Kiran Bala vs State Of Nct Of Delhi & Anr
2016 Latest Caselaw 1685 Del

$~20
*    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
                           Judgment delivered on: 02nd March, 2016
+                          CRL.M.C. No.909/2016
      KIRAN BALA                                         ..... Petitioner
                           Represented by:   Mr.S.C.Singhal, Adv with
                                             petitioner.
                  versus
    STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR             ..... Respondents
                  Represented by: Mr.G.M.Farooqui, APP
                                  for the State with ACP
                                  Dinesh Tiwari in person.
                                  R2/complainant in person.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURESH KAIT

SURESH KAIT, J. (Oral)

Crl.M.A. No.3802/2016 (for exemption) Exemptions allowed, subject to all just exceptions. Accordingly, the application is allowed. CRL.M.C. No.909/2016

1. Vide the present petition filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, petitioner seeks quashing of FIR No.498/2011 registered at Police Station Hari Nagar, Delhi for the offences punishable under Sections 3(x) and 3(xi) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 the consequential proceedings emanating therefrom against her.

2. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the aforesaid case was registered on the complaint of respondent No.2, Alka Rani due to certain disputes. The police has filed the charge sheet, however, charges are yet to be framed by learned Trial Court. Meanwhile, the respondent No.2 has amicably settled her

disputes with the petitioner vide memorandum of understanding /settlement deed dated 25.02.2016 wherein it was inter alia agreed as under:-

"i. FIR No.248/2011 dated 4th June 2011 got registered at the instance of second party i.e. Smt Kiran Bala at PS Hari Nagar, District West, New Delhi underSections 323/506/509/34 IPC against Rajesh and Om Prakash (since expired), which is presently pending before the Court of Shri Ajay Kumar Malik, MM, Delhi and is listed on 27th February, 2016 for prosecution evidence. ii. FIR No.304/2011 dated 6th July 2011 got registered at the instance of Late Om Parkash at PS Hari Nagar, District West, New Delhi under Section 325 IPC against Ms.Kiran Bala i.e. SECOND PARTY, which is presently pending before the Court of Shri Ajay Kumar Malik, M M, Delhi and is listed on 19 th April, 2016 for arguments on charge.

iii. FIR No.484/2011 dated 28th October 2011 got registered at the instance of Smt.Kiran Bala i.e. Second Party at PS Hari Nagar, District West, New Delhi under Section 324/341/354/506/34 IPC against Ms.Alka and Kamlesh i.e. FIRST PARTY at Sr Nos.1 & 3, which is presently pending before the Court of Shri Mukesh Kumar Gupta, ASJ, Delhi and is listed on 14th March, 2016 for arguments on charge. vi. FIR No.498/2011 dated 3rd November, 2011 got registered at the instance of Smt. Alka i.e. the FIRST PARTY at Sr No.1 at police station Hari Nagar, District West, New Delhi under Section 3(x)/3 (xi) of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act, 1989 and 323/506 IPC against Ms.Kiran Bala i.e. the SECOND PARTY, which is presently pending before the Court of Shri Mukesh Kumar Gupta, ASJ, Delhi and is listed on 14 th March, 2016 for arguments on charge.

v. FIR No.86/2012 dated 3rd March 2012, got registered at the instance of Smt. Kiran Bala i.e. Second Party at PS Hari Nagari, District West, New Delhi under Sections 323/341/34 IPC against Dharma

Singh and Pyare Lal above i.e. the FIRST PARTY at Sr. No.2 & 5 respectively, which is presently pending before the Court of Shri Ajay Kumar Malik, M M, Delhi and is listed on 21st March, 2016 for prosecution evidence.

vi. NCR No.852/2013 dated 20th April 2013, got registered at the instance of Sh. Dharam Singh i.e. the FIRST PARTY at Sr. No.2 at PS Hari Nagar, District West, New Delhi under Section 427 IPC against Ms.Kiran Bala i.e. the SECOND PARTY.

vii.FIR No.593/2014 dated 6th June 2014, got registered at the instance of Smt.Bhagwati Devi i.e. the FIRST PARTY at Sr. No.4 at PS Hari Nagar, District West, New Delhi under Section 452/323/506/34 IPC against Ms.Kiran Bala i.e. the SECOND PARTY which is presently pending before the Court of Shri Ajay Kumar Malik, MM Delhi and is listed on 4th April, 2016 for arguments on charge."

3. Learned counsel for petitioner further submits that afore noted settlement was entered into between the parties due to intervention of common friends and respectable members of society and after such settlement, respondent No.2 does not wish to pursue the case against petitioner.

4. Respondent No.2 is personally present in the Court and has been duly identified by the Investigating Officer of the case. Respondent No.2 is not disputing the statement made by learned counsel for petitioner and submits that matter has been settled between them as per settlement deed dated 25.02.2016. The affidavit of respondent No.2 is at page No.69 of the petition. Further submits that the matter has been settled with the petitioner, thus, she does not wish to pursue this case further and has no objection if the present petition is allowed.

5. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the State submits that chargesheet has been filed by the police, and case is at the initial stage of trial as charges are yet to be framed. He further submits that since the parties have amicably settled the matter and the respondent No.2 does not wish to pursue the case against the petitioner, therefore, looking to the overall circumstances, no useful purpose will be served in continuing the proceedings. Thus, the State has no objection if the present petition is allowed.

6. Undisputedly, offence punishable under Sections 3(x) and 3(xi) of the SC & ST Act are non compoundable, however, considering the facts and circumstances of the case and in exercise of the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, this Court has power to accept the compromise. This issue has been decided by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the case titled as Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and Another (2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 998 wherein held as under:

"61....... 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 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. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or complaint or F.I.R may be exercised where the offender and victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case and no category can be prescribed. However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime. Heinous and serious

offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victim's family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil favour stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute. In this category of cases, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceeding or continuation of the criminal proceeding would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and compromise between the victim and wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding."

7. The aforesaid view has been affirmed by the Apex Court in the case of Narinder Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Anr 2014 6 SCC 466 wherein held as under:-

"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

(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."

8. Both the parties who are present in the Court today, approbate the aforesaid settlement deed 25.02.2016 and undertake to remain bound by the same.

9. As discussed above, offence punishable under Section 3(x) and 3(xi) of the SC & ST Act are non- compoundable being of serious nature, however, if the Court feels that continuation of criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility and justice in this case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to an end and peace is restored, it can order for quashing of the FIR or criminal proceedings as it is the duty of the Court to prevent continuation of unnecessary judicial process.

10. In view of the law discussed above, considering the settlement arrived between the parties, the statements of respondent No.1 &2, 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.

11. Consequently, FIR No.498/2011 registered at Police Station Hari Nagar, Delhi for the offences punishable under Sections 3(x) and 3(xi) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,1989 and all proceedings emanating therefrom, are hereby quashed.

12. Accordingly, the present petition is allowed with no order as to cost.

SURESH KAIT (JUDGE) MARCH 02, 2016 M/jg