Samresh Mandal vs State Of Jharkhand And Others

Anil Kumar Choudhary, J

Heard the parties.

This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition has been filed invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure with a prayer to quash the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Jamtara Cyber P.S. Case No.35 of 2022 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 354 (A), 504, 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 67 (A) of the Information Technology Act which is pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Jamtara.

The allegation against the petitioner is that the informant developed friendship with the petitioner and some photographs of the informant were captured by the petitioner without the knowledge of the informant and the petitioner edited some pictures and published the same in social media by creating a fake account and was threatening the informant that he will not allow the marriage of the informant to take place.

Learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the opposite party No.2 jointly draw the attention of this Court towards the joint compromise petition filed by the parties in the court of Additional District Judge No.1 cum Special Judge, Jamtara District, Jamtara, copy of certified copy of which has been kept at page-21 of the brief and submit that therein it has been mentioned that the parties have compromised the matter outside the court due to intervention of relatives, common friends and well-wishers and because of the compromise peace and harmony has been restored between the parties and that the informant does not want to proceed with the case. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the dispute between the parties is a private dispute and no public policy is involved. Learned counsel for the petitioner next submits that in view of the compromise between the parties, the continuation of this criminal proceeding will amount to abuse of process of law as in view of the compromise, the chances of conviction of the petitioner is remote and bleak. Hence, it is submitted that the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Jamtara Cyber P.S. Case No.35 of 2022 which is pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Jamtara, be quashed and set aside.

Learned Spl.P.P. appearing for the State submits that in view of the compromise between the parties, the State has no serious objection for quashing the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Jamtara Cyber P.S. Case No.35 of 2022 which is pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Jamtara.

Having heard the rival submissions made at the Bar and after carefully going through the materials available in the record, it is pertinent to mention here that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur & Others vs. State of Gujarat & Another reported in (2017) 9 SCC 641, had the occasion to consider the jurisdiction of the High Court under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure inter alia on the basis of compromise between the parties and has held in paragraph no.11 as under:-

“11. Section 482 is prefaced with an overriding provision. The statute saves the inherent power of the High Court, as a superior court, to make such orders as are necessary (i) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court; or (ii) otherwise to secure the ends of justice. In Gian Singh [Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303 : (2012) 4 SCC (Civ) 1188 : (2013) 1 SCC (Cri) 160 : (2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 988] a Bench of three learned Judges of this Court adverted to the body of precedent on the subject and laid down guiding principles which the High Court should consider in determining as to whether to quash an FIR or complaint in the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction. The considerations which must weigh with the High Court are : (SCC pp. 342-43, para 61)

“61. … 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 FIR may be exercised where the offender and the 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 a serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and the offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public 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 predominatingly civil flavour stand on a 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, the High Court may quash the criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and the victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal case would put the 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 the wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that the criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in the affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding.” (Emphasis supplied)”

Perusal of the record reveals that the offences involved in this case are not heinous offences nor is there any serious offence of mental depravity rather the same relates to private dispute between the parties.

Because of the complete settlement between the offender and the victim, the possibility of conviction of the petitioner is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal case would put the petitioner 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.

Hence, this Court is of the considered view that this is a fit case where the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Jamtara Cyber P.S. Case No.35 of 2022 which is pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Jamtara, as prayed for by the petitioner, be quashed and set aside.

Accordingly, the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Jamtara Cyber P.S. Case No.35 of 2022 which is pending in the court of learned Additional Sessions Judge-I, Jamtara is quashed and set aside qua the petitioner.

In the result, this Cr.M.P. stands allowed.