Sukhdev Singh and others vs State of Punjab and others

Present petition is for quashing of FIR No.319 dated

14.11.2015, under Sections 406, 420, 120-B of Indian Penal Code,

registered at Police Station City-1 Abohar, Tehsil Abohar, District Fazilka,

on the basis of compromise/affidavit dated 10.01.2016 (Annexure P-2).

Learned counsel for the parties have stated that the present FIR

may be quashed as the parties have amicably settled the dispute.

During the course of preliminary hearing, the trial Court was

directed to record the statements of all the concerned parties, with regard to

the genuineness and validity or otherwise of the compromise by this Court.

In compliance thereof, report from the District and Sessions

Judge, Ferozepur has been received with statement of parties, in which, it

has been mentioned that the compromise is without any undue influence,

coercion or pressure and with their free consent.

The Hon''ble Full Bench of this Court in case Kulwinder Singh

vs. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052 and

Hon''ble Division Bench of this Court in case Sube Singh and another vs.

State of Haryana and another, 2013(4) RCR (Criminal) 102 observed

that compounding of offence can be allowed even after conviction, during

proceedings of the appeal against conviction pending in Sessions Court and

in case of involving non-compoundable offence.

An identical question came to be decided by the Hon''ble

Supreme Court in case Gian Singh Versus State of Punjab and another.

2012(4) RCR (Criminal) 543. Having interpreted the relevant provisions

and considered a line of the judgment on the pointed points, it was ruled

(para 57) as under:-

"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 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 matr committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc., cannot provide imony relating to dowry etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personnel 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."

The same view has been recently reiterated by Hon''ble the

Apex Court in case Narinder Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and

another, 2014(2) RCR (Criminal) 482.

Having regard to the contentions of learned counsel for the

parties and the fact that in the present case FIR was registered and the case

is still at the initial stage, both the parties to the litigation have entered into

compromise and on that basis, the present petition under Section 482

Cr.P.C. has been filed for quashing the present FIR. The compromise has

been arrived at with the intervention of the respectable and family members

and the parties have decided to keep harmony between them and to live

peacefully in future. Hence, it would be in the interest and justice that

parties are allowed to compromise the matter. Moreover, learned counsel

for the parties are ad idem that, in view of the settlement of disputes

between the parties, the present petition deserves to be accepted in this

context.

In view of above, the instant petition is accepted.

Consequently, the impugned FIR No.319 dated 14.11.2015, under Sections

406, 420, 120-B of Indian Penal Code, registered at Police Station City-1

Abohar, Tehsil Abohar, District Fazilka, and all other consequent

proceedings arising thereto are hereby quashed, on the basis of

compromise, qua the petitioners only.