Punjab-Haryana High Court
Rajwinder Singh @ Prabhu Halwai And Anr vs State Of Punjab And Ors on 22 May, 2026
CRM-M-24009-2026 (O&M) 1
212
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-24009-2026 (O&M)
DECIDED ON: 22.05.2026
RAJWINDER SINGH @ PRABHU HALWAI AND ANR
.....PETITIONERS
VERSUS
STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS
.....RESPONDENTS
CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU
Present: Mr. J.S. Brar, Advocate for the petitioners.
Mr. Surinderjit S. Nahar, Asstt. A.G., Punjab.
Mr. Satish Kumar Rana, Advocate for respondent No.2 and 3.
MANDEEP PANNU, J (ORAL)
1. This is a petition under Section 528 B.N.S.S. (Section 482 Cr.P.C) for quashing of the F.I.R No. 59 dated 18.03.2026, under Sections 125, 333, and 351(3) of BNS (corresponding to Sections 336/337/338, 452 and 506 of IPC) and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959, got registered at Police Station Jaito, District Faridkot (Annexure P-1) and all the subsequent proceedings arising there from, on account of Panchayati Compromise dated 17.04.2026 (Annexure P-2).
2. Reply by way of an affidavit of Iqbal Singh, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Jaitu, has been filed which is taken on record.
3. During the pendency of the dispute, the parties have compromised the matter and filed the present petition for quashing of FIR. HIMANSHU 2026.05.22 17:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-24009-2026 (O&M) 2
4. Vide order dated 30.04.2026, parties were directed to appear before the Illaqa Magistrate/Trial Court and report with regard to the genuineness of the compromise was called for.
5. The report dated 16.05.2026 has been received from Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Jaitu, stating that the parties have entered into a compromise, which is genuine, voluntary and without any coercion or undue influence.
6. Full Bench of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab, 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, has held:-
"29. The only inevitable conclusion from the above discussion is that there is no statutory bar under the Cr.P.C. which can affect the inherent power of this Court under Section 482. Further, the same cannot be limited to matrimonial cases alone and the Court has the wide power to quash the proceedings even in noncompoundable offences notwithstanding the bar under Section 320 of the Cr.P.C., in order to prevent the abuse of law and to secure the ends of justice.
30. The power under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. is to be exercised Ex-Debitia Justitia to prevent an abuse of process of Court. There can neither be an exhaustive list nor the defined para-meters to enable a High Court to invoke or exercise its inherent powers. It will always depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case. The power under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. has no limits. However, the High Court will exercise it sparingly and with utmost care and caution. The exercise of power has to be with circumspection and restraint. The Court is a vital and an extra-ordinary effective instrument to maintain and control social order. The Courts play role of paramount importance in achieving peace, harmony and HIMANSHU 2026.05.22 17:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-24009-2026 (O&M) 3 ever- lasting congeniality in society. Resolution of a dispute by way of a compromise between two warring groups, therefore, should attract the immediate and prompt attention of a Court which should endeavour to give full effect to the same unless such compromise is abhorrent to lawful composition of the society or would promote savagery."
7. In 'Gian Singh Versus State of Punjab and another,(2012) 10 SCC 303', the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that the inherent powers of the High Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. can be exercised for quashing criminal proceedings or FIRs even in respect of non-compoundable offences if the dispute between the parties is essentially private and personal in nature and the compromise arrived at between them is genuine. It was further held that such power is to be exercised to secure the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of the process of the Court. However, the Court clarified that heinous and serious offences having grave impact on society, such as murder, rape, dacoity and offences under special statutes, ordinarily should not be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the parties. The Supreme Court further observed that criminal cases arising out of matrimonial disputes, family disputes, commercial transactions and similar matters having overwhelmingly civil flavour may appropriately be quashed if continuation of proceedings would serve no useful purpose.
8. In the present case also, this Court is of the considered view that the FIR in question deserves to be quashed as continuation of the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose in view of the compromise effected between the parties. The compromise arrived at between the parties HIMANSHU has been found to be genuine, voluntary and without any coercion or undue 2026.05.22 17:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-24009-2026 (O&M) 4 influence. The dispute appears to be personal in nature and does not involve any heinous offence having serious impact upon society at large. Since the parties have resolved their disputes amicably and do not wish to pursue the matter any further, the possibility of conviction of the petitioners are remote and bleak. Therefore, in order to secure the ends of justice and to prevent abuse of the process of law, this Court deems it appropriate to exercise its inherent jurisdiction for quashing the FIR and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom.
9. In view of above, F.I.R No. 59 dated 18.03.2026, under Sections 125, 333, and 351(3) of BNS (corresponding to Sections 336/337/338, 452 and 506 of IPC) and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959, got registered at Police Station Jaito, District Faridkot (Annexure P-1) and all the subsequent proceedings arising there from, is quashed qua the petitioners, on the basis of Panchayati Compromise dated 17.04.2026 (Annexure P-2).
10. The present petition is hereby allowed.
11. All pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, stands disposed of.
(MANDEEP PANNU)
22.05.2026 JUDGE
himanshu
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether reportable Yes/No
HIMANSHU
2026.05.22 17:00
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document