionist.

    Whether a compromise has taken place or not can at best be ascertained by the court, where the proceedings are pending, after ensuring the presence of the parties before it.

    Put up this case on 22.08.2023 as fresh before the appropriate Bench.

    Learned counsels for the parties undertake that they shall make a fresh compromise application before the court below within two weeks from today for verification of the aforesaid compromise. They further undertake to ensure their presence before the court below or any other transferee court, as the case may be, on 16.08.2023 and the court concerned, thereafter, shall ascertain the veracity of the compromise. If the said compromise is verified, the same shall be made part of the record and report to that effect, will be prepared and the parties would be allowed to obtain certified copy thereof and file the same before this Court.

    Office is directed to send through FAX a copy of this order within 24 hours.

    Parties are also directed to produce certified copy of this order along with a fresh compromise application before the court concerned within a week from today.

    Till the next date of listing, no coercive steps would be taken against the revisionist in pursuance of the impugned judgment and orders dated 30.09.2022 and 18.10.2017."

5. Pursuant to the above order, the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Court No.5, Meerut vide order dated 10.08.2023 has verified the compromise so entered into between the parties. Certified copies of the order of the learned Additional Chief Judicial Ma

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