Court may quash complaints in criminal cases if the parties reach an amicable compromise, even if offences are not compoundable.

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed, invoking Section

528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking orders to call for the records in C.C.No.277 of 2020 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court NO.I, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, and quash the same as illegal, improper and abuse of process of law.

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 08.10.2016 at about 03.00 pm., when the defacto complaint was loading fish, the accused persons questioned the defacto complainant and also abused, pushed and assaulted him, thereby he sustained injury. Hence, the complaint.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the second respondent lodged a complaint before the first respondent and F.I.R. registered in Crime No.473 of 2016, after investigation, final report filed, the same taken cognizance in CC.No.277 of 2020 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court NO.I, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, for the offences under Sections 294(b), 506(2) and 352 I.P.C.

against the petitioners.

4. The case is under trial. By passage of time, the parties have decided to bury their hatchet and compromise the dispute amicably among themselves. Now, the second respondent is agreeing to withdraw the complaint, not willing to pursue the case.

5. A Joint Memo of Compromise filed before this Court signed by the petitioners and the second respondent and their respective counsels. The petitioners and the second respondent present before this Court, identified by Mr.S.Suresh, SSI of Police, Kanyakumari Police Station, Kanyakumari District, as well as by the learned counsels appearing for the parties. This Court enquired both the parties, satisfied that the parties have come to an amicable settlement between themselves on their own voluntarily without any compulsion.

6. In the instant case, where the parties have compromised the matter, the High Court has to power to quash the complaint for the offence under Sections 294(b), 506(2) and 352 I.P.C..

7. The legal position expressed by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab and another reported in (2012) 10 SCC 303 and Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Vs. State of Gujarat )

reported in (2017) 9 SCC 641 were taken into consideration.

8. In the light of the guidelines issued in the above said judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court, no useful purpose will be served in keeping the proceedings in CC.No.277 of 2020 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court NO.I, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, even though, the offences involved are not compoundable in nature.

9. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed and the proceedings in CC.No.277 of 2020 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate Court NO.I, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, is quashed as against the petitioners and the joint compromise memo shall form part and parcel of this order. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

NCC : Yes / No 06.01.2025 Index : Yes / No Rmk To

1.The Judicial Magistrate Court NO.I, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

2.The Inspector of Police, Kanyakumari Police Station, Kanyakumari District.

3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

M.NIRMAL KUMAR, J.

Rmk Order made in Crl.O.P.(MD)No.23 of 2025 Dated: 06.01.2025