For the petitioners: Mr. J.P. Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondents : Mr. Rajan Kahol, Mr. Vishal Panwar & Mr. B.C. Verma, Additional Advocate Generals, with Mr. Ravi Chauhan, Deputy Advocate General, for respondent No.1-State.

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Mr. Munish Datwalia, Advocate, for respondents No. 2.

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Sandeep Sharma, Judge (oral):

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By way of instant petition filed under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, prayer has been made on behalf of the petitioners for quashing of FIR No. 39 of 2024, dated 14.02.2024, under Sections 341, 323, 324 & 34 of Indian Penal Code, at Police Station Nurpur, District Kangra, H.P., as well as consequent proceedings, if any, pending adjudication in the competent court of

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1 Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment?

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law, on the basis of the compromise arrived at inter se parties, whereby they have resolved to settle dispute amicably inter se them.

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Precisely, the facts of the case, as emerge from the record, are that FIR, sought to be quashed, in the instant proceedings came to be lodged at the behest of respondent No. 2 Sh. Vikas Verma (hereinafter to be referred to as ‘ complainant ’), who alleged that on 14.02.2024 at about 07:30 p.m. while he was going towards (Haryal) Punjab driving his Bolero car bearing registration No. HP38F-0885 and had reached toll barrier Kandwal, vehicle bearing registration No. PB-35AJ-7708 being driven by the petitioner No. 1 Vishal Singh came from behind and obstructed the passage of his vehicle. He alleged that occupants of the aforesaid car alighted from the vehicle and started giving beatings to him with sharp edged weapon, as a result thereof, he suffered multiple injuries. During investigation, it transpired that alleged incident had happened on account of overtaking and parking of the vehicles involved in the incident. In the aforesaid background, FIR, as detailed herein above, came to be lodged against the petitioners-accused under relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code.

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Though, after completion of investigation, Police has already presented challan in the competent court of law against the petitioners-accused, but before same could be taken to its logical end,

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parties have entered into compromise, whereby they have resolved to settle the dispute amicably inter se them and as such, petitionersaccused have approached this Court in the instant proceedings, for quashing of FIR as well as consequent proceedings, if any, pending adjudication in the competent court of law.

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Pursuant to direction issued by this Court, respondentState has filed reply under the signatures of Superintendent of Police, Nurpur, Police District Nurpur, H.P., which is silent about the compromise. However, complainant has come present and is being represented by Mr. Munish Datwalia, Advocate. He states on oath that he of his own volition and without any external pressure has entered into compromise with the petitioners-accused, whereby both the parties have resolved to settle the dispute amicably inter se them.

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He states that the FIR sought to be quashed is a result of misunderstanding, coupled with the fact that petitioners-accused have already apologized for their behaviour and have undertaken not to repeat such act in future, as such, he shall have no objection in case, prayer made for quashing of FIR through instant petition is accepted and petitioners-accused are acquitted of charges framed against them. While admitting contents of compromise placed on record to be correct, he also admits his signatures thereupon. His statement is taken on record.

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After having heard aforesaid statement made on oath by the complainant, Mr. Rajan Kahol, learned Additional Advocate General, fairly states that no fruitful purpose would be served in case FIR as well as consequent proceedings pending adjudication in the competent court of law are allowed to sustain, rather pendency of the same may further widen the rift inter se parties. He further states that otherwise also chances of conviction of the petitioners-accused are very remote and bleak on account of statement made by the complainant on oath and as such, this Court may proceed to pass appropriate orders.

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The question, which now needs consideration is whether FIR in question can be ordered to be quashed when Hon'ble Apex Court in Narinder Singh and others versus State of Punjab and another (2014) 6 SCC 466 has specifically held that power under Section 482 Cr.P.C (hereinafter to be referred to as the “ Code ”) is not to be exercised in the cases which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., as such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society.

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At this stage, it would be relevant to take note of the judgment passed by Hon'ble Apex Court in Narinder Singh (supra), whereby the Hon’ble Apex Court has formulated guidelines for

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accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings. Perusal of judgment, referred above, clearly depicts that in para 29.1, Hon’ble Apex Court has returned the findings that power conferred under Section 482 Cr.P.C is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 Cr.P.C. No doubt, under Section 482 Cr.P.C, the High Court has inherent power to quash criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable and where the parties have settled the matter between themselves, however, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with great caution. In para Nos. 29 to 29.7 of the judgment Hon'ble Apex Court has laid down certain parameters to be followed, while compounding offences.

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Careful perusal of para 29.3 of the judgment suggests that such a power is not to be exercised in the cases 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. Apart from this, offences 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. On the other hand, those criminal cases

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having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes may be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves. Aforesaid view taken by Hon'ble Apex Court has been further reiterated in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and anr. (2012) 10 SCC 303.

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The Hon’ble Apex Court in case Gian Singh supra has held that power of the High Court in quashing of the criminal proceedings or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent power is distinct and different from the power of a Criminal Court to compound the offences under Section 320 Cr.P.C. Even in the judgment passed in Narinder Singh’s case, the Hon’ble Apex Court has held that while exercising inherent power of quashment under Section 482 Cr.P.C the Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime and its social impact and it cautioned the Courts not to exercise the power for quashing proceedings in heinous and serious offences of mental depravity, murder, rape, dacoity etc. However subsequently, the Hon’ble Apex Court in Dimpey Gujral and Ors . vs. Union Territory through Administrator, UT, Chandigarh and Ors . (2013) 11 SCC 497 has further reiterated that continuation of criminal proceedings would tantamount to abuse of process of law because the alleged offences are not heinous offences showing extreme

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depravity nor are they against the society. Hon'ble Apex Court further observed that when offences are of a personal nature, burying them would bring about peace and amity between the two sides.

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Hon’ble Apex Court in its judgment dated 4th October, 2017, titled as Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others versus State of Gujarat and Another , passed in Criminal Appeal No.1723 of 2017 arising out of SLP(Crl) No.9549 of 2016, reiterated the principles/ parameters laid down in Narinder Singh’s case supra for accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings.

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In the case at hand also, offences alleged to have been committed by the petitioners do not involve offences of moral turpitude or any grave/heinous crime, rather same are petty offences, and as such, this Court deems it appropriate to quash the FIR as well as consequential proceedings thereto, especially keeping in view the fact that the petitioners and complainant have compromised the matter inter se them, in which case, possibility of conviction is remote and no fruitful purpose would be served in continuing with the criminal proceedings.

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Consequently, in view of the aforesaid discussion as well as law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court (supra), FIR No. 39 of 2024, dated 14.02.2024, under Sections 341, 323, 324 & 34 of Indian

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Penal Code, at Police Station Nurpur, District Kangra, H.P., as well as consequent proceedings, if any, pending adjudication in the competent court of law are quashed and set aside. Accused are acquitted of the charges framed against them.

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The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms, alongwith all pending applications.

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(Sandeep Sharma), Judge

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August 13, 2024 (sunil)

Vishal Singh and Another v. State of Hp and Another

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Vishal Singh and Another v. State of Hp and Another

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