ORDER

Petitioners are accused in Crime No. 433/2021 of Vengara police station registered on 01.12.2021 alleging offence under Section 3 read with 4 of the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act,

1998. Petitioners and the second respondent are students of Panakkad Pookoya Thangal Memorial Arts and Science College, Cherur. It is alleged that on 30.11.2021 and on other dates, the accused persons who are seniors to the second respondent had subjected him to cruel ragging in the college premises. On the basis of the complaint given by the second respondent to the Principal, after conducting enquiry, the Principal alerted the police and the crime was registered on the basis of the communication dated

01.12.2021 given by the Principal. The case is under investigation. Now the petitioners have moved this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing the proceedings basing on the settlement reached between the petitioners on the one hand and the second respondent on the other.

2. I heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned counsel for the second respondent and the learned Public Prosecutor.

3. The learned Publi