Simranjeet Singh @ Simranjit Singh v. State Of Punjab And Another

206-A

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CRM-M-13382-2023 (O&M) Date of Decision : 04.10.2023 Simranjeet Singh @ Simranjit Singh ....Petitioner

VERSUS

State of Punjab and Another ....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN Present :

Mr. Kuljit Singh, Advocate for Mr. Peeush Gagneja, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. H.S. Sidhu, AAG Punjab for respondent No.1. Mr. J.S. Grewal, Advocate for respondent No.2. -.- ALKA SARIN, J. (Oral) 1.

The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing of FIR No.0063 dated 25.07.2022 registered under Sections 406, 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 04 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 at Police Station City-II Abohar, District Fazilka, and all subsequent proceedings arising out of the said FIR, on the basis of compromise dated 03.06.2022 (Annexure P-2).

2.

On 02.05.2023 the following order was passed :

-2- "The petitioner has filed the present petition seeking quashing of FIR No.0063 dated 25.07.2022 under Sections 406, 498-A of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act-1961, registered at Police Station City-II Abohar, District Fazilka and all other proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of the compromise dated 03.06.2022 (Annexure P-2).

In compliance of order dated 22.03.2023, an original draft of Rs.11,70,000/- has been handed over to respondent No.2. In pursuant thereto, learned Principal Judge, Family Court, Camp Court, Abohar has granted decree of divorce by mutual consents under the provisions of Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act. Copy of the same is taken on record.

Notice of motion.

Mr. Arun Gupta, AAG Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the State and Mr. Piyush Sharma, Advocate has put in appearance on behalf of respondent No.2 and filed his memorandum of appearance, which is taken on record.

Both the parties are directed to appear before the concerned Illaqa/Duty Magistrate on 30.05.2023 or any other date, as the Court below may decide or fix, for

-3recording their statements, who shall record their respective statements with regard to the genuineness/correctness of the compromise and that the compromise is not the result of any fraud or misrepresentation and is the result of free will of the parties. It would also be verified that besides the accused (petitioner) mentioned in the petition, there is no other accused in the FIR and the parties are not involved or declared proclaimed offender in any other criminal case.

The Illaqa Magistrate/Duty Magistrate shall send his report through learned Sessions Judge concerned on or before the date fixed before this Court.

Adjourned to 04.10.2023.

In the meanwhile, learned counsel for respondent No.2 is directed to file Vakalatnama, positively within 03 working days from today."

3.

Pursuant to the order dated 02.05.2023, a report dated 07.06.2023 of the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Abohar has been received by this Court wherein it has been stated that the statements of the parties have been recorded and the parties have stated that they have compromised the matter voluntarily without any threat, pressure, undue influence or fraud and that the complainant/respondent No.2 has no objection to the quashing of the

-4present FIR. Statements of the parties have also been appended with the report.

4.

The Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Anr. [2012 (10) SCC 303] has held as under : "57. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: the power of the High Court in quashing a criminal proceeding or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is distinct and different from the power given to a criminal court for compounding the offences under Section 320 of the Code. Inherent power is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation but it has to be exercised in accord with the guideline engrafted in such power viz; (i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any Court. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or complaint or F.I.

R may be exercised where the offender and victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case and no category can be prescribed. However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime.

-5etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victim's family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil flavour stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc.

or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute.

-6and 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 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.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has also referred to the law laid down by this Court in Kulwinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab & Anr. [2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052] wherein it has been held that even in non-compoundable offences, if the parties have entered into a compromise, this Court has wide powers under Section 482 CrPC to quash the proceedings to prevent abuse of law and secure the ends of justice. 6.

In view of the above and keeping in view the report by the Trial Court that the parties have genuinely entered into a compromise and all the

-7disputes between the parties have been resolved, it would not be in the interest of justice to continue the criminal proceedings. 7.

Resultantly, FIR No.0063 dated 25.07.2022 registered under Sections 406, 498-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 04 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 at Police Station City-II Abohar, District Fazilka is quashed, including all subsequent proceedings arising out of the said FIR, on the basis of compromise dated 03.06.2022 (Annexure P-2). 8.

The petition is accordingly allowed. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed off.

October 04, 2023 (ALKA SARIN) tripti JUDGE NOTE : Whether speaking/non-speaking : Speaking Whether reportable : YES/NO