Mariappan v. State Of Tamilnadu Rep By Inspector Of Police, Kovilpatti East
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 11.07.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI Mariappan ... Petitioner Vs 1.The State rep by The Inspector of Police, Kovilpatti East Police Station, Thoothukudi District.
[Crime No.400 of 2024] 2.Pandiselvi @ Selvi ... Respondents The Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 BNSS, to call for the records relating to the charge sheet in SC No.13 of 2025 on the file of the Mahila Court, Thoothukudi and quash the same illegal. For Petitioner : Mr.Prabu For R1 : Mr.A.S.Abul Kalaam Azad Government Advocate(Crl.side) For R2 : Mr.R.Balakrishnan
ORDER
The petitioner is accused in SC No.13 of 2025 on the file of the Mahila Court, Thoothukudi and he is facing the charges for the offence under 1/6
Sections 296(b), 115(2), 74, 76, 109(1) and 351(3) of BNS and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. He has filed this application to quash the proceedings pending against him, on the ground that the issue has been amicably settled among themselves. 2.The final report has been filed for the offence under Sections 296(b), 115(2), 74, 76, 109(1), 351(3) of BNS and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. of which, the offence under Section 296(b), 74, 76, 109(1) and 351 (3) of BNS and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002 are non compoundable. However, the Hon'ble Supreme Court, in Parbathbhai Aahir @ Parbathbhai Vs. State of Gujrath [2017 9 SCC 641] and in The State of Madhya Pradesh Vs.
Dhruv Gurjar and Another [(2019) 2 MLJ Crl 10], has given sufficient guidelines that must be taken into consideration by the Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Section 482 of Cr.P.C, [now 528 of BNSS] to quash non-compoundable offences. One very important test that has been laid down is that the Court must necessarily examine whether the crime in question is purely individual in nature or a crime against the society with overriding public interest.
between the parties, cannot be quashed by this Court. 3.Here the case of the prosecution is that the 2nd respondent has borrowed money from the petitioner on various occasions to the tune of Rs.45,000/-. When the petitioner demanded money she gave evading reply, therefore, the petitioner abused her, criminally intimidated and outraged her modesty in her shop. Hence the complaint.
4. Since the conflict is between the private individuals and not affecting the Society at large, this Court entertained this petition, ordered notice and also directed the investigation officer to ascertain as to whether the compromise arrived between the parties is a voluntary one, without any threat or coercion.
5.The petitioner and the defacto complainant are present before this Court today and submitted that on the intervention of the elders, they have amicably resolved their issue. To that effect, they have also filed a joint compromise memo dated 19.06.2025.
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6.The investigation officer, after verification, has filed a report that the compromise arrived upon between the parties is genuine, without any threat or coercion.
7.This Court has verified the parties with their Aadhaar Cards and also verified as to the present status. The parties have expressed their willingness to solve the issue.
8.In the case on hand, the offences are purely individual / personal in nature and the conflict is between the private individuals and it is not affecting the Society at large. It involves the petitioner and the 2nd respondent / defacto complainant and their respective families only. Quashing the case will not affect any overriding public interest. The defacto complainant herself has submitted that she does not want to prosecute the case any further. Under such circumstances, no useful purpose will be served in keeping the case pending, even though certain offences involved are non compoundable in nature. On the other hand, keeping the proceedings pending will only swell the mental agony of the parties. 4/6
9. In view of the above position and following the guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases referred supra, this Court is inclined to quash the proceedings, though certain offences are non-compoundable, in order to avoid further conflict between the parties.
10. Accordingly, this original petition is allowed and the proceedings in SC.No.13 of 2025 on the file of the Mahila Court, Thoothukudi is hereby quashed. The joint compromise memo dated 19.06.2025 signed by the parties, shall form part and parcel of this order. 11.07.2025 DSK To 1.Mahila Court, Thoothukudi.
2.The Inspector of Police, Kovilpatti East Police Station, Thoothukudi District.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
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B.PUGALENDHI, J .
DSK 11.07.2025 6/6