Shahjan And Anr vs State Govt Of Nct Delhi And Ors
2015 Latest Caselaw 6904 Del

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*    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

                      Judgment delivered on: 14th September, 2015

+       CRL.M.C. 3781/2015

SHAHJAN AND ANR                                       ..... Petitioners
                               Represented by: Mr. Mohd. Fasiuzzama,
                               Adv.

                      versus

STATE GOVT OF NCT DELHI AND ORS           ..... Respondents
                  Represented by: Mr. Izhar Ahmad, APP for
                  State with SI Devender Kaushik, PS-I.P.
                  Estate.

CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURESH KAIT

SURESH KAIT, J. (Oral)

Crl. M.A. 13380/2015 (for exemption) Exemptions allowed, subject to all just exceptions. Accordingly, the application is allowed.

+ CRL.M.C. 3781/2015

1. Vide the present petition; petitioners seek directions thereby quashing of FIR No.515/2014 registered at Police Station I.P. Estate, Delhi, for the offences punishable under Section 324/34 IPC against them.

2. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits that the aforesaid case was registered on the complaint of respondent No.2 due to scuffle took place between the parties on 30.11.2014, in

which respondent no.3 received minor injuries. Accordingly, the complaint was culminated into FIR mentioned above. Thereafter, due to the intervention of the common friends and respectable members of the locality, petitioners and respondent nos. 2 and 3 entered into MOU dated 07.09.2015 and settled the disputes between them. Thus, aforesaid respondents do not want to pursue the case further against them.

3. Respondent nos. 2 and 3 are personally present in the Court. They have been identified by SI Devender Kaushik, Investigating Officer of the case. Respondent nos. 2 and 3 submit that to maintain peace and harmony in the locality, they have settled the disputes with the petitioners and if the present petition is allowed, they have no objection.

4. On the other hand, ld. Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the State submits that initially the aforesaid case was registered under Sections 325/34 IPC. Thereafter on receipt of the opinion on MLC section 326 IPC was also added. The case is at the initial stage of investigation and chargesheet is yet to be filed. Ld. APP further submits that since respondent nos. 2 and 3 have amicably settled the disputes with the petitioners and do not want to pursue the case further against them, they have no objection if the present petition is allowed.

5. In view of the overall circumstances; and looking to the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Gian Singh Vs. State of

Punjab and Another1, which has referred to a number of matters for the proposition that even a non-compoundable offence can also be quashed on the ground of a settlement agreement between the offender and the victim, if the circumstances so warrant; and also Narinder Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Anr.2 , wherein the Supreme Court held as follows:-

"29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings:

29.1 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 to be exercised sparingly and with caution.

29.2. 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

(2012) 10 SCC 303

(2014) 6 SCC 466

(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.

29.3. Such a power is not to 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 the offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the 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.

29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly 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.

29.5. 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.

29.6. 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/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 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.

29.7. 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 to 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."

6. Both the parties are present in the Court today, approbate to the aforesaid MOU dated 07.09.2015 and undertake to remain bound by the same.

7. In view of the settlement arrived at between the parties, statements of respondent nos. 2 and 3 and ld. APP for the State and the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases of Gian Singh (supra) and Narinder Singh (supra) and in the facts and circumstances as noted above, I am of the considered opinion that this matter deserves to be given a quietus as continuance of proceedings arising out of the FIR in question would be an exercise in futility.

8. Consequently, FIR No.515/2014 registered at Police Station I.P. Estate, Delhi for the offences punishable under Section 324/34 IPC and all proceedings emanating therefrom are hereby quashed against the petitioners.

9. In view of the above, the present petition is allowed.

10. A copy of this order be given dasti to the learned counsel for the parties.

SURESH KAIT (JUDGE)

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 jg