Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V FRIDAY, THE 25TH DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 3RD BHADRA, 1945 CRIME NO.1503/2022 OF Ponkunnam Police Station, Kottayam AGAINST CC NO.156/2023 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS -II, KANJIRAPPALLY PETITIONER/ACCUSED NOS.1-3 : 1 MARTIN, AGED 28 YEARS S/O ANTHONY @ ANTICHAN, PUTHUPARAMBIL HOUSE, THONIPPARA BHAGOM, VADAKKUMBHAOM KARA, CHIRAKKADAVU VILLAGE KANJIRAPALLY TALUK, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PONKUNNAM P.O,, PIN - 686506 2 THOMASKUTTY, AGED 27 YEARS S/O THOMAS MATHEW,MANJAPALLIKUNNEL HOUSE , CHENNAKUNNU BHAGOM, PADINJATTIL BHAGOM KARA CHENNAKUNNU P.O, KOTTAYAM KERALA,., PIN - 686506 3 ARAVIND, AGED 43 YEARS S/O GOPALAKRISHNAN NAIR,MAZHUVANCHERRIL HOUSE, THAVOOR DESOM, KIZHAKKUMBHAGOM KARA, CHIRAKKADAVU VILLAGE, KANJIRAPALLY TALUK, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT., PIN - 686506 BY ADV SIJO PATHAPARAMBIL JOSEPH RESPONDENTS/DE FACTO COMPLAINANT AND STATE :
1 ANTHONY THOMAS ALIAS ANTICHAN, AGED 54 YEARS S/O CHINNAPPAN , PUTHUPARAMBIL HOUSE, THONIPPARA BHAGOM, VADAKKUMBHAOM KARA, CHIRAKKADAVU VILLAGE KANJIRAPALLY TALUK, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PONKUNNAM P.O, PIN - 686506 2 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM., PIN - 682031 BY ADV ARUN LUCKOSE ABRAHAM SRI.VIPIN NARAYAN, SR.PP THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25.08.2023, 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 the accused Nos.1 to 3 in C.C.
No.156 of 2023 on the files of the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class-II, Kanjirappally. In the said case, they are accused of having committed offences punishable under Sections 420, 406, 417 and 467 r/w Section 34 of the IPC.
3. The prosecution allegation, as borne out from the
records, are as under: The prosecution allegation is that the petitioners, in furtherance of their common intention, forged the signature of the daughter of the informant and sold the vehicle owned by her in favor of the 2nd petitioner, and thereby caused wrongful loss.
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
[(2019) 5 SCC 688] bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court has summarized the law as laid 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
(2012) 10 SCC 303 2014 (6) SCC 466
compromise between the victim and the offender; 15.4. Offences under Section 307 IPC and the Arms Act, etc. would 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 in the light of
the principles laid down above, the nature of the allegations, the gravity of the offense, 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-A2 Final Report in Crime No.1503/2022 of the Ponkunnam Police Station and all further proceedings against the petitioners pending as C.C. No.156/2023 on the files of the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class-II, Kanjirappally, are quashed. Sd/- RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V., JUDGE NS APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6121/2023 PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure A1 A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FIR AND FIS STATEMENT IN NO.1503/2022 OF THE PONKUNNAM POLICE STATION DATED 17/11/2022 Annexure A2 A CERTIFIED COPY OF FINAL REPORT DATED 31.01.2023 IN CC NO. 156/2023 OF JFCM II, KANJIRAPALLY PONKUNNAM POLICE STATION Annexure A3 A TRUE COPY OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY EXECUTED BY THE MS. CHRISTEENA ANTHONY IN FAVOUR OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 03.09.2022 Annexure A4 ORIGINAL AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 DATED 26.07.2023