Sumit Dhawan And ANR v. State Of Punjab

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision-16.11.2023 Sumit Dhawan and others

...Petitioners

Vs.

State of Punjab and others

...Respondents

CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA

Present:

Mr. Anirudh Gupta, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Gurlal Singh Dhillon, AAG, Punjab.

Mr. Robin Gill, Advocate for respondent No.2. *** MANISHA BATRA , J. (Oral) The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing of FIR No.294 dated 07.11.2019 registered under Sections 498-A, 406, 354-A and 377 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 at Police Station Sadar Amritsar City, District Amritsar (Annexure P1) and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise deed dated 18.04.2023 (Annexure P-2). 2.

The aforementioned FIR had been lodged by respondent No.2/complainant and investigation was commenced thereon. 3.

It is submitted by counsel for the petitioners that a compromise has been arrived at between the parties and they have resolved their inter se dispute, which was reduced into writing as compromise deed dated

-218.04.2023 annexed with the present petition as Annexure P-2. 4.

On the basis of said compromise, the petitioners have prayed for quashing of the aforesaid FIR and all the subsequent proceedings on the ground that continuation of such proceedings would be a futile exercise. 5.

This Court vide order dated 11.05.2023 had directed the parties to appear before the Illaqa/Duty Magistrate for recording their statements with regard to the genuineness of the compromise stated to have been arrived at between them. The Illaqa/Duty Magistrate was also directed to send his/her report along with the said statements. 6.

Pursuant to the aforesaid order, The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amritsar has sent report dated 17.08.2023 to this Court along with the statements of respondent No.2 - Ashwani Verma and respondent No.3 - Krishan Verma and joint statement of the petitioners recorded on 03.08.2023 and statement of Investigating Officer ASI-Davinder Singh as recorded on 10.08.2023.

7.

On the basis of these statements, it is submitted by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate that the compromise effected between the parties is genuine, out of free Will and without any pressure or coercion. It is also mentioned in the report that apart from the petitioners, there is no other accused in the FIR and that the accused has not been declared proclaimed person in this case.

8.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and besides perusing the report by learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, have also perused the record.

-39.

It is well settled that the High Court has power to allow compounding of a non-compoundable offence and quash the prosecution under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. where it feels that the same is required to prevent the abuse of process of law or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. Such power is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone. In this regard, reference can be made to a Full Bench judgment of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab, 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052. It is equally settled position of law that the power of High Court in quashing criminal proceedings or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation. Such power can certainly be exercised in cases relating to 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. The High Court is required to consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceedings or continuation of criminal proceedings would tantamount to abuse of process of law and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate to put an end to the criminal case and if the answer to such question is in affirmative, then the High Court is well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceedings. Reference in this context can be made to Hon'ble Apex Court judgments cited as Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, 2012 (4) RCR (Criminal) 543 and Narinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab and another, 2014 (6) SCC 466. 10.

In view of the proposition as settled in the aforementioned

-4cases, this Court finds that continuation of proceedings would be an abuse process of the Court in the facts and circumstances of the present case which squarely falls within the ambit and parameters settled by judicial precedents and that allowing and accepting the prayer of the petitioners by quashing of the FIR would be securing the ends of justice, which is primarily the object of legislature enacted under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. Accordingly, the petition is allowed and the bearing FIR No.294 dated 07.11.2019, under Sections 498-A, 406, 354-A and 377 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 at Police Station Sadar Amritsar City, District Amritsar (Annexure P-1) and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, are ordered to be quashed qua the petitioners on the basis of compromise deed dated 18.04.2023 (Annexure P-2).

11.

Needless to say that the parties shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the compromise and statements as recorded before learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.

(MANISHA BATRA) JUDGE 16.11.2023 geeta Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes No Whether Reportable :

Yes No