CRM-M-54175-2022 -1-
287
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-54175-2022
Date of decision : 13.12.2022
Abhay Singla and another
...Petitioners
Versus
State of Punjab and another
...Respondents
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS BAHL
Present: Mr. Lalit Goyal, Advocate for
Ms. Kanwal S. Walia, Advocate for the petitioners.
Mr. Tarun Aggarwal, Sr. DAG, Punjab.
Mr. Sunny K. Singla, Advocate for respondent No.2.
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VIKAS BAHL, J. (ORAL)
This is a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying for quashing of FIR No.200 dated 27.08.2018, registered under Sections 341, 385, 506 and 34 IPC (Annexure P-1), at Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala, District Patiala, as well as impugned order dated 01.10.2022 (Annexure P-5) passed by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Patiala, whereby the petitioner has been declared as a proclaimed offender and all other consequential proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise.
On 21.11.2022, this Court had passed the following order:-
"This is a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. praying for quashing of FIR No.200 dated 27.08.2018, registered 1 of 5 ::: Downloaded on - 14-12-2022 11:36:27 ::: CRM-M-54175-2022 -2- under Sections 341, 385, 506 and 34 IPC (Annexure P-1), at Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala, District Patiala, as well as impugned order dated 01.10.2022 (Annexure P-5) passed by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Patiala, whereby the petitioner has been declared as a proclaimed offender and all other consequential proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise.
Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that all the persons concerned are party to the compromise.
Notice of motion for 13.12.2022.
The parties are directed to appear before the Illaqa Magistrate/trial Court for recording their statements qua compromise within a period of two weeks days from today.
The Illaqa Magistrate/trial Court is directed to submit a report on or before the next date of hearing containing the following information:-
1. Number of persons arrayed as accused.
2. Whether any accused is proclaimed offender?
3. Whether the compromise is genuine, voluntary and without any coercion or undue influence?
4. Whether the accused persons are involved in any other FIR or not?
5. The trial Court is also directed to record the statement of the Investigating Officer as to how many victims/complainants are there in the FIR.
Till the next date of hearing, the operation of impugned order dated 01.10.2022 (Annexure P-5) shall remain stayed."
In pursuance of the abovesaid order, a report has been submitted by the Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Patiala. The relevant portion of the said report is reproduced hereinbelow:-
"From the aforesaid statements of the parties as well 2 of 5 ::: Downloaded on - 14-12-2022 11:36:27 ::: CRM-M-54175-2022 -3- as Investigating Officer and report of concerned Ahlmad, the report of undersigned is submitted hereby:-
Number of persons arrayed as accused Abhay Singla and Anish 1 Taneja Whether any accused is proclaimed No 2 offender;
Whether the compromise is genuine, Yes voluntary and without any coercion or 3 undue influence?
Whether any accused persons are No 4 involved in any other FIR or not?
Number of victims/complainant are there Shelly in the FIR. daughter of Mohinder 5 Singh A perusal of the said report would show that the compromise has been found to be genuine, without any pressure or undue influence. It has been stated that the statements of the complainant as well as the accused have been recorded in the case and both have stated that the matter has been compromised and they have no objection in case the FIR is quashed. It is further stated that the statement of the complainant has been made voluntarily without any fear, coercion or pressure.
Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that the petitioners were not declared proclaimed offender in the present case. Learned counsel for the State, as per instructions has stated that the said fact is correct.
Learned counsel for respondent No.2 has again reiterated that the matter has been settled and the said compromise is in the interest of all the persons and would help in bringing out peace and amity between the 3 of 5 ::: Downloaded on - 14-12-2022 11:36:27 ::: CRM-M-54175-2022 -4- two parties.
This Court has heard the learned counsel for the parties and has perused the file. After perusing the report submitted by the trial Court, this Court finds that the matter has been amicably settled between the petitioners and the complainant. Since the matter has been settled and the parties have decided to live in peace, this Court feels that in order to secure the ends of justice, the criminal proceedings deserve to be quashed.
As per the Full Bench judgment of this Court in "Kulwinder Singh and others Vs State of Punjab", reported as 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, it is held that High Court has power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to allow the compounding of non-compoundable offence and quash the prosecution where the High Court is of the opinion that the same is required to prevent the abuse of the process of law or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. This power of quashing is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone.
Hon'ble the Apex Court in the case of "Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and another", reported as 2012 (4) RCR (Criminal) 543, had also observed that in order to secure the ends of justice or to prevent the abuse of process of Court, inherent power can be used by this Court to quash criminal proceedings in which a compromise has been effected. The relevant portion of para 57 of the said judgment is reproduced hereinbelow:-
"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 4 of 5 ::: Downloaded on - 14-12-2022 11:36:27 ::: CRM-M-54175-2022 -5- 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. XXX---XXX"
In view of what has been discussed hereinabove, the petition is allowed and FIR No.200 dated 27.08.2018, registered under Sections 341, 385, 506 and 34 IPC (Annexure P-1), at Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala, District Patiala, as well as impugned order dated 01.10.2022 (Annexure P-5) and all other consequential proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise, are ordered to be quashed, qua the petitioners.
All the pending miscellaneous applications, if any, stand disposed of in view of the abovesaid judgment.
13.12.2022 (VIKAS BAHL)
Pawan JUDGE
Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No
Whether reportable:- Yes/No
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