Ankur Jindal & ORS. v. State & ANR.
$~28 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 6562/2019 & CRL.M.A. 43054/2019 ANKUR JINDAL & ORS.
..... Petitioners Through:
Mr. Akrar M. Khan, Adv.
versus STATE & ANR.
..... Respondents Through:
Ms. Meenakshi Dahiya, APP for State with SI Ashish, PS Jyoti Nagar.
Mr. Abhishek Sisodia, Adv. for R-2.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE ANU MALHOTRA
O R D E R
% 22.01.2020 CRL.M.A. 43054/2019 (Exemption) The present application has been filed seeking exemption from personal appearance of the petitioner no.4. Since the petitioner no.4 is present in person, the present application has become infructuous and is disposed of accordingly.
Vide the present petition, the petitioners seek quashing of the FIR No.17/2018, PS Jyoti Nagar registered under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act submitting to the effect that a settlement has been arrived at between the parties and no useful purpose would be served by the continuation of the proceedings in relation to the FIR in question. page no.1 of 6
The Investigating Officer of the case has identified the petitioners present today in Court as being the accused arrayed in the FIR in question and has also identified respondent no.2 present in Court today as being the complainant of the said FIR.
The respondent no.2 has produced her original Aadhar Card, copy of which is on the record Ex.CW2/A. The respondent no.2 in her examination on oath by the Court has affirmed having signed her affidavit annexed to the petition Ex.CW2/B and mediation settlement/ memorandum of understanding dated 22.08.2019 Ex.CW2/C voluntarily of her own accord without any duress, coercion or pressure from any quarter. She has further stated that in terms of the settlement between her and the petitioner no.1, a total sum of Rs.10 lakhs was agreed to be paid to her by the petitioner no.1, which has all since been received by her and that there are now no claims of hers left against the petitioners. She has further stated that the marriage between her and the petitioner no.1 has since been dissolved vide a decree of divorce through mutual consent under Section l3B (2) of the HMA dated 25.10.2019 in HMA Petition No.1157/2019 vide a decree of the Court of the Principal Judge, Family Courts, Shahdara, copy of which is on the record as Ex.CW2/D.
She has further stated that in view of the settlement between her and the petitioners, she has no opposition to the prayer made by the petitioners seeking quashing of the FIR No.17/2018, PS Jyoti Nagar registered under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act nor does she want the petitioners to be punished in relation thereto. She has also stated that she has done Masters in page no.2 of 6
Pharmacy and that she has made her statement after understanding its implications.
In as much as the terms of the settlement/ memorandum of understanding dated 22.08.2019, vide clause 5 thereof has stated to the effect:
"5. That it has been also agreed between the parties that the second party no objection regarding to Education, Health, Welfare, Religion, Migration, Travelling, Immigration, Growth and Development related to minor child and this point considered as a NOC from the second party to the first party regarding above cited points."
thus, whereby it was stated that an NOC had been given by the second party i.e. the present petitioner no.1 to the first party i.e. the respondent no.2 in relation to the aspect of Education, Health, Welfare, Religion, Migration, Travelling, Immigration, Growth and Development for the well being of the minor child, it was considered essential that the petitioner no.1 is apprised that the claims of the minor child against the petitioner no.1 cannot be given up by the respondent no.2. Vide proceedings dated 19.12.2019, it was in these circumstances considered essential that the petitioner no.1 on 19.12.2019 made a statement to the effect that he has no objection to the minor child born of the wedlock between him and the respondent no.2 seeking his claims against him qua maintenance or otherwise in accordance with law. The petitioner no.1 has been apprised of his statement dated 19.12.2019 today as well and it is directed that the petitioner no.1 shall remain bound by his statement dated 19.12,2019. In view thereof in as much as the matter has been settled between the page no.3 of 6
petitioners and the respondent no.2 and the deposition of the respondent no.2 and the non-opposition on behalf of the State, it is considered appropriate to put a quietus to the litigation and disputes between the parties for maintenance of peace and harmony between them as also for the well being of the respondent no.2, in terms of the verdict of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Narender Singh & Ors. V. State of Punjab; (2014) 6 SCC 466 wherein it has been observed vide paragraph 31(IV) to the effect: "31. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings:
(I) ........
(II) ........
(III) ........
(IV) On the other, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves. ..................."
and in view of the observations of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Another, (2012) 10 SCC 303, to the effect : - "58............................ No doubt, crimes are acts which have harmful effect on the public and consist in wrongdoing that page no.4 of 6
seriously endangers and threatens the well-being of the society and it is not safe to leave the crime-doer only because he and the victim have settled the dispute amicably or that the victim has been paid compensation, yet certain crimes have been made compoundable in law, with or without the permission of the court. In respect of serious offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., or other offences of mental depravity under IPC or offences of moral turpitude under special statutes, like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, the settlement between the offender and the victim can have no legal sanction at all.
However, certain offences which overwhelmingly and predominantly bear civil flavour having arisen out of civil, mercantile, commercial, financial, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony, particularly relating to dowry, etc. or the family dispute, where the wrong is basically to the victim and the offender and the victim have settled all disputes between them amicably, irrespective of the fact that such offences have not been made compoundable, the High Court may within the framework of its inherent power, quash the criminal proceeding or criminal complaint or FIR if it is satisfied that on the face of such settlement, there is hardly any likelihood of the offender being convicted and by not quashing the criminal proceedings, justice shall be casualty and ends of justice shall be defeated.
The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Each case will depend on its own facts and no hard-and-fast category can be prescribed." [Refer to B.S. Joshi, (2003) 4 SCC 675; Nikhil Merchant, (2008) 9 SCC 677 and Manoj Sharma, (2008) 16 SCC 1.]"
and in view of the verdict of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Jitendra Raghuvanshi & Ors. Vs. Babita Raghuvanshi & Anr. (2013) 4 SCC 58, to the effect : - "15. In our view, it is the duty of the courts to encourage genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes, particularly, page no.5 of 6
when the same are on considerable increase. Even if the offences are non-compoundable, if they relate to matrimonial disputes and the Court is satisfied that the parties have settled the same amicably and without any pressure, we hold that for the purpose of securing ends of justice, Section 320 of the Code would not be a bar to the exercise of power of quashing of FIR, complaint or the subsequent criminal proceedings.
16. There has been an outburst of matrimonial disputes in recent times. They institution of marriage occupies an important place and it has an important role to play in the society. Therefore, every effort should be made in the interest of the individuals in order to enable them to settle down in life and live peacefully. If the parties ponder over their defaults and terminate their disputes amicably by mutual agreement instead of fighting it out in a court of law, in order to do complete justice in the matrimonial matters, the courts should be less hesitant in exercising their extraordinary jurisdiction.
It is trite to state that the power under Section 482 should be exercised sparingly and with circumspection only when the Court is convinced, on the basis of material on record, that allowing the proceedings to continue would be an abuse of process of court or that the ends of justice require that the proceedings ought to be quashed...." (emphasis supplied), the FIR No.17/2018, PS Jyoti Nagar registered under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and all consequential proceedings emanating therefrom against the petitioners are quashed.
The petition is disposed of.
ANU MALHOTRA, J JANUARY 22, 2020 vm page no.6 of 6
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI: NEW DELHI
ANKUR JINDAL & ORS. Vs. STATE & ANR 22.01.2020 CW-1 SI Ashish, PS Jyoti Nagar.
ON S.A.
I identify the petitioner no.1 Mr. Ankur Jindal, petitioner no.2 Mrs. Anita Jindal, petitioner no.3 Ajay Jindal and the petitioner no.4 Mr. Ashish as being the accused arrayed in the FIR No.17/2018, PS Jyoti Nagar registered under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. I identify the respondent no.2 Ms. Arti as being the complainant of the said FIR. RO & AC ANU MALHOTRA, J 22.01.2020
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI: NEW DELHI
ANKUR JINDAL & ORS. Vs. STATE & ANR 22.01.2020 CW-2 Ms. Arti, d/o late Mr. Krishan Dixit, aged 36 years, r/o B-285, MIG Flat, East of Loni Road, Seelampur, New Delhi. I have brought my original Aadhar Card, copy of which is on the record as Ex.CW2/A. My affidavit in response to the petition bears my signatures thereon at points A & B thereon on Ex.CW2/B. The mediation settlement/ memorandum of understanding dated 22.08.2019 between me and the petitioner no.1 bears my signatures thereon at point A thereon on Ex.CW2/C. I have signed all these documents voluntarily of my own accord without any duress, coercion or pressure from any quarter. In terms of the settlement between me and the petitioner no.1, a total sum of Rs.10 lakhs was agreed to be paid to me by the petitioner no.1, which has all since been received by me. There are now no claims of mine left against the petitioners.
In terms of the settlement between me and the petitioner no.1, the marriage between me and the petitioner no.1 has since been dissolved vide a decree of divorce through mutual consent under Section l3B (2) of the HMA dated 25.10.2019 in HMA Petition No.1157/2019 vide a decree of the Court of the Principal Judge, Family Courts, Shahdara, copy of which is on the record as Ex.CW2/D.
In view of the settlement between me and the petitioners, I have no opposition to the prayer made by the petitioners seeking quashing of the FIR
No.17/2018, PS Jyoti Nagar registered under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act nor do I want the petitioners to be punished in relation thereto. I have done Masters in Pharmacy.
I have made my statement after understanding its implications voluntarily of my own accord without any duress, coercion or pressure from any quarter.
RO & AC ANU MALHOTRA, J 22.01.2020