Mukhtiar Singh & Others v. State Of Punjab And Another

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 255+114 Date of Decision:02.07.2019 Mukhtiar Singh and others

...Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab and others

...Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ BAJAJ

Present:

Ms. Sakshi Saini, Advocate for Mr.Mehtab Singh Khaira, Advocate for the petitioners.

Mr. Hittan Nehra, Addl.AG, Punjab.

Ms. Urvashi Singh, Advocate for Mr. Sherbir Singh, Advocate for respondent No.2.

*** MANOJ BAJAJ, J.(ORAL) CRM-3099-2019 This application is filed for placing on record copy of sale deed of residential house in favour of the complainant as Annexure P-5. Allowed as prayed for.

Main Case Through this petition, filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C., the petitioners have prayed for quashing of FIR No.23 dated 02.03.2016 for the offences punishable under Sections 324, 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code ('IPC' - for short), registered at Police Station Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda (Annexure P-1) and the proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of the compromise (Annexure P-2) dated 27.09.2018 entered into between the parties.

-2Vide order dated 30.01.2019, the parties were directed to appear before the trial Court for recording of their statements and report was sought regarding compromise.

In deference to the said order, a report dated 27.02.2019 submitted by the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Talwandi Sabo, reveals that as per statements made by the parties in the Court, they have voluntarily entered into a compromise and the Court is satisfied that the said settlement is without any fear, pressure, threat or coercion and out of their free will. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that no other criminal case is pending between the parties and none of the petitioner is a proclaimed offender.

Learned State counsel also does not dispute the factum of compromise between the parties.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case file.

The Full Bench judgment of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab, 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, categorically held that the High Court has power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to allow the compounding of non-compoundable offence and same is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone. The relevant para is extracted below :- "29.

The only inevitable conclusion from the above discussion is that there is no statutory bar under the Criminal Procedure Code which can affect the inherent power of this Court under Section 482. Further, the same cannot be limited to matrimonial cases alone and the Court has the wide power to quash the proceedings even in non-compoundable offences notwithstanding the bar

-3under Section 320 of the Criminal Procedure Code, in order to prevent the abuse of law and to secure the ends of justice."

In Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and another, 2012 (4) RCR (Criminal) 543, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has also discussed the powers of High Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. and the relevant portion reads as under :- "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. Heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. 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.

-4quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominatingly 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.

In this category of cases, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put accused to great oppression and 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."

Since the parties have settled the dispute and decided to live in peace, therefore, no meaningful purpose would be served in allowing the criminal proceedings to continue.

In view of the above, present petition succeeds and FIR No.23 dated 02.03.2016 for the offences punishable under Sections 324, 323 and

-534 IPC, registered at Police Station Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda (Annexure P-1) and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom are ordered to be quashed.

02.07.2019 (MANOJ BAJAJ) sheetal JUDGE Whether Speaking/Reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable : Yes/No