AI Structured Summary
Not yet generated for this judgment
No AI summary yet
Generate an eight-section analysis of this judgment — facts, issues, reasoning, ratio and a plain-language gist.
Judgment
37 paragraphs · 748 wordsN.S. Dhanik, J
This criminal misc. application has been filed by the applicants to quash the cognizance/summoning order dated 05.08.2020 as well as the entire
proceedings of Criminal Case No. 46 of 2020, “State vs. Ravi @ Mohit & othersâ€, under Sections 323, 307, 427, 498-A & 506 IPC, pending
before the learned A.C.J. (S.D.) Roorkee, District Haridwar.
Now, parties have filed the joint compounding application stating therein that they have entered into compromise and amicably settled their dispute
and now the respondent nos. 2 to 5 do not have any grievance with the applicants. In support of compounding application, (IA No. 1/2021), affidavits
have been filed by the applicants as well as respondent nos. 2 to 5.
Objection filed on behalf of the State is taken on record. Misc. application (IA No. 2/2021) made, therefor, stands disposed of.
On 11.06.2021, parties were present before this Court through Video Conferencing, duly identified by their respective counsels. They admitted the
settlement.
Compounding application bears the signatures/thumb impressions of the applicants and respondent nos. 2 to 5. It has been further stated by the
parties that now they have amicably settled their dispute. Therefore, learned Counsel for the parties have submitted that the entire proceedings be
quashed in terms of the compromise.
Learned State Counsel although opposed the compounding application but admit the fact that the instant case is a no injury case.
Learned Counsel for the applicants placed reliance on a recent judgment of Hon’ble Apex Court in State ofM adhya Pradesh v. Laxmi
Narayan, (2019) 5 SCC 688, wherein it has been observed as under:
“Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be generally treated as crime
against the society and not against the individual alone. 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 proving 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. Medical report in respect of injuries suffered by the victim can generally be the guiding
factor. On the basis of this prima facie analysis, the High Court can examine as to whether there is a strong possibility of conviction or the chances of
conviction are remote and bleak. In the former case it can refuse to accept the settlement and quash the criminal proceedings whereas in the latter
case it would be permissible for the High Court to accept the plea compounding the offence based on complete settlement between the parties. At this
stage, the Court can also be swayed by the fact that the settlement between the parties is going to result in harmony between them which may
improve their future relationship.â€
Needless to say, non-compoundable offences cannot be compounded. But considering the fact that the present matter is a no injury case, above
authority of the Hon’ble Apex Court and also the proposition of law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Nikhil Merchant v. C.B.I. &
Ors, (2008) 9 SCC 677; B.S. Joshi v. State of Haryana & Anr. reported in (2003) 4 SCC 675, and in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab & Another,
(2012) 10 SCC 303, where there is a genuine compromise and there is hardly any likelihood of the offender being convicted and continuance of the
proceedings, after the compromise having been arrived at between the parties, would be a futile exercise, the compromise should be accepted.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the legal proposition propounded by the Hon’ble Apex Court, compounding application
is allowed. Compromise arrived at between the parties is accepted. Consequently, the entire proceedings of Criminal Case No. 46 of 2020, “State
vs. Ravi @ Mohit & othersâ€, under Sections 323, 307, 427, 498-A & 506 IPC, pending before the learned A.C.J. (S.D.) Roorkee, District Haridwar
are quashed qua the applicants in terms of the compromise.
Present criminal misc. application stands disposed of accordingly.
