Gian Chand Chawla And ORS v. State Of Punjab And ORS

CRM-M No. 13788 of 2017 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M No. 13788 of 2017 (O&M) Date of decision : 29.9.2017 ...

Gian Chand Chawla and others ................Petitioners vs.

State of Punjab and others .................Respondents Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice H. S. Madaan Present: Mr. J.P. Singh, Advocate for the petitioners. Ms. Jaspreet Kaur, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab Mr. Tapan Yadav, Advocate for Mr. Manoj Bajaj, Advocate for respondent No.3. ...

H. S. Madaan, J. (Oral) Petitioners - Gian Chand Chawla and others have brought the instant petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing of FIR No. 264 dated 28.9.2016, for offences under Sections 420 IPC (subsequently added), 406, 498-A IPC, registered at Police Station P.S. City Khanna, against them, alongwith consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise, stated to have been effected between them and complainant Preeti Kalra - arrayed as respondent No.3.

When the petition came up for hearing on 25.4.2017, notice

CRM-M No. 13788 of 2017 -2of motion was ordered to be issued. The respondent No. 1 - State of Punjab through State counsel, whereas respondent No.2 through Mr. Manoj Bajaj, Advocate, had put in appearance. Then in light of the contention that parties have since effected compromise, they were directed to put in appearance before the trial Court to get their statements recorded with regard to compromise and the trial Court was directed to send a report to this Court.

Report has been received from Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Sr. Division)-cum-SDJM, Khanna, in terms of which complainant Preeti Kalra and accused, namely, Gian Chand Chawla, Manish Chawla, Deepti Chawla and Ankit Bhalla, had appeared there and their statements were recorded, in terms of which they have admitted to have entered into a voluntary compromise, with free will, without any pressure, coercion or undue influence. Further complainant has stated that she has no objection if the FIR in question is quashed by this Court. There is nothing on record to doubt the genuineness of the compromise so arrived at between the parties. It has been reported that no accused has been declared proclaimed offender in the FIR in question. Alongwith the report statement of the complainant Preeti Kalra and accused, namely, Gian Chand Chawla, Manish Chawla, Deepti Chawla and Ankit Bhalla, in original, have been annexed.

I have heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned State counsel, besides going through the record. Petitioner No.2 - Neelam Chawla accused has expired on 26.5.2017. A copy of her death certificate in that regard has been

CRM-M No. 13788 of 2017 -3placed on record. Keeping in view the fact that the dispute between the parties has been resolved amicably, which appears to have been arrived at between them voluntarily without any threat or coercion and in terms of ratio of the authority reported as Kulwinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab and others 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, where in para 28, it has been held as under :- "The compromise, in a modern society, is the sine qua non of harmony and orderly behaviour. It is the soul of justice and if the power under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. is used to enhance such a compromise which, in turn, enhances the social amity and reduces friction, then it truly is "finest hour of justice".

Disputes which have their genesis in a matrimonial discord, landlord-tenant matters, commercial transactions and other such matters can safely be dealt with by the Court by exercising its powers under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. in the event of a compromise, but this is not to say that the power is limited to such cases. There can never be any such rigid rule to prescribe the exercise of such power, especially in the absence of any premonitions to forecast and predict eventualities which the cause of justice may throw up during the course of a litigation."

CRM-M No. 13788 of 2017 -4The compromise is in interest of peace and tranquility in the society and for such like reasons this Court can quash the FIR and ancillary proceedings exercising power under Section 482 Cr.P.C., it appears to be a fit case to exercise such powers.

Accordingly, the petition is allowed and the abovesaid FIR alongwith ancillary proceedings are hereby quashed. ( H.S. Madaan ) Judge 29.9.2017 chugh Whether speaking / reasoned Yes / No Whether reportable Yes / No