Rajni Kant Sharma And Another v. State Of Haryana And Another

2023:PHHC:158266

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : 11.12.2023 RAJNI KANT SHARMA AND ANOTHER .... Petitioners

VERSUS

STATE OF HARYANA AND ANOTHER .... Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN Present :

Ms. Suman Sagar, Advocate for the petitioners. Ms. Priyanka Sadar, AAG Haryana for respondent No.1. Mr. Omkala Yadav, Advocate for respondent No.2. ALKA SARIN, J. (ORAL) 1.

The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for quashing of FIR No.0316 dated 19.08.2019 under Sections 323, 34, 498-A, 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, registered at Police Station Civil Lines Hisar, District Hisar, along with all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise dated 18.05.2023 (Annexure P-2).

2.

On 30.05.2023 the following order was passed : "The petitioners through instant petition, on the basis of compromise, are seeking quashing of FIR No.0316 dated 19.08.2019 (Annexure P-1), registered at Police Station Civil Line Hisar, District Hisar, under Sections 323, 34, 498A and 506 of IPC, 1860.

-2Notice of motion.

On the asking of Court, Ms. Dimple Jain, DAG, Haryana and Mr. Omkala Yadav, Advocate accept notice on behalf of respondent No. 1 State and respondent No. 2 respectively. Power of attorney of respondent No.2 is taken on record.

Parties may appear before learned trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate concerned on 03.07.2023 or any other date convenient to said Court and get their statements recorded with regard to compromise. In the event of their statements being recorded, the Court will send copies of same to this Court before next date of hearing along with its report disclosing:

i) genuineness and voluntary nature of compromise ; ii) how many persons are nominated in FIR/police report;

iii) how many accused/victims out of total accused/victims have entered into compromise; iv) if there is partial compromise, what is role of the accused;

v) what is stage of trial, if accused already convicted, whether appeal is pending in Appellate Court; vi) whether all accused/petitioners are appearing before the Court or are on bail; and

-3vii) whether any other proceeding is pending against the accused/petitioner.

Adjourned to 11.07.2023."

3.

Pursuant to the order dated 30.05.2023, a report dated 05.07.2023 of the learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hisar has been received by this Court wherein it has been stated that the statements of the parties have been recorded and the parties have stated that they have compromised the matter voluntarily without any threat, pressure, undue influence or fraud and that the complainant has no objection to the quashing of the present FIR. Statements of the parties have also been appended with the report.

4.

Learned counsel for the petitioners has also pointed out that the parties have since obtained a decree of divorce under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

5.

Learned counsel for respondent No.2 has reiterated that the parties have since compromised the matter and that he has no objection if the present FIR is quashed.

6.

The Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Anr. [2012 (10) SCC 303] has held as under : "57. 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

-4court 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. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences.

-5overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly 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.

-6question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding."

7.

Learned counsel for the petitioners has also referred to the law laid down by this Court in Kulwinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab & Anr. [2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052] wherein it has been held that even in non-compoundable offences, if the parties have entered into a compromise, this Court has wide powers under Section 482 CrPC to quash the proceedings to prevent abuse of law and secure the ends of justice. 8.

In view of the above and keeping in view the report by the Trial Court that the parties have genuinely entered into a compromise and all the disputes between the parties have been resolved, it would not be in the interest of justice to continue the criminal proceedings. 9.

Resultantly, FIR No.0316 dated 19.08.2019 under Sections 323, 34, 498-A, 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 registered at Police Station Civil Lines Hisar, District Hisar, along with all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, are quashed on the basis of compromise dated 18.05.2023 (Annexure P-2).

10.

The petition is accordingly allowed. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.

11.12.2023 (ALKA SARIN) Aman Jain JUDGE NOTE:

Whether speaking/non-speaking: Speaking Whether reportable: Yes/No