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Pramod Kumar & Ors. v. State Govt. of NCT Delhi & Anr.

Delhi HC17 Mar 2025CRL.M.C./1452/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Quashing of FIR No. 438/2022 dated 20.07.2022 registered at Police Station Mehrauli and of all consequential proceedings arising therefrom. ¶63

Pramod Kumar & Ors. Vs State Govt. of NCT Delhi & Anr. — Corruption | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Quashing of FIR No. 438/2022 dated 20.07.2022 registered at Police Station Mehrauli and of all consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

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Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No. 438/2022 dated 20.07.2022 registered at Police Station Mehrauli for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, should be quashed under Section 528 BNSS in view of the amicable settlement between the parties.

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Court's answer

Offence under Section 406 of the IPC is compoundable whereas offence under Section 498A of the IPC is noncompoundable.

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Ratio / Principle

No useful purpose would be served by keeping the dispute alive; continuance of the proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court, and this is a fit case to exercise discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 of the BNSS.

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Key takeaways

FIR No. 438/2022 and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom are quashed.ratio¶62

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (AMIT MAHAJAN, J.; order dated 17.03.2025) allowed CRL.M.C. 1452/2025 and quashed FIR No. 438/2022 dated 20.07.2022 registered at Police Station Mehrauli for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 IPC, together with all consequential proceedings. Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2, married on 11.11.2017 and later estranged, had amicably settled their matrimonial disputes by Settlement dated 05.07.2023 reached before the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, New Delhi, and had already obtained a divorce by mutual consent. Before the Joint Registrar (Judicial) on 28.02.2025, Respondent No. 2 voluntarily confirmed the settlement vide Settlement Deed dated 05.07.2023, acknowledged receipt of the settlement amount of ₹31,000/- and of all goods and articles, stated she had no objection to quashing, and undertook to withdraw all cases instituted by her against the petitioners; the petitioners affirmed the settlement was reached out of their own will, without coercion. Noting that Section 406 IPC is compoundable while Section 498A IPC is non-compoundable, and relying on the parameters laid down in Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466 and Parbatbhai Aahir v. State of Gujarat, (2017) 9 SCC 641, the Court held that this predominantly matrimonial/civil dispute having been entirely resolved, continuance of proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court, and exercised discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 BNSS (erstwhile Section 482 CrPC) to quash the FIR.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- CRL.M.C. 1452/2025

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PRAMOD KUMAR & ORS. .....Petitioner Through: All petitioners in person.

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versus

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STATE GOVT. OF NCT DELHI & ANR.

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.....Respondents

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Through: Mr. Pradeep Gahlot, APP for the State. SI Vinod Bhati, PS Mehrauli. Mr. Dinesh Lal, Adv. for R-2.

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT MAHAJAN

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O R D E R % 17.03.2025

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CRL.M.A. 6540/2025 ( for exemption )

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Exemptions allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

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The application stands disposed of.

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CRL.M.C. 1452/2025

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The present petition is filed seeking quashing of FIR No. 438/2022 dated 20.07.2022, registered at Police Station Mehrauli, for offences under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘ IPC ’), including all consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

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It is averred that the marriage between Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 was solemnized on 11.11.2017 as per Hindu rites, customs and ceremonies. No child was born out of the said wedlock. Thereafter, due to matrimonial discord, some misunderstandings took place between the parties, due to which

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CRL.M.C. 1452/2025

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Page 1 of 6

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This is a digitally signed order.

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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 20/03/2025 at 12:33:45

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Petitioner No. 1 and Respondent No. 2 started living separately. The other petitioners are the relatives of Petitioner No. 1.

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Subsequently, Respondent No.2 made a complaint against Petitioner No. 1 and his family members alleging that she was subjected to cruelty by them, which later culminated into the aforementioned FIR.

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The present petition is filed on the ground that the matter is amicably settled between the parties before the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, New Delhi by way of Settlement dated 05.07.2023. Respondent No.2 and the Petitioner No.1 have already obtained a decree of divorce by mutual consent and they intend to live their future lives peacefully.

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On 28.02.2025, Respondent No. 2 appeared before the learned Joint Registrar (Judicial) and gave a voluntary statement that the dispute has been settled vide Settlement Deed dated 05.07.2023.

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The learned Joint Registrar also recorded the statement of Respondent No.2 that she has already received the settlement amount of ₹31,000/- and she has also received all the goods and articles in terms of the settlement. It was noted that Respondent No. 2 has no objections if the FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom are quashed. Respondent No.2 also undertook to withdraw all the cases instituted by her against the petitioners.

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The petitioners are present in person. 10. They state that they arrived at the settlement out of their own will, without any coercion, pressure or undue influence.

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Offence under Section 406 of the IPC is compoundable whereas offence under Section 498A of the IPC is noncompoundable.

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It is well settled that the High Court while exercising its CRL.M.C. 1452/2025 Page 2 of 6

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This is a digitally signed order.

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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 20/03/2025 at 12:33:45

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powers under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (‘ BNSS ’) [ erstwhile Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] can quash offences which are noncompoundable on the ground that there is a compromise between the accused and the complainant. The Hon’ble Apex Court has laid down parameters and guidelines for High Court while accepting settlement and quashing the proceedings. In the case of Narinder Singh & Ors. v. State of Punjab & Anr. : (2014) 6 SCC 466 , the Hon’ble Supreme Court had observed as under :-

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“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.

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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.

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While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives.

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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.

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Page 3 of 6

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CRL.M.C. 1452/2025

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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 20/03/2025 at 12:33:45

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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.”

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(emphasis supplied)

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Similarly, in the case of Parbatbhai Aahir & Ors. v. State of Gujarat & Anr. : (2017) 9 SCC 641 , the Hon’ble Supreme Court had observed as under :-

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“16. The broad principles which emerge from the precedents on the subject, may be summarised in the following propositions:

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16.1. Section 482 preserves the inherent powers of the High Court to prevent an abuse of the process of any court or to secure the ends of justice. The provision does not confer new powers. It only recognises and preserves powers which inhere in the High Court.

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16.2. The invocation of the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a first information report or a criminal proceeding on the ground that a settlement has been arrived at between the offender and the victim is not the same as the invocation of jurisdiction for the purpose of compounding an offence. While compounding an offence, the power of the court is governed by the provisions of Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power to quash under Section 482 is attracted even if the offence is noncompoundable.

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16.3. In forming an opinion whether a criminal proceeding or complaint should be quashed in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482, the High Court must evaluate whether the ends of justice would justify the exercise of the inherent power.

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16.4. While the inherent power of the High Court has a wide ambit and plenitude it has to be exercised (i) to secure the ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court.

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Page 4 of 6

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CRL.M.C. 1452/2025

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16.5. The decision as to whether a complaint or first information report should be quashed on the ground that the offender and victim have settled the dispute, revolves ultimately on the facts and circumstances of each case and no exhaustive elaboration of principles can be formulated.

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16.6. In the exercise of the power under Section 482 and while dealing with a plea that the dispute has been settled, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the offence. Heinous and serious offences involving mental depravity or offences such as murder, rape and dacoity cannot appropriately be quashed though the victim or the family of the victim have settled the dispute. Such offences are, truly speaking, not private in nature but have a serious impact upon society. The decision to continue with the trial in such cases is founded on the overriding element of public interest in punishing persons for serious offences.

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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.

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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.

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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; and

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16.10. There is yet an exception to the principle set out in propositions 16.8. and 16.9. above. Economic offences involving the financial and economic well-being of the State have implications which lie beyond the domain of a mere dispute between private disputants. The High Court would be justified in declining to quash where the offender is involved in an activity akin to a financial or economic fraud or misdemeanour. The consequences of the act complained of upon the financial or economic system will weigh in the balance.”

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(emphasis supplied)

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Keeping in view the nature of the dispute and that the

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Page 5 of 6

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CRL.M.C. 1452/2025

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parties have amicably resolved their disputes, this Court feels that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the dispute alive and continuance of the proceedings would amount to abuse of the process of Court. I am of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise discretionary jurisdiction under Section 528 of the BNSS.

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