Harbilas Singh And ORS v. State Of Punjab And ANR

CRM-M No.34052 of 2017 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M No.34052 of 2017 (O&M) Date of decision : 16.12.2017 ...

Harbilas Singh and others ................Petitioners vs.

State of Punjab and another .................Respondents Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice H. S. Madaan Present: Mr. Naveen Sharma, Advocate for the petitioners Ms. Samina Dhir, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab.

Mr. R.P.S. Sidhu, Advocate for Mr. S.K. Bawa, Advocate for respondent No.2 ...

H. S. Madaan, J. (Oral) Petitioners - Harbilas Singh and others have brought the instant petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing of FIR No. 42 dated 8.4.2017, for offences under Sections 323, 148, 149 IPC, (Section 325 IPC added later on) registered at Police Station Sadar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, District Sri Muktsar Sahib, against them, alongwith consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis

CRM-M No.34052 of 2017 -2of compromise, stated to have been effected between them and complainant Sanjeev Bhatti @ Aman - arrayed as respondent No.2. When the petition came up for hearing on 14.9.2017, notice of motion was ordered to be issued. The respondent No. 1 - State of Punjab through State counsel, whereas respondent No.2 through Mr. S.K. Bawa, 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, Sri Muktsar Sahib, in terms of which complainant Sanjeev Bhatti @ Aman and accused, namely, Harbilas Singh, Rupinder Singh @ Pinda, Gurwinder Singh, Kushmandeep Singh, Mani and Inder Sandhu, 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 he 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. Alongwith the report copies statements of the complainant and all the accused, have been annexed.

I have heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned State counsel, besides going through the record. It is stated that challan is yet to be filed. It is a case of

CRM-M No.34052 of 2017 -3students fight. 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."

The compromise is in interest of peace and tranquility in the society

CRM-M No.34052 of 2017 -4and 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 16.12.2017 chugh Whether speaking / reasoned Yes / No Whether reportable Yes / No