Sohail Gaur, Monu Gaur @APPELLANT@Hash State of Rajasthan & Ors.

This criminal misc. petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the petitioners with a prayer for quashing the FIR No.51/2018 dated

10.03.2018 of Police Station Kotwali Churu, District Churu for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 341, 327, 384 and 143 IPC.

In the instant case the respondent No.2 lodged the impugned FIR against the petitioners for the aforesaid offences.

It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioners that on the complaint filed on behalf of the respondent No.2, proceedings under Sections 323, 341,

327, 384 and 143 IPC are pending. It is further contended by learned counsel for the petitioners that the respondent No.2 and the petitioners have

entered into compromised and resolved the dispute between them amicably.

Learned counsel for the petitioners has argued that since the dispute has already been amicably settled between the parties the impugned FIR for the

offences punishable under Sections 323, 341, 327, 384 and 143 IPC against the petitioners may kindly be quashed.

Learned counsel for the respondent No.2 has conceded that the dispute between the respondent No.2 and petitioners has already been settled and the

respondent No.2 does not want to press the allegations levelled in the impugned FIR for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 341, 327, 384 and

143 IPC.Â

Pursuant to the direction given by this Court on 12.04.2018, compromise entered between the parties has been verified by the Investigating Officer,

who is investigating into the allegations levelled in the impugned FIR and the factual report dated 23.08.2018 of this effect has been submitted by

learned Public Prosecutor.

Heard learned counsel for the parties as well as the learned

Public Prosecutor and perused the material available on record.

It is admitted that the dispute between the parties has already been settled amicably and the same has been verified by the Investigating Officer.

Today also learned counsel for the respondent No.2 has categorically submitted that the respondent No.2 does not want to press the allegations

levelled in the impugned FIR for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 341, 327, 384 and 143 IPC as the dispute has already been resolved

between the parties.  The Hon'ble Apex Court while answering a reference in the case of Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported in JT

2012(9) SCâ€"426, has held as below:-

“57. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: 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 F.I.R may be exercised where the offender and 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 serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like

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 pre-dominatingly civil flavour stand on

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, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because

of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put

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 wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to

an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal

proceeding.â€​

It is noticed that dispute between the parties was in relation to fight, wherein the respondent No.2 has alleged that on 10.02.2018 at about 06:00 PM

when he and his two friends stood in a barber shop situated at Bhartiya Road near Band Baba Hotel, the petitioners and other persons came there and

caught hold his neck by one hand and in another hand having knife threatened him tell to give the money and started beating by legs and fists. It seems

that the dispute between the parties has now been settled.

Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and looking to the fact that the dispute between the parties has already been settled

amicably and the respondent No.2 does not want to press the allegations levelled in the impugned FIR for the offences punishable under Sections 323,

341, 327, 384 and 143 IPC, it is a fit case wherein the FIR pending against the petitioners can be quashed while exercising powers under Section 482

Cr.P.C.

In view of the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Gian Singh's case (supra) and in the facts and circumstances as noted above, this

criminal misc. petition is allowed and the FIR No.51/2018 dated 10.03.2018 of Police Station Kotwali Churu, District Churu for the offences

punishable under Sections 323, 341, 327, 384 and 143 IPC is hereby quashed.

Stay petition is disposed of.

The factual report dated 23.08.2018 be taken on record.