Aboobacker vs State Of Kerala

Dr. Kauser Edappagath, J

This Crl.M.C. has been preferred to quash Annexure A2 Final Report in Crime No.96/2021 of Nadapuram Police Station on the ground of settlement between the parties.

The petitioner is the accused. The 3rd respondent is the de facto complainant and the 4th respondent is the injured.

The offences alleged against the petitioner are punishable under Sections 323 and 354 of IPC.

The respondent Nos.3 and 4 entered appearance through counsel. The affidavits sworn in by them are also produced.

I have heard Sri.M.P.Shameem Ahamed, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri.Akhil Philip Manithottiyil, the learned counsel for the respondent Nos.3 and 4 and Smt.T.V.Neema, the learned Senior Public Prosecutor.

The averments in the petition as well as the affidavits sworn in by the respondent Nos.3 and 4 would show that the entire dispute between the parties has been amicably settled and the de facto complainant has decided not to proceed with the criminal proceedings further. The learned Prosecutor, on instruction, submits that the matter was enquired into through the investigating officer and a statement of the de facto complainant was also recorded wherein she reported that the matter was amicably settled.

The Apex Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab [2012 (4) KLT 108 (SC)], Narinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab and Others [(2014) 6 SCC 466] and in State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan and Others [(2019) 5 SCC 688] has held that the High Court by invoking S.482 of Cr.P.C can quash criminal proceedings in relation to non compoundable offence where the parties have settled the matter between themselves notwithstanding the bar under S.320 of Cr.P.C. if it is warranted in the given facts and circumstances of the case or to ensure the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of process of any Court.

The dispute in the above case is purely personal in nature. No public interest or harmony will be adversely affected by quashing the proceedings pursuant to Annexure A2 Final Report. The offences in question do not fall within the category of offences prohibited for compounding in terms of the pronouncement of the Apex Court in Gian Singh (supra), Narinder Singh (supra) and Laxmi Narayan (supra).

For the reasons stated above, I am of the view that no purpose will be served in proceeding with the matter any further. Accordingly, the Crl.M.C. is allowed. Annexure A2 Final Report in Crime No.96/2021 of Nadapuram Police Station hereby stands quashed.