Gurpreet Singh @ Preet Singh And Others v. State Of Punjab And Another

2023:PHHC:151801

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: November 29, 2023 GURPREET SINGH @ PREET SINGH AND OTHERS .......Petitioners

Versus

STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER ........Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR

Present:

Mr. Munish Raj Chaudhary, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. I.P.S. Sabharwal, DAG, Punjab.

Mr. Rajat Verma, Advocate for Mr. Deepak Kohli, Advocate for the respondent No.2. **** HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL) 1.

This petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking quashing of FIR No.0298 dated 27.07.2019 registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B Indian Penal Code at Police Station Barnala, District Barnala, (Annexure P-1) and all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom in view of the compromise dated 01.05.2023.

2.

The FIR has been registered on the statement of complainant namely, Baljinder Singh on the allegations that the accused-petitioners duped him of Rs.5,00,000/- on pretext of recruitment in railway department. Now with the intervention of respectable persons, the matter has been amicably compromised between the parties and they have resolved their disputes and differences.

-23.

Keeping in view the fact that the parties have entered into a compromise, they were directed to appear before the trial court/Illaqa Magistrate for getting their statements recorded in support of the compromise. In pursuance of the direction, a report dated 20.11.2023 has been received from Chief Judicial Magistrate, Barnala stating that the compromise arrived at between the parties is without any pressure or coercion from any one and the same is genuine one. 4.

Learned Deputy Advocate General, Punjab on instructions from Investigating Officer and learned counsel for respondent No.2 admit the factum of compromise and submit that in case the parties have indeed settled their dispute, the State would have no objection to the quashing of the FIR, in view of the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

5.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the record with their able assistance. 6.

In a decision, based on compromise, none of the parties is a loser. Rather, a compromise not only brings peace and harmony between the parties to a dispute, but also restores tranquility in the society. After considering the nature of offences allegedly committed and the fact that both the parties have amicably settled their dispute, continuance of criminal prosecution would be an exercise in futility, as the chances of ultimate conviction are bleak. A two Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Shakunta Sawhney (Mrs) Vs. Kaushalya (Mrs.) and others (1980) 1 SCC 63, speaking through Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, has held as under:-

-3- "4. ....The finest hour of justice arrives propitiously when parties, despite falling apart, bury the hatchet and weave a sense of fellowship or reunion....."

7.

Consequently, keeping in view the fact that the dispute has been amicably settled and in view of the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Narinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab and another, (2014) 6 SCC 466 and Ramgopal and another Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh 2021 SCC OnLine SC 834 and Full Bench of this Court in Kulwinder Singh Vs. State of Punjab 2007 (3) RCR (Crl.) 1052, this petition is allowed and FIR No.0298 dated 27.07.2019 registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B Indian Penal Code at Police Station Barnala, District Barnala (Annexure P-1) and all subsequent proceedings arising out of the same are quashed qua petitioners.

29.11.2023 (HARPREET SINGH BRAR) tejwinder JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No