Pardeep Singh vs State Of Punjab And Another
2021 Latest Caselaw 3050 P&H

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       IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
                      CHANDIGARH

                                               CRM-M-24407-2021 (O&M)
                                               Date of decision: 27.10.2021

Pardeep Singh                                                   ...Petitioner
                                      Versus

State of Punjab and another                                     ...Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARNARESH SINGH GILL

Present:    Mr. S.K. Singla, Advocate for the petitioner.

            Mr. H.S. Multani, AAG Punjab.

            Mr. Mahi Pal Yadav, Advocate for respondent No. 2.

            ****

HARNARESH SINGH GILL, J. (ORAL)

Through this petition, the petitioner seeks quashing of FIR

No.47 dated 07.04.2021 (Annexure P-1) registered under Sections 379-B and

323 IPC at Police Station Amargarh, District Sangrur, along with all

subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise dated

02.06.2021 (Annexure P-2).

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the compromise

was effected only between the petitioner and respondent No. 2, not with co-

accused Amritpal Singh @ Amrit.

In support of his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner

has relied upon the judgment passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in

CRM-M-32207-2016 titled as `Sehbaz Khan alias Shebaj Khan and another

Vs. State of Punjab and others', decided on 10.03.2017.

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Vide orders dated 20.07.2021, the trial Court was directed to

record the statements of the parties with regard to the genuineness and

validity or otherwise of the compromise.

In compliance thereof, the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class,

Malerkotla, has submitted a report vide letter dated 07.10.2021, which

indicates that the parties appeared before him and got recorded their

respective statements with regard to the validity of the compromise. As per

the report, the compromise arrived at between the parties is with free will and

without any pressure or coercion.

The Hon'ble Full Bench of this Court in case Kulwinder Singh

vs. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052 and

Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in case Sube Singh and another vs.

State of Haryana and another, 2013(4) RCR (Criminal) 102 observed that

compounding of offence can be allowed even after conviction, during

proceedings of the appeal against conviction pending in Sessions Court and

in case of involving non-compoundable offence.

The Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh Versus State

of Punjab and another. 2012(4) RCR (Criminal) 543 has held as under:-

"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 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

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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 predominatingly civil flavour 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 personnel 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

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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."

The same view has been reiterated by Hon'ble the Apex Court in

case Narinder Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and another, 2014(2)

RCR (Criminal) 482.

Since the parties have arrived at a compromise and have decided

to live in peace, no useful purpose would be served in allowing the criminal

proceedings to continue.

Accordingly, the petition is allowed. FIR No.47 dated

07.04.2021 (Annexure P-1) registered under Sections 379-B and 323 IPC at

Police Station Amargarh, District Sangrur, along with all subsequent

proceedings arising therefrom, are hereby quashed qua the petitioner, on the

basis of compromise dated 02.06.2021 (Annexure P-2), subject to depositing

the costs of Rs.10,000/- by the petitioner with the Lawyers' Welfare Fund,

Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh.

Needless to say that the parties shall remain bound by the terms

of compromise and their statements made in the Court below.

                                                     (HARNARESH SINGH GILL)
27.10.2021                                                 JUDGE
Mangal Singh
               Whether reasoned/speaking?               Yes/No
               Whether reportable?                      Yes/No




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