IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH.

Date of Decision: 13.05.2026.

Rajeev Chhabra ....Petitioner.

VERSUS State of Punjab and another ....Respondents.

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CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH ---

Present: Mr. Nitin Rampal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Manjinder Singh Bhullar, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab.

Mr. Vikas Garg, Advocate for respondent No.2.

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SANJAY VASHISTH, J. (Oral)

The present petition under Section 528, BNSS, 2023, has been filed by the petitioner, for quashing of FIR No.168 dated 05.08.2025 (Annexure P-1), for the offences punishable under Section 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities), Act, registered at Police Station B-Division, Dstrict Amritsar, with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise dated 23.11.2025 (Annexure P-2).

2. Vide order dated 01.12.2025, the affected parties were directed to appear before the learned Trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate, for getting their respective statements recorded with regard to the compromise.

3. Report has since been received from learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Amritsar, in pursuance to the directions of this Court wherein, the factum of the compromise arrived at between the parties stands verified and confirmed. As per the report(s) compromise has indeed been effected between the parties and the same is without any pressure or coercion and out of their free will and the private respondent has also made statement to the effect that he would have no objection if the FIR qua the accused-petitioner is quashed.

4. The trial Court has annexed the statements of the parties in original, along with its report. The relevant part of the said report is reproduced here-below:

Sr. Description No.

1. Total number of persons found One involved as accused in the dispute/FIR

2. Number of complainant/victim(s) One 3. Whether all the accused and Yes complainant / victims are party to compromise & signed the same

4. In case, any affected person (accused No or complainant) is left out or not arrayed as party in the quashing petition before High Court, detail whereof; OR His/her statement is still to be --

recorded, in compliance to the direction of this Court, details of such person

5. Whether any accused has been No declared as a proclaimed offender/person or any such proceedings against him/her have been initiated or pending adjudication

6. Report of the Court whether Yes compromise is genuine, voluntary, and without any coercion or undue influence

7. Any other aspect relevant to the All the relevant aspects have been present case. detailed above.

5. Learned State counsel too submits that there are no other accused other than the petitioner and the private respondent is the only aggrieved person in the FIR in question.

6. In view of the report of the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Amritsar, and the principles laid down by Hon’ble the Apex Court in Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and others (2012) 10 SCC 303, and also by the Full Bench of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, the instant petition is allowed. The aforesaid FIR and all consequential proceedings arising out of it, are quashed.

7. Needless to say that the parties shall remain bound by the terms of compromise and their statements recorded before the Court below.

8. Petition stands disposed of Pending misc. application(s), if any, also stand(s) disposed of.

(SANJAY VASHISTH)

JUDGE

13.05.2026

jitender

Whether speaking/ reasoned : Yes/ No

Whether Reportable : Yes/ No