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Judgment
38 paragraphs · 757 wordsN.S. Dhanik, J
This criminal misc. application has been filed by the applicants to quash the impugned charge-sheet; summoning order as well as the entire
proceedings of Criminal Case No. 1343 of 2021 (Case Crime No. 500/2020), “State v. Yaseen & othersâ€, under Sections 147, 148, 308, 323, 324,
504 & 506 IPC, pending in the Court of learned ACJ (SD)/ACJM, 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 7 do not has any grievance with the applicants. In support of compounding application, (IA No. 1/2021), affidavits
have been filed by the applicants and respondent nos. 2 to 7.
On 05.07.2021, 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 7. 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 on the ground that Sections 147, 148 & 308 IPC are non-compoundable but
admit the fact that the injury is caused by hard and blunt object.
Learned counsel for the accused applicants contended that the injury is caused by hard and blunt object. Learned counsel for the applicants placed
reliance on a recent judgment of Hon’ble Apex Court in State of Madhya 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 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. 1343 of 2021 (Case
Crime No. 500/2020), “State v. Yaseen & othersâ€, under Sections 147, 148, 308, 323, 324, 504 & 506 IPC, pending in the Court of learned ACJ
(SD)/ACJM, Roorkee, District Haridwar are quashed qua the applicants only in terms of the compromise.
Present criminal misc. application stands disposed of accordingly.
