Pulkit Khattar v. The State Gnct Of Delhi & ANR

$~5 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CRL.M.C. 2464/2017 & Crl.M.A.10196/2017 PULKIT KHATTAR ..... Petitioner Through:

Mr.Mohit Chadha, Advocate with Petitioner in person.

versus THE STATE GNCT OF DELHI & ANR ..... Respondents Through:

Mr.Kewal Singh Ahuja, APP for the State with ASI Virender Kumar, PS Inder Puri Ms.Himani Gandhi, Advocate for the R-2 with R-2 in person.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE PRATIBHA RANI

O R D E R

% 03.07.2017 1.

The present writ petition has been filed by the Petitioner under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing of FIR No.0225/2015, dated 19th August, 2015, under Sections 354/506/509 IPC, registered at P.S. Inder Puri, Delhi and consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

2.

In this case, the parties are related to each other as petitioner is brother-in-law (devar) of the complainant/respondent No.2. It is a family dispute and FIR No.0225/2015 under Section 354/506/509 IPC has been registered in respect of the issue of closing the valve of the water tank of respondent No.2 by the petitioner, Pulkit Khattar and when she tried to open

the same, petitioner pushed her and started abusing her and used filthy language. When respondent no.2 made a call to police the petitioner also extended threat to kill her. FIR No.0225/2015 dated 19.08.2015 under Sections 354/506/509 has been registered at PS Inder Puri, Delhi. After completing the investigation, chargesheet has been filed and matter is pending trial before the Court of Ms.Snigdha Sarvaria, Ld. MM, Mahila Court, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi.

3.

During the pendency of the proceedings, the matter was referred to mediation and on 21st April, 2017, parties have arrived at an amicable settlement before Delhi Mediation Centre, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi. Copy of the mediation settlement has been attached with this petition as Annexure P-3.

4.

Offences punishable under Sections 354/506 IPC are noncompoundable offences. In the decision in the case of Gian Singh v State of Punjab & Anr. 2012 (9) SCALE 257, the three Judges Bench of the Supreme Court dealing with the issue of quashing of FIR has observed as under:- "57. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: the power of the High Court in quashing a criminal proceeding or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is distinct and different from the power given to a criminal court for compounding the offences Under Section 320 of the Code. Inherent power is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation but it has to be exercised in accord with the guideline engrafted in such power viz; (i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any Court. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or complaint or F.I.R may be exercised where the offender and victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case and no category can be prescribed.

However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime. Heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victim's family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences.

But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil favour stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute.

In this category of cases, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim.

In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceeding or continuation of the criminal proceeding would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and compromise between the victim and wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding." 5.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since the matter in dispute has been amicably settled between the parties, no purpose would be

served in prosecuting the petitioner any more, therefore, the FIR may be quashed.

6.

Respondent No.2/complainant is present in Court today and submits that she has settled the dispute before the Mediation Centre and does not wish to pursue the criminal case against the petitioner any further. She further submits that she has no objection if the said FIR against the petitioner and all proceedings emanating therefrom may be quashed. 7.

In view of the aforesaid amicable settlement arrived at between the parties, I am of the considered view that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the criminal proceedings against the petitioner, which will only be an exercise in futile and wastage of precious time of the Court. 8.

Accordingly, in terms of the mediation settlement arrived at between the parties, FIR No.0225/2015, under Sections 354/506/509 IPC, registered at P.S. Inder Puri, Delhi and consequential proceedings arising therefrom are hereby quashed. The petition is allowed.

9.

Copy of the order be given dasti to the parties. PRATIBHA RANI, J.

JULY 03, 2017 'hkaur'