Varun Bhalla vs State of H.P.

Tarlok Singh Chauhan, J.—By way of present petition, the petitioners seek quashing of FIR No. 209 of 2014 dated 15.9.2014 registered at Police Station, Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P. under Sections 498-A, 506 and 34 IPC.

The parties are present in person and identified as such by their respective counsel.

It is jointly represented by learned counsel for the parties that the parties have settled all the disputes amicably and respondent No. 2/complainant does not want to pursue the case any further. The petitioners have undertaken to pay a sum of Rs. 8,00,000/- to respondent No. 2 towards full and final settlement of all the disputes. Rs. 1,00,000/- has already been paid to the respondent No. 2 and four drafts bearing Nos. 758255, 758257, 758253 and 758256, dated 10.11.2014 drawn at Punjab National bank, Faridabad (Haryana) in the sum of Rs. 70,000/-, Rs. 1,00,000/-, Rs. 3,90,000/- and Rs. 40,000/- totaling Rs. 6,00,000/- have been handed over to respondent No. 2 in the Court today. Further a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- would be paid by the petitioners on 22.12.2014 when the parties would appear before the Court of learned District Judge, Mandi, where a petition under Section 13(B)(i) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for dissolution of marriage by a decree of divorce by way of mutual consent, is stated to be pending

Now, the question arises as to whether this Court can quash the FIR and all consequential proceedings registered against the petitioners. This court is not powerless in such situation and adequate powers have been conferred upon it, under section 482 Cr.P.C. (hereinafter referred to as the Code) for accepting the settlement entered into between the parties and to quash the proceedings arising out of the FIR, which have consequently culminated into a settlement. This power has been conferred to subserve the ends of justice or/and to prevent abuse of the process of any court. Though, such power is required to be exercised with circumspection and in cases which do not involve heinous and serious offence of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity etc. The law on this subject has been summed up in a recent judgment of the Hon''ble Supreme Court in Narinder Singh and Others Vs. State of Punjab and Another, , wherein it was held as under:

"(I) Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is t to be exercised sparingly and with caution.

(II) When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure:

(i) ends of justice, or

(ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any Court. While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives.

(III) Such a power is not be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, for offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the of offences committed by Public Servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender.

(IV) On the other, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre--dominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves.

(V) While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal cases.

(VI) Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore is 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/delegate 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 later 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.

(VII) While deciding whether to exercise its power under Section 482 of the Code or not, timings of settlement play a crucial role. Those cases where the settlement is arrived at immediately after the alleged commission of offence and the matter is still under investigation, the High Court may be liberal in accepting the settlement to quash the criminal proceedings/investigation. It is because of the reason that at this stage the investigation is still on and even the charge sheet has not been filed. Likewise, those cases where the charge is framed but the evidence is yet to start or the evidence is still at infancy stage, the High Court can show benevolence in exercising its powers favourably, but after prima facie assessment of the circumstances/material mentioned above. On the other hand, where the prosecution evidence is almost complete or after the conclusion of the evidence the matter is at the stage of argument, normally the High Court should refrain from exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code, as in such cases the trial court would be in a position to decide the case finally on merits and to come a conclusion as to whether the offence under Section 307 IPC is committed or not. Similarly, in those cases where the conviction is already recorded by the trial court and the matter is at the appellate stage before the High Court, mere compromise between the parties would not be a ground to accept the same resulting in acquittal of the offender who has already been convicted by the trial court. Here charge is proved under Section 307 IPC and conviction is already recorded of a heinous crime and, therefore, there is no question of sparing a convict found guilty of such a crime."

As already observed, the parties have already reached an amicable settlement and at best it was the complainant, who could be said to be affected and aggrieved party, but herein even the affected and aggrieved party i.e. complainant/respondent No. 2 is not interested to pursue the complaint and does not want to hold the petitioners responsible for the offence under the Act. Therefore, quashing of the complaint initiated at the instance of the respondent No. 2/complainant would be a step towards securing the ends of justice and to prevent abuse of process of the Court.

Keeping in mind the aforesaid exposition of law, it is clear that the facts of this case do not in any manner fall within the exception culled out by the Hon''ble Supreme Court in Narinder Singh case (supra). Thus, taking holistic view of the matter and further taking into consideration all the attending facts and circumstances as also the law laid down by the Hon''ble Supreme Court in Narinder Singh''s case (supra), I find this to be a fit case to exercise the powers under section 482 of the Code.

In view of the settlement arrived at between the parties, no purpose would be served by keeping the proceedings under Section 13(B)(i) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 pending. Therefore, the learned District Judge, Mandi is directed to pass a decree of divorce for dissolution of marriage by way of mutual consent on 22.12.2014 itself.

In view of the subsequent developments, FIR No. 209 of 2014 dated 15.9.2014 registered at Police Station, Sundernagar, District Mandi, H.P. under Sections 498-A, 506 and 34 IPC against the petitioners and all consequential proceedings, if any, arising out of the aforesaid FIR, are also quashed and set-aside.

The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

An authenticated of this judgment be handed over to the learned counsel for the parties by the Court Master today itself.