Pramod Kumar & Ors. vs The State & Anr.
2019 Latest Caselaw 2163 Del

*      IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
                              Date of Order: April 24, 2019

+      CRL.M.C. 2130/2019 & CRL.M.A. 8534/2019

       PRAMOD KUMAR & ORS.                               .....Petitioners
                         Through:    Mr. S. Shah, Advocate


                         Versus


       THE STATE & ANR.                              .....Respondents
                         Through:    Mr. Izhar Ahmad, Additional
                                     Public Prosecutor for State with
                                     ASI Praveen Kumar
                                     Respondent No.2 in person.
       CORAM:
       HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUNIL GAUR

                         ORDER

(ORAL)

Quashing of FIR No. 697/2016, under Sections 406/498-A/34 of IPC, registered at Police Station Sangam Vihar, New Delhi is sought on the basis of mediated settlement of 5th September, 2017 (Annexure C) reached between the parties.

Upon notice, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for respondent No.1-State submits that respondent No.2, present in the Court, is the complainant/first-informant of FIR in question and she has been identified to be so, by ASI Praveen Kumar on the basis of identity proof produced by her.

Respondent No.2, present in the Court, submits that the dispute between the parties has been amicably resolved vide aforesaid mediated settlement of 5th September, 2017 (Annexure C). Respondent No.2 affirms the contents of her affidavit of 11th February, 2019 and submits that now no dispute with petitioners 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 proceedings, 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 subject matter of this FIR is essentially matrimonial, which now stands mutually and amicably settled between parties, therefore, continuance of proceedings arising out of the FIR in question would be an exercise in futility.

Accordingly, FIR No. 697/2016, under Sections 406/498-A/34 of IPC, registered at Police Station Sangam Vihar, New Delhi and the proceedings emanating therefrom are hereby quashed qua petitioners.

This petition and application are accordingly disposed of. Dasti.

(SUNIL GAUR) JUDGE APRIL 24, 2019 p'ma