Allowed

Sandeep Mahajan v. the State NCT of Delhi and Anr.

Delhi HC11 Sept 2024CRL.M.C./7203/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Delhi High Court petitioned for quashing of an FIR under sections 498-A/406/34 IPC. The court treated the petition under the BNSS, noted a compromise deed and settlement, and quashed the FIR along with all connected proceedings, citing irrelevant disputes and lack of peace.

What did the court decide?

FIR No. 64/2023 registered on 16.03.2023 at P.S. Preet Vihar under sections 498-A/406/34 IPC and all proceedings arising therefrom are quashed and closed.

Sandeep Mahajan Vs the State NCT of Delhi and Anr. — Dowry and Cruelty | Delhi HC (2024)

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$~51

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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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CRL.M.C. 7203/2024 SANDEEP MAHAJAN .....Petitioner

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Through: Mr. Suraj Galiyan, Ms. Priyanka and Mr. Nitin Sharma, Advocates.

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versus

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THE STATE NCT OF DELHI AND ANR .....Respondents Through: Mr. Manoj Pant, APP for the State with SI Dimesh Tyagi, P.S. Preet Vihar. Mr. Abhinav Rathi, Adv. for R2.

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CORAM:

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI O R D E R % 11.09.2024 CRL.M.C. 7203/2024

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By way of the present petition filed under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, the petitioner, who is the husband of the complainant/respondent No. 2, seeks quashing of case FIR No. 64/2023 dated 16.03.2023 registered under sections 498-A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 at P.S.: Preet Vihar, Delhi (‘subject FIR’).

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Though the present petition has been filed under the provisions of the Cr.P.C., in the opinion of this court, on a plain but meaningful reading of section 531(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (‘BNSS’), proceedings are to be “ disposed of, continued, held or made ” in accordance with the Cr.P.C. only in cases where such proceedings , viz. “ any appeal, application, trial, inquiry or investigation ”, were already pending immediately before the date on

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CRL.M.C. 7203/2024

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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 19/09/2024 at 12:09:05

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which the BNSS came into force, i.e. 01.07.2024. It appears therefore, that while inserting the repeal and savings provision in section 531 of the BNSS, the intention of Parliament was to not disrupt on-going proceedings; and to therefore not change the governing law during the pendency of such proceedings.

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Since the present petition is a fresh proceeding and has been filed after 01.07.2024, in the opinion of this court, the present petition ought to have been filed under the BNSS. Be that as it may, in order to obviate any unnecessary delay, the present petition is treated as one under section 528 of the BNSS.

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The petition is premised on Compromise Deed dated 23.08.2023.

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The petition is also supported by affidavits of the petitioners as also of respondent No. 2, alongwith proofs of their I.D.s.

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The petitioner as well as respondent No. 2 are present in court. Their credentials have been verified and they have also been identified by their respective counsel.

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The court has interacted with respondent No.2. She confirms that she has resolved her disputes with the petitioner. She states that she has been co-habiting with the petitioner since 24.02.2024 alongwith their child.

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Mr. Manoj Pant, learned APP confirms that the State has no objection to the subject FIR being quashed.

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In the circumstances, in line with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported as (2012) 10 SCC 303 as also in Narinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported as (2014) 6 SCC 466, this court sees no reason why the

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CRL.M.C. 7203/2024

subject FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom should not be quashed. This court is of the view that in light of the settlement between the contesting parties, continuing with the subject FIR and all subsequent proceedings would be an exercise in futility and would not be conducive to peace and harmony between the parties.

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Accordingly, FIR No. 64/2023 dated 16.03.2023 registered under sections 498-A/406/34 IPC at P.S.: Preet Vihar, Delhi is quashed. All proceedings arising therefrom also stand closed.

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