Goverdhan Batra And ANR v. State Of Punjab And Another

-1-

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

Date of Decision: 29.08.2022 Goverdhan Batra and another .... Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab and another .... Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK KUMAR VERMA Present: - Mr. Vaibhav Narang, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Vinay Kumar Gupta, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab.

Mr. Devansh Khanna and Ms. Sapna Khurana, Advocates for respondent No. 2.

ASHOK KUMAR VERMA, J. (ORAL) The petitioners have filed the present petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C., for quashing FIR No. 208 dated 01.09.2021 (Annexure P-1), registered under Sections 323, 324, 325 read with Section 34 IPC at Police Station Sadar Amritsar, District Police Commissionerate Amritsar and all the consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise dated 11.02.2022 (Annexure P-2) effected between the parties.

Pursuant to the order dated 21.02.2022 passed by a co-ordinate Bench of this Court, the parties appeared before the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amritsar, to get their statements recorded. Learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amritsar,

-2submitted his report along with copies of statements of the parties vide letter No. 506 dated 12.03.2022 duly forwarded by learned District and Sessions Judge, Amritsar, vide Endst. No. 2548R dated 15.03.2022. I have heard learned Counsel for the petitioners, learned State Counsel, learned counsel for respondent No. 2 and gone through the relevant record.

It is now well settled that the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings in non-compoundable cases on the basis of settlement between the parties for securing the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of the process where the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal case would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case. Criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character particularly those arising out of commercial transaction or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family dispute can be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire dispute among themselves.

However, such power cannot be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape dacoity, etc. which are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, prosecution for offences alleged to have been committed under special enactments like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servant while working in that capacity cannot be quashed on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender.

-3may be made to Narinder Singh Vs. State of Punjab (Supreme Court) : 2014 (2) RCR (Criminal) 482, State of Madhya Pradesh Vs. Laxmi Narayan and others (Supreme Court) : 2019 (2) RCR (Criminal) 255 and Kulwinder Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and others (Punjab and Haryana High Court) : 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052. According to the report, learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amritsar, is satisfied that the compromise effected between the parties is without any pressure or undue influence. Considering the report of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amritsar dated 12.03.2022 and the fact that the compromise will bring peace and harmony between the parties, aforesaid FIR No. 208 dated 01.09.2021(Annexure P-1) and all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, are quashed, qua the petitioners only. Disposed of, accordingly August 29, 2022 (ASHOK KUMAR VERMA) rishu JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No