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2021 Supreme(UK) 730

UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT
Hon’ble Mr. Justice R.C. Khulbe
Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 1313 of 2021
WITH Compounding Application (IA/3/2021)
RAGHAV MEHRA & ORS. – Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF UTTARAKHAND & ORS. – Respondent
Decided on : 10.09.2021

Advocates:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Piyush Garg, Learned Counsel
For the State : Mr. Lalit Miglani, Learned AGA and Mr. Ravi Bisht, Learned Counsel

Headnote:

Constitution of India, 1950, Art. 226 – Indian Penal Code, 1860, Secs. 308, 326, 324, 325, 323, 504, 506 and 34 – Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Secs. 320 and 482 – Compounding application – FIR – Petitioner seeking to quash – Determination of – High Court is of the view that if there is sufficient clement available that settlement was fairly entered into without any oppression being exercised as against victim – It ultimately results into resolving this discord amongst the parties to a lis – Compounding application filed by parties allowed – Entire proceedings are quashed – Petitioners are reported to be in judicial custody, they shall be released forth with, if not required in any other case – Application allowed. (Paras 11 to 15)

Hkkjrh; lafo/kku] 1950] vuqPNsn 226 & Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk] 1860] /kkjk 308] 326] 324] 325] 323] 504] 506 o 34 & n.M izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973] /kkjk 320 o 482 & ’keu ds fy, izkFkZuk i= & izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ & ;kfpdkdÙkkZ vfHk[kf.Mr djkuk pkg jgk gS & vo/kkj.k & mPp U;k;ky; dk ;g fopkj gS fd ;fn vfHkys[k ij i;kZIr lkexzh miyC/k gS fd ihfM+r ds fo:) fcuk dksbZ izHkko dk iz;ksx fd;s le>kSrk fu”i{k :i ls fd;k x;k Fkk & bldk ifj.kke varr% okn ds i{kdkjksa ds e/; >xM+k lekIr djus ds :i esa gksxk & i{kdkjksa }kjk nkf[ky vijk/k ds ‘keu gsrq izkFkZuk i= LohÑr & lEiw.kZ dk;Zokfg;k¡ vfHk[kf.Mr dh tkrh gS & ;kfpdkdÙkkZx.k ds U;kf;d vfHkj{kk esa gksus dh lwpuk nh tkrh gS] mUgsa rRdky fueqZDr fd;k tk;sxk] ;fn os fdlh vU; izdj.k esa vko’;d ugha gS & izkFkZuk i= LohÑrA ¼izLrj 11 ls 15½

JUDGMENT

Hon'ble R.C. Khulbe, J.

By means of this writ petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioners seek to quash the impugned FIR bearing No.0025 of 2021 registered under Sections 308, 326, 324, 325, 323, 504, 506 and 34 of IPC at P.S. Mussoorie, District Dehradun.

2. The parties have filed the above-numbered compounding application to show that they have buried their differences and have settled their disputes amicably. They are also present before the Court today being duly identified by their respective counsel.

3. Learned counsel for the State opposes the compounding application.

4. It is contended by learned counsel for the writ petitioners that the offences punishable under Sections 323, 324, 325, 504, 506 IPC are compoundable whereas offences under Sections 308, 326, 34 IPC are non-compoundable offences.

5. The Apex Court has dealt with the consequence of a compromise in regard to non-compoundable offences in the case of B.S. Joshi and others vs. State of Haryana and another, (2003) 4 SCC 675 and has held as below:-

“6. In Pepsi Food Ltd. & Anr. v. Special Judicial Magistrate & Ors. [(1998) 5 SCC 749], this Court with reference to Bhajan Lal's case observed that the guidelines laid therein as to where the court will exercise jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code could not be inflexible or laying rigid formulae to be followed by the courts. Exercise of such power would depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case but with the sole purpose to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. It is well settled that these powers have no limits. Of course, where there is more power, it becomes necessary to exercise utmost care and caution while invoking such powers.

8. It is, thus, clear that Madhu Limaye's case does not lay down any general proposition limiting power of quashing the criminal proceedings or FIR or complaint as vested in Section 482 of the Code or extra ordinary power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. We are, therefore, of the view that if for the purpose of securing the ends of justice, quashing of FIR becomes necessary, Section 320 would not be a bar to the exercise of power of quashing. It is, however, a different matter depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case whether to exercise or not such a power.

10. In State of Karnataka v. L. Muniswamy & Ors. [(1977) 2 SCC 699], considering the scope of inherent power of quashing under Section 482, this Court held that in the exercise of this wholesome power, the High Court is entitled to quash proceedings if it comes to the conclusion that ends of justice so require. It was observed that in a criminal case, the veiled object behind a lame prosecution, the very nature of the material on which the structure of the prosecution rests and the like would justify the High Court in quashing the proceeding in the interest of justice and that the ends of justice are higher than the ends of mere law though justice had got to be administered according to laws made by the legislature. This Court said that the compelling necessity for making these observations is that without a proper realization of the object and purpose of the provision which seeks to save the inherent powers of the High Court to do justice between the State and its subjects, it would be impossible to appreciate the width and contours of that salient jurisdiction. On facts, it was also noticed that there was no reasonable likelihood of the accused being convicted of the offence. What would happen to the trial of the case where the wife does not support the imputations made in the FIR of the type in question. As earlier noticed, now she has filed an affidavit that the FIR was registered at her instance due to temperamental differences and implied imputations. There may be many reasons for not supporting the imputations. It may be either for the reason that she has resolved disputes with her husband and

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