Settling matters amicably and marriage between parties can warrant quashing of charges under IPC and POCSO.

ORDER

Dated this the 14^th day of January, 2026 The petitioner is the accused in Crime No.6/2020. The offences alleged against him are under Sections 354 D (1)(i), 509 of Indian Penal Code and Section 12 r/w 11(i)(iv) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (PoCSO Act, in short).

2. The prosecution case is that on 06.01.2020 at about 4.45 a.m., the accused insulted the modesty of the defacto complainant who was a minor and followed her after promising to marry and thereby he is alleged to have committed the aforesaid offences.

3. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, now the entire disputes between the petitioner and the defacto complainant were settled and also that the petitioner married the defacto complainant on 02.02.2020 and a child was also born in that wedlock. Therefore, he prayed for quashing all further proceedings against the petitioner.

4. The learned counsel for the defacto complainant/2nd respondent also submitted that the entire disputes between the petitioner and the defacto complainant were settled and that they married each other and living happily. They have also produced the marriage certificate issued by the Local Registrar of Keralassery Grama Panchayat, stating that they got married on 02.02.2020.

5. Considering the fact that the offence alleged against the petitioner are under Section 354 D (1)(i), 509 of Indian Penal Code and Section 12 r/w 11(i)(iv) of PoCSO Act, which are less serious in nature and they have amicably settled the dispute and got married themselves and living happily, I am inclined to allow this Crl.M.C.

In the result, this Crl. M.C is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner in S.C. No.613/2020 on the file of Special Court under POCSO Act, Palakkad, arising from crime No.6/2020 of Malampuzha police station, stands quashed.

Sd/-