Punjab-Haryana High Court
Laxmi And Others vs State Of Haryana And Others on 22 December, 2022
CRM-M-55088-2022 -1-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
237 CRM-M-55088-2022
Date of Decision: 22.12.2022
Laxmi and others ......... Petitioners
Versus
State of Haryana and others ......... Respondents
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL
Present : Mr.Neeraj Sheoran, Advocate
for the petitioners.
Mr. Anmol Malik, DAG, Haryana.
Mr. Parvinder Moar, Advocate for
Mr. S.S.Tomar, Advocate
for respondents No.2 to 6.
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JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (Oral)
The petitioner through instant petition, on the basis of
compromise is seeking quashing of FIR No.0159 dated 10.10.2022
(Annexure P-9) registered at Police Station Rewari Sadar, District Rewari
under Sections 307, 323, 34 and 506 of IPC, 1860, and all the subsequent
proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise-deed/affidavit
dated 16.11.2022 (Annexure P-1).
In terms of order dated 29.11.2022, learned JMIC, Rewari has
submitted her report dated 09.12.2022. The relevant extracts of the report
are as below :-
"In this regard, it is humbly submitted that on
09.12.2022 the statements of the parties have been
recorded in compliance with order dated 29.11.2022
passed by Hon'ble High Court. The parties stated that
they have compromised the matter in dispute. As per
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compromise, there is no dispute between the parties
now. They prayed for quashing the above said FIR.
Statement of IO is also recorded and as per his
statement, FIR No. 159 dated 10.10.2022 was registered
against accused Aatish, Sumit and Laxmi Devi and no
accused have been declared proclaimed person and
accused persons are also not involved in any other FIR
and all accused were on anticipatory bail and have
joined the investigation on 15.11.2022.
In view of the statement of the parties, it appears
that the parties have compromised the matter in dispute
voluntarily and without any coercion or undue influence
and the compromise is genuine."
Learned State counsel and counsel for the private respondents
submit that they have no objection if the present FIR and consequential
proceedings are quashed.
Relying upon its earlier judgments in 'Gian Singh Vs. State of
Punjab and others, (2012) 10 SCC 303' and 'The State of Madhya
Pradesh Vs. Laxmi Narayan and others (2019) 5 SCC 688', a two Judge
Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in 'Ramgopal and another Vs. State
of Madhya Pradesh 2021 SCC online SC 834' while dealing with power of
High Court under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. to quash non-compoundable
offences on the basis of compromise between the disputing parties has held:
"11. True it is that offences which are 'non-
compoundable' cannot be compounded by a criminal
court in purported exercise of its powers under Section
320 Cr.P.C. Any such attempt by the court would amount
to alteration, addition and modification of Section
320Cr.P.C, which is the exclusive domain of Legislature.
There is no patent or latent ambiguity in the language of
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Section 320Cr.P.C., which may justify its wider
interpretation and include such offences in the docket of
'compoundable' offences which have been consciously
kept out as non-compoundable. Nevertheless, the limited
jurisdiction to compound an offence within the
framework of Section 320Cr.P.C. is not an embargo
against invoking inherent powers by the High Court
vested in it under Section 482Cr.P.C. The High Court,
keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of a
case and for justifiable reasons can press Section
482Cr.P.C. in aid to prevent abuse of the process of any
Court and/or to secure the ends of justice.
12. The High Court, therefore, having regard to
the nature of the offence and the fact that parties have
amicably settled their dispute and the victim has
willingly consented to the nullification of criminal
proceedings, can quash such proceedings in exercise of
its inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C., even if
the offences are non- compoundable. The High Court
can indubitably evaluate the consequential effects of the
offence beyond the body of an individual and thereafter
adopt a pragmatic approach, to ensure that the felony,
even if goes unpunished, does not tinker with or paralyze
the very object of the administration of criminal justice
system.
13. It appears to us that criminal proceedings
involving non-heinous offences or where the offences are
pre-dominantly of a private nature, can be annulled
irrespective of the fact that trial has already been
concluded or appeal stands dismissed against
conviction. Handing out punishment is not the sole form
of delivering justice. Societal method of applying laws
evenly is always subject to lawful exceptions. It goes
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without saying, that the cases where compromise is
struck post-conviction, the High Court ought to exercise
such discretion with rectitude, keeping in view the
circumstances surrounding the incident, the fashion in
which the compromise has been arrived at, and with due
regard to the nature and seriousness of the offence,
besides the conduct of the accused, before and after the
incidence. The touchstone for exercising the extra-
ordinary power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. would be to
secure the ends of justice. There can be no hard and fast
line constricting the power of the High Court to do
substantial justice. A restrictive construction of inherent
powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. may lead to rigid or
specious justice, which in the given facts and
circumstances of a case, may rather lead to grave
injustice. On the other hand, in cases where heinous
offences have been proved against perpetrators, no such
benefit ought to be extended, as cautiously observed by
this Court in Narinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab
& Ors.3 and Laxmi Narayan (Supra).
14. In other words, grave or serious offences or
offences which involve moral turpitude or have a
harmful effect on the social and moral fabric of the
society or involve matters concerning public policy,
cannot be construed betwixt two individuals or groups
only, for such offences have the potential to impact the
society at large. Effacing abominable offences through
quashing process would not only send a wrong signal to
the community but may also accord an undue benefit to
unscrupulous habitual or professional offenders, who
can secure a 'settlement' through duress, threats, social
boycotts, bribes or other dubious means. It is well said
that "let no guilty man escape, if it can be avoided."
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The petitioners and private respondents are the family friends
and nature of injuries suffered by the complainant is not grievous. The
petitioners were not arrested during the course of investigation and they
have been released on anticipatory bail. No weapon is involved.
There is another aspect of the matter that the complainant had
filed representation (Annexure P-8) with Superintendent of Police, Rewari
disclosing that he has suffered injuries in a car accident and there is no fault
on the part of the petitioners-alleged accused.
From the perusal of the enclosed FIR, report of the Trial Court
and compromise arrived between the parties, it transpires that contesting
parties have amicably resolved their issue, thus, no useful purpose would be
served by continuing the proceedings. The alleged offences are of pre-
dominantly private in nature and no moral turpitude or interest of public at
large is involved. There appears to be no chance of conviction, the
continuance of the proceedings would just waste valuable judicial time and
it is well-known fact that courts are already over burdened.
In view of above facts and circumstances, the present petition
deserves to be allowed and accordingly is allowed. FIR No.0159 dated
10.10.2022 (Annexure P-9) registered at Police Station Rewari Sadar,
District Rewari under Sections 307, 323, 34 and 506 of IPC, 1860 and all
other consequential proceedings arising therefrom are quashed qua the
petitioner(s).
22.12.2022 ( JAGMOHAN BANSAL )
anju JUDGE
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether Reportable Yes/No
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