Matta Naveen Kumar v. Smt. Matta (Gullapalli) Bhavana

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE M. SATYANARAYANA MURTHY CRL.M.P.No.17736 of 2016 and CRIMINAL PETITION No.15662 of 2016 COMMON ORDER The criminal petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings in Cr.No.471 of 2013 of IV Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 307 read with Section 34 IPC and under Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act, against petitioners/A1 to A4. 2.

Crl.M.P.No.17736 of 2016 is filed under Section 320 read with Section 482 Cr.P.C., by both parties to record compromise and quash the proceedings in the aforesaid crime.

3.

Today, when the matter came up for hearing, the first respondent/de facto complainant and petitioners/A1 to A4 are present and are identified by their respective counsel. It is submitted by both parties that at the intervention of elders, the parties have amicably settled their disputes concerning the present case and hence compromise may be recorded and criminal proceedings in the above case may be quashed.

4. In Gian Singh v State of Punjab1, the apex Court observed as under:

".............. 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 1 (2012) 10 SCC 303

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. In view of the compromise between the parties and by following the principles laid down in Gian Singh's case, this Court is of the view that even if the proceedings are allowed to continue, the first respondent may not support the case of the prosecution and no purpose would be served in keeping the matter pending in view of the settlement arrived at between the parties.

6. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and also the principle enunciated in the case cited supra, I am of the considered opinion that it is a fit case to quash the proceedings.

7. In the result, the Crl.M.P.No.17736 of 2016 is ordered. Consequently, the Criminal Petition is allowed and the proceedings in Cr.No.471 of 2013 on the file of IV Town Police Station, Visakhapatnam, are quashed against petitioners/A1 to A4. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the criminal petition, shall stand closed.

___________________________ M. SATYANARAYANA MURTHY J 3rd November, 2016 sj