Raj Kumar & ORS. v. State (Govt. Of NCT Of Delhi) & ANR.

$~48 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(CRL) 2499/2018 RAJ KUMAR & ORS.

.... Petitioners Through:

Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Mr. Kapil Kumar and Mr. Sunil Prajapati, Advocates with Petitioners in person.

Versus

STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR. ..... Respondents Through:

Ms. Nandita Rao, Additional Standing Counsel with SI Ashwani, P.S. Jyoti Nagar.

Mr. Prem Priyavardhan, Advocate for Respondent No. 2 with Respondent No. 2 in person.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAJMI WAZIRI

O R D E R

% 24.08.2018 1.

This petition seeks quashing of FIR No. 328/2014 registered on the complaint of complainant/R-2 under sections 323/452/378/506/354/34 IPC at Police Station Jyoti Nagar, Delhi apropos an altercation and alleged assault on her and her son Monty and another relative, by the petitioners. With the intervention of the well-wishers, neighbours and relatives, the parties have amicably settled their lis in terms of a Settlement dated 12.07.2018, which is on record. The petitioners have apologised to the respondent no. 2, who in turn has accepted the apology and has put the unfortunate past behind her and would rather endeavour to live as a good neighbour with the petitioners, who are otherwise repentant and contrite. The parties are present in the

Court and have been identified by the Investigating Officer and their respective counsel as well. The learned counsel for the complainant states that the complainant does not wish to pursue the matter any further. Her son is also present in the Court and has been identified by the Investigating Officer. He does not wish to pursue the case any further. 2.

In the aforesaid circumstances and keeping in mind the decision of the Supreme Court in Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and Another (2012) 10 SCC 303, holding that even a non-compoundable offence can also be quashed on the ground of a settlement agreement between the offender and the victim, if the circumstances so warrant; by observing as under: "58. 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." 3.

The amicable resolution of cases like the present one is an abiding objective. The dictum of Gian Singh (supra) has been affirmed by the Apex Court in Narinder Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Anr. 2014 6 SCC 466 while observing:

"29. 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: 29.1. Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution. 29.2.

When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure: (i) ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives. 29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society.

Similarly, for the offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender. 29.4.

should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves.

29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal cases.

29.6. Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be generally treated as crime against the society and not against the individual alone. However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because there is a mention of Section 307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as to whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to proving the charge under Section 307 IPC. For this purpose, it would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained, whether such injury is inflicted on the vital/delegate parts of the body, nature of weapons used, etc.

Medical report in respect of injuries suffered by the victim can generally be the guiding factor. On the basis of this prima facie analysis, the High Court can examine as to whether there is a strong possibility of conviction or the chances of conviction are remote and bleak. In the former case it can refuse to accept the settlement and quash the criminal proceedings whereas in the latter case it would be permissible for the High Court to accept the plea compounding the offence based on complete settlement between the parties. At this stage, the Court can also be swayed by the fact that the settlement between the parties is going to result in harmony between them which may improve their future relationship.

29.7. While deciding whether to exercise its power under

Section 482 of the Code or not, timings of settlement play a crucial role. Those cases where the settlement is arrived at immediately after the alleged commission of offence and the matter is still under investigation, the High Court may be liberal in accepting the settlement to quash the criminal proceedings/investigation. It is because of the reason that at this stage the investigation is still on and even the chargesheet has not been filed. Likewise, those cases where the charge is framed but the evidence is yet to start or the evidence is still at infancy stage, the High Court can show benevolence in exercising its powers favourably, but after prima facie assessment of the circumstances/material mentioned above.

On the other hand, where the prosecution evidence is almost complete or after the conclusion of the evidence the matter is at the stage of argument, normally the High Court should refrain from exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code, as in such cases the trial court would be in a position to decide the case finally on merits and to come to a conclusion as to whether the offence under Section 307 IPC is committed or not. Similarly, in those cases where the conviction is already recorded by the trial court and the matter is at the appellate stage before the High Court, mere compromise between the parties would not be a ground to accept the same resulting in acquittal of the offender who has already been convicted by the trial court.

Here charge is proved under Section 307 IPC and conviction is already recorded of a heinous crime and, therefore, there is no question of sparing a convict found guilty of such a crime." 4.

Since the complainant herself does not wish to pursue her complaint against the petitioners, the substratum of the complaint/FIR dissipates and any further proceeding apropos the same FIR would be an exercise in futility. Since the parties have settled their lis amicably, nothing survives in the matter. It would therefore be in the interest of justice to quash the FIR in question. Therefore, FIR No. 328/2014 registered under sections 323/452/378/506/354/34 IPC at Police Station Jyoti Nagar, Delhi and all the

proceedings emanating therefrom are quashed.

6.

At this stage, the learned counsel for the petitioners states that as an expression of their remorse and for having put the administrative machinery maintaining law and order in motion, the petitioners no.1, 3 and 4 are ready and willing to plant 100 trees each at such places, this Court may direct. In the circumstance, the said petitioners shall report before the Deputy Conservator of Forests (East), GNCTD, on 30.08.2018 at 4.00 pm, who shall assign them duties of planting 100 plants/trees each at the 100 acre plot recently handed over to the Government of NCT of Delhi on the Yamuna Plains for setting up City Forest/City Compensatory Forest or in any other afforestation scheme. An affidavit of compliance shall be filed on or before 10.09.2018 along with photographs of the plantation in this regard, both by the petitioners as well as by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (East). 8.

The petition is disposed-off in the above terms. NAJMI WAZIRI, J.

AUGUST 24, 2018 sb