Vijay Kumar v. State Of Punjab And ANR.
-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Misc. No. M- 23790 of 2017(O&M) Date of Decision: March 27 , 2018.
Vijay Kumar ...... PETITIONER(s)
Versus
State of Punjab and another ...... RESPONDENT (s) CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE LISA GILL
Present:
Ms. Gaganjot Kaur, Advocate for the petitioner.
Mr. Sukhbir Singh, AAG, Punjab.
Mr. Surender Saini, Advocate for the complainant/respondent No.2.
***** LISA GILL, J.
Prayer in this petition is for quashing of FIR No.78 dated 09.08.2013 under Sections 406/498A IPC, registered at Police Station Women Cell, Ludhiana and all other consequential proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of a compromise arrived at between the parties. The abovesaid FIR was registered at the instance of respondent No.2 due to matrimonial discord with her husband i.e., the petitioner. With the intervention of respectables and relatives, the matter has been amicably resolved between the parties. The petitioner and his wife, respondent No.2 decided to part ways.
-2It is informed that petition under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 filed by the petitioner and respondent No.2 has since been allowed. The entire settled amount has been handed over to respondent No.2. This Court on 22.09.2017 directed the parties to appear before learned trial court for recording their statements in respect to the abovementioned compromise. Learned trial court was directed to submit a report regarding the genuineness of the compromise, as to whether it has been arrived at out of the free will and volition of the parties without any coercion, fear or undue influence. Learned trial court was also directed to intimate whether the petitioner is absconding/proclaimed offender and whether any other case is pending against him. Information was sought as to whether all affected persons are a party to the settlement.
Pursuant to order dated 22.09.2017, the parties appeared before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ludhiana and their statements were recorded on 29.09.2017. Respondent No.2 stated that she has compromised the matter with the accused petitioner out of her own free will without any pressure or coercion. It is mentioned that a petition under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 has been filed by her alongwith her husband, the petitioner. A sum of `4,00,000/-, it is stated, was received by her and the balance amount of `4,00,000/- would be received by her on 22.11.2017 at the time of making statements at second motion in the abovesaid proceedings. Respondent No.2 further stated that she has no objection in case the abovesaid FIR against the accused petitioner is quashed. Statement of the petitioner in respect to the settlement was recorded as well.
-3As per report dated 11.10.2017 received from the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ludhiana, satisfaction is expressed that the compromise between the parties is genuine, arrived at out of their free will without any pressure or coercion. The petitioner is not reported to be a proclaimed offender. Statements of the parties are appended alongwith the said report. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 reaffirms and verifies the factum of settlement between the parties. It is affirmed that petition under Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 filed by the petitioner and respondent No.2 has been allowed and the entire settled amount has been received by respondent No.2. It is reiterated that respondent No.2 has no objection to the quashing of the abovementioned FIR against the petitioner.
Learned counsel for the State submits that as the abovesaid FIR arises out of a matrimonial dispute, the State has no objection to the quashing of the FIR in question as well as all consequential proceedings on the basis of a settlement arrived at between the parties.
In Kulwinder Singh and others versus State of Punjab and another 2007 (3) R.C.R. (Criminal) 1052, a five member Bench of this Court has observed 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 Criminal Procedure Code 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". The Hon'ble Supreme Court in B.S.Joshi and others v. State of Haryana, 2003(4) SCC 675 has observed that it becomes the duty of the Court to
-4encourage genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of this case, it would be in the interest of justice to quash the abovesaid FIR as no useful purpose would be served by continuance of the present proceedings. It will merely lead to wastage of precious time of the court and would be an exercise in futility. This petition is, thus, allowed and FIR No.78 dated 09.08.2013 under Sections 406/498A IPC, registered at Police Station Women Cell, Ludhiana alongwith all consequential proceedings are, hereby, quashed. ( LISA GILL ) March 27 , 2018.
JUDGE 'om'
Whether speaking/reasoned:
Yes/No Whether reportable:
Yes/No