Sumit Kumar Chawla v. State Of Punjab And Another

In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, at Chandigarh Date of Decision: 3.7.2015 Sumit Kumar Chawla ... Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab and Another ... Respondent(s) CORAM: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Darshan Singh.

Present: Mr. Anurag Chopra, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

Ms. Rimplejeet Kaur, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab for respondent No.1.

Ms. Kashika, Advocate for Mr. Narinder Pal, Advocate for respondent No.2.

Darshan Singh, J.

1.

The present petition has been filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as "Cr.P.C.") for seeking quashing of FIR No. 143 dated 20.7.2012, registered under Sections 353, 186, 354, 506, 204 & 294 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as "IPC") at Police Station City, Gurdaspur, District Gurdaspur and all the subsequent proceedings on the basis of the compromise deed dated 4.1.2015 (Annexure P2).

2.

Vide order dated 30.3.2015, this Court has directed the parties to get their statements recorded before the Illaqa Magistrate. The Illaqa Magistrate was also directed to send his/her report with regard to the validity or otherwise of the compromise after recording the statements of the concerned parties.

3.

In compliance of the aforesaid order, report has been received from the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gurdaspur through the learned District & Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur along with the copies of

the statements of the parties. In the report, it is stated that the petitioner and the complainant have appeared and made statements on 4.5.2015. He further stated that there is only one victim in the present case and from the statements of the parties, the compromised appeared to be genuine and voluntary.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the parties have amicably resolved the dispute and the continuation of the proceedings will be an abuse of the process of the Court. The compromise, between the parties voluntarily and with their free will, should be given due weightage and the present proceedings should be quashed. To support his contentions, he relied upon the judgments rendered by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab & Another 2012(4) R.C.R. (Criminal) 543 and Shiji alias Pappu & Others v. Radhika & Another 2012(1) R.C.R. (Criminal)9 (SC) and also by Full Bench of this Court in Kulwinder Singh & Others v. State of Punjab & Another 2007(3) R.C.R. (Criminal)1052. 5.

The factum regarding compromise between the parties has also not been disputed at bar by the learned State counsel. Learned counsel for respondent No.2 has also fairly conceded that in view of the compromise effected between the parties, the complainant/victim has no objection if the impugned FIR and the consequential proceedings are quashed.

6.

The petitioner has been indicted as accused for the offences punishable under Sections 353, 186, 354, 506, 204 & 294 IPC on the complaint made by respondent No.2-Ritu Mahajan that the petitioner/accused had abused her in the presence of her colleagues and also torn the government letter prepared by her. In this manner, he maligned the image of the complainant.

7.

From the statements of the complainant as well as of the petitioner recorded by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate and his report, it comes out that both the parties have voluntarily and with their free consent without any inducement, threat or promise, sorted out their dispute and have effected compromise. The copy of the compromise

deed has already been placed on record as Annexure P2. 8.

Taking into consideration these facts, this Court is of the opinion that the ultimate chances of conviction of the petitioner are bleak. Therefore, the pendency of FIR and continuation of the proceedings would be a sheer abuse of the process of law. 9.

Thus, in view of the factum of the compromise and the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court and also the Full Bench of this Court in the cases referred to above, this petition is hereby allowed. FIR No. 143 dated 20.7.2012, registered under Sections 353, 186, 354, 506, 204 & 294 IPC at Police Station City, Gurdaspur, District Gurdaspur and all the consequent proceedings arising therefrom are hereby quashed. If the case has already been decided by the trial Court, then this order will be of no effect.

(Darshan Singh) Judge July 3, 2015 "DK"