* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Date of Order: March 29, 2019
+ CRL.M.C. 1660/2019 & CRL.M.A. 6658/2019
FAGUN GAUR ..... Petitioner
Through: Mr. Pulkit Sachdeva, Advocate.
Versus
STATE & ORS .....Respondents
Through: Mr. M.S. Oberoi, Additional
Public Prosecutor for State with SI
Surendra Singh.
Mr. Anurag Chibber, Advocates
with Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 in
person.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL GAUR
ORDER
(ORAL) Quashing of FIR No. 477/2014, under Sections 279/337 of IPC registered at police station South Campus, New Delhi is sought on the basis of affidavits of respondent Nos. 2 & 3 of 11th March, 2019.
Upon notice, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent- State submits that respondent Nos. 2 & 3, present in the Court, are the complainants/first-informants of the FIR in question and they have been identified to be so, by SI Surendra Singh on the basis of identity proof produced by them.
Respondent Nos. 2 & 3, present in the Court, submit that accident Crl.M.C No. 1660/2019 Page 1 of 3 in question has taken place due to error of judgment and that they have been duly compensated and so the proceedings arising out of this FIR be brought to an end. Respondent Nos. 2 & 3 affirm the contents of their affidavits of 11th March, 2019 supporting this petition and submit that now no dispute with petitioner survives and so, the proceedings arising out of the FIR in question be brought to an end. Supreme Court in Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Vs. State of Gujarat (2017) 9 SCC 641 has reiterated the parameters for exercising inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing of FIR/criminal complaint, which are as under:-
16.7. As distinguished from serious offences, there may be criminal cases which have an overwhelming or predominant element of a civil dispute. They stand on a distinct footing insofar as the exercise of the inherent power to quash is concerned. 16.8. Criminal cases involving offences which arise from commercial, financial, mercantile, partnership or similar transactions with an essentially civil flavour may in appropriate situations fall for quashing where parties have settled the dispute. 16.9. In such a case, the High Court may quash the criminal proceeding if in view of the compromise between the disputants, the possibility of a conviction is remote and the continuation of a criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice".
Since the accident in question had taken place due to bonafide error of judgment therefore, I find that continuance of proceedings arising out of the FIR in question would be an exercise in futility.
Accordingly, this petition is allowed subject to costs of ₹10,000/- to be deposited by petitioner with the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund within a week from today. Upon placing on record the receipt of Crl.M.C No. 1660/2019 Page 2 of 3 costs within a week thereafter and handing over its copy to the Investigating Officer of this case, FIR No. 477/2014, under Sections 279/337 of IPC registered at police station South Campus, New Delhi and the proceedings emanating therefrom shall stand quashed qua petitioner.
This petition and application are accordingly disposed of. Dasti.
(SUNIL GAUR) JUDGE MARCH 29, 2019 p'ma Crl.M.C No. 1660/2019 Page 3 of 3