Syed Mustafa Hussain v. The State Of Telangana

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE M. SATYANARAYANA MURTY CRL.M.P.No.17186 and 17187 of 2016 and CRIMINAL PETITION No.15191 of 2016 COMMON ORDER The criminal petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.167 of 2015 on the file of XV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad, registered for the offence punishable under Section 498-A IPC read with Section 34 IPC and under Sections 4 and 6 of Dowry Prohibition Act, against petitioners/A1, A2 and A4. 2.

Crl.M.P.Nos.17186 and 17187 of 2016 are filed under Sections 320(6) and 320(2) Cr.P.C., respectively, by both parties to record compromise and quash the proceedings in the aforesaid crime. 3.

Today, when the matter came up for hearing, the second respondent/de facto complainant and petitioners/A1, A2 and 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 1 (2012) 10 SCC 303

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. 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 second 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.Ps., are ordered. Consequently, the Criminal Petition is allowed and the proceedings in C.C.No.167 of 2015 on the file of XV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad, are quashed against petitioners/A1, A2 and A4. Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the criminal petition, shall stand closed. ___________________________ M. SATYANARAYANA MURTY J 20th October, 2016 sj