Full Judgment
Crl.Misc.not M- 6941 of 2013 (O&M) 1 Crl.Misc.not M- 7344 of 2013 (O&M) In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh Date of decision :
30. 7.2013 Crl.Misc.not M- 6941 of 2013 (O&M) Kuwinder Singh and others ......Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and another .......Respondents Crl.Misc.not M- 7344 of 2013 (O&M) Ramanjit Singh @ Ramandeep Singh and others ......Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and another .......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE SABINA Present: Mr.Gurwinder Pal Singh, Advocate for Kuwinder Singh and otheRs.Mr.H.S.Rakhra, Advocate for Ramanjit Singh @ Ramandeep Singh and others Mr.Deep Singh, AAG, Punjab.
**** Devi Anita 2013.07.31 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh Crl.Misc.not M- 6941 of 2013 (O&M) 2 Crl.Misc.not M- 7344 of 2013 (O&M) SABINA, J.
Vide this judgment, above mentioned two petitions would be disposed of as petitioners have sought quashing of FIR No.38 dated 26.5.2011, registered at Police Station Ajitwal and District Moga under Sections 323, 324, 325, 148, 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC' for short) as well as its cross-version and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom in view of the compromise arrived at between the parties.
Learned counsel for the parties have submitted that it is a case of version and cross-version.
Both the parties have not amicably settled their dispute as they are facing criminal procedings instituted by them against each otheRs.As per the Full Bench judgment of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others versus State of Punjab, 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, High Court has power under Section 482 Cr.P.C.to allow the compounding of non-compoundable offence and quash the prosecution where the High Court felt that the same was required to prevent the abuse of the process of any Court or to otherwise secure the ends of justice.
This power of quashing is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone.
Hon'ble the Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh versus State of Punjab and another 2012 (4) RCR (Crl.) 543, has held as under:- Devi Anita 2013.07.31 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh Crl.Misc.not M- 6941 of 2013 (O&M) 3 Crl.Misc.not M- 7344 of 2013 (O&M) “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 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.
Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Devi Anita Corruption Act or the offences committed by public 2013.07.31 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh Crl.Misc.not M- 6941 of 2013 (O&M) 4 Crl.Misc.not M- 7344 of 2013 (O&M) servants while working in that capacity etc.cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences.
But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly 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.
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 Devi Anita wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is 2013.07.31 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh Crl.Misc.not M- 6941 of 2013 (O&M) 5 Crl.Misc.not M- 7344 of 2013 (O&M) 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 arrived at a compromise and have decided to live in peace, no useful purpose would be served in allowing the criminal proceedings to continue.
Accordingly, both the petitions are allowed.
FIR No.38 dated 26.5.2011, registered at Police Station Ajitwal and District Moga under Sections 323, 324, 325, 148, 149 IPC as well as its cross-version and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom are quashed.
(SABINA) JUDGE July 30, 2013 anita Devi Anita 2013.07.31 16:36 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh