Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V FRIDAY, THE 18TH DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 27TH SRAVANA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 5672 OF 2023 CRIME NO.978/2022 OF THRIKKAKARA POLICE STATION, ERNAKULAM AGAINST CP NO.17/2023 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS, KAKKANAD (TEMPORARY) PETITIONERS/ACCUSED : 1 ANANTHU AGED 25 YEARS S/O PRADEEPAN, SHANMUGHAURAM, PACHALAM.P.O., PIN - 682012 2 ARUN DINESH AGED 27 YEARS S/O DINESHAN, PAPILLYKKARA HOUSE, THRIKKAKKARA.P.O., PIN - 682021 3 ANEEZ RASHEED AGED 28 YEARS S/O RASHEED, CHATHANVELI MUGHAL HOUSE, NGO QUARTERS, THRIKKAKKARA, PIN - 682021
4 SANOOP AGED 28 YEARS S/O YUSUF, MADAPILLY HOSE, KAMBIVELIKAM, KAKKANADU., PIN - 682030 5 AJMAL AGED 26 YEARS S/O ABDUL AZEEZ, MOLATH HOUSE, THRIKKAKKARA, PIN - 682021 BY ADV C.P.TENNY RESPONDENTS/DE FACTO COMPLAINANT/STATE : 1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682031 2 NIYAS S/O. T.M. ABDUL KAREEM, AGED 25 YEARS SRA 112, CRASH ROAD, THRIKKAKKARA P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682021 BY ADV ASHEEK ANTONY BY SRI.VIPIN NARAYAN, SR.PP
THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18.08.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER
This petition is filed invoking the powers of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“the Code” for the sake of brevity).
2. The petitioners herein are accused Nos.1 to 5 in C.P.
No.17 of 2023 on the files of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kakkanad. In the said case, they are the accused of having committed offences punishable under Sections 341, 323, 324 and 308 r/w Section 34 of the IPC.
3. The prosecution allegation, as borne out from the
records, are as under: On 27.10.2022 at 11.00 p.m., the petitioners herein, in furtherance of their common intention, are alleged to have attacked the party respondent and caused injuries
4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the
parties have settled their dispute and do not wish to pursue the prosecution proceedings. He relies on the affidavit filed by the party respondent in support of his contention. Counsel argues that if the proceedings are terminated, with the recording of the amicable settlement, the parties can move forward in an atmosphere of peace and mutual respect.
5. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, has
expressed reservations about quashing the proceedings solely on the basis of the settlement. He argues that the facts and circumstances may not warrant the exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, it is fairly submitted that there have been no other crimes of serious nature registered against the petitioners to date. It is further submitted that the statement of the party respondent has been recorded, and he has unequivocally stated that he does not have any lasting grievances.
6. I have considered the submissions and have gone through the records.
7. In State of M.P. v. Laxmi Narayan,1, a three-judge
bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court has summarized the law as laid [(2019) 5 SCC 688] down in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab2, Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab3 and in subsequent cases. It was laid down as under:
15. Considering the law on the point and the other decisions of this Court on the point referred to hereinabove, it is observed and
held as under:
15.1. That the power conferred under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings for the non-compoundable offences under Section 320 of the Code can be exercised having overwhelmingly and predominantly the civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes and when the parties have resolved the entire dispute amongst themselves; 15.2. Such power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involved heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society; 15.3. Similarly, such power is not to be exercised for the offences under the special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender; 15.4. Offences under Section 307 IPC and the Arms Act, etc. would
(2012) 10 SCC 303 2014 (6) SCC 466
fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be treated as crime against the society and not against the individual alone, and therefore, the criminal proceedings for the offence under Section 307 IPC and/or the Arms Act, etc. which have a serious impact on the society cannot be quashed in exercise of powers under Section 482 of the Code, on the ground that the parties have resolved their entire dispute amongst themselves. However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because there is a mention of Section 307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as to whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to framing the charge under Section 307 IPC. For this purpose, it would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained, whether such injury is inflicted on the vital/delicate parts of the body, nature of weapons used, etc. However, such an exercise by the High Court would be permissible only after the evidence is collected after investigation and the charge-sheet is filed/charge is framed and/or during the trial. Such exercise is not permissible when the matter is still under investigation. Therefore, the ultimate conclusion in paras 29.6 and 29.7 of the decision of this Court in Narinder Singh [Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466 : (2014) 3 SCC (Cri) 54] should be read harmoniously and to be read as a whole and in the circumstances stated hereinabove;
15.5. While exercising the power under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings in respect of non-compoundable offenses, which are private in nature and do not have a serious impact on society, on the ground that there is a settlement/compromise between the victim and the offender, the High Court is required to consider the antecedents of the accused; the conduct of the accused, namely, whether the accused was absconding and why he was absconding, how he had managed with the complainant to enter into a compromise, etc.
8. Having carefully analyzed the prayer sought for in the light of
the principles laid down as above and also the nature of the allegations, the gravity of the offence, the severity of injuries inflicted, antecedents of the accused, and the amicable relationship that now exists between the parties, I am of the considered opinion that quashing the proceedings on the basis of the settlement will not have any adverse impact on society. In fact, it would only serve to bring about peace and secure the ends of justice. Additionally, persisting with the prosecution would be a waste of time, as the prospects of conviction are bleak. In light of all of the relevant circumstances, I am of the considered view that this Court would be well justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Section 482 of the Code to quash the proceedings. Resultantly, this petition will stand allowed. Annexure-A1 Final Report in Crime No.978/2022 of the Thrikkakkara Police Station and all further proceedings against the petitioners pending as C.P. No.17 of 2023 on the files of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kakkanad, are quashed. Sd/- RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V., JUDGE NS APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 5672/2023 PETITIONER ANNEXURES : Annexure A1 ACCUSED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO. 978/2022 OF THRIKKAKKARA POLICE STATION, ERNAKULAM DATED 14.03.2023 Annexure A2 TRUE COPY OF THE BAIL ORDER IN CRL MC 2518 OF 2022 OF PRINCIPLE DISTRICT AND SESSIONS COURT, ERNAKULAM DATED 17.11.2022 Annexure A3 TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 01.03.2023