Charan Singh Arora and Another Vs State of Hp and Another

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA

Cr.MMO No.110 of 2026 Date of Decision: 17.04.2026

__________________________________________________________________________ Charan Singh Arora & Anr. ……...Petitioners Versus State of Himachal Pradesh and Anr. …....Respondents Coram

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Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge.

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Whether approved for reporting? __________________________________________________________________________ For the Petitioners: Mr. Atharv Sharma, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Rajan Kahol & Mr. Vishal Panwar, Additional Advocates General with Mr. Ravi Chauhan and Mr. Anish Banshtu, Deputy Advocates General, for State. Mr.Mukesh Sharma, Advocate, for respondent No.2. _________________________________________________________________________________

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Sandeep Sharma, J. (Oral)

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By way of present petition filed under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023, prayer has been made by the petitioners-accused (for short ‘accused’) for quashing of FIR No.74 of 2023, dated 06.07.2023, under Sections 342, 506, 504 and 34 of IPC, registered at Police Station Dharampur, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, along with consequential proceedings pending in the competent Court of law, on the basis of compromise.

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2. 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

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lodged at the behest of respondent No.2-Mr. Varinder Singh (hereinafter, ‘complainant’) , who alleged that on 01.10.2022, while he had gone to his flat at Kumarhatti, which he had taken on rent from Mr. Mukesh Sharma, he found that lock of his house was changed by the caretaker of the building i.e. accused. He alleged that after removal of the lock, he along with his friends entered the room. After some time, Charan Dass along with Vijay Laxmi @ Rajjo came on the spot and started hurling abuses. He alleged that he along with his friends was locked inside the house by Charan Dass and subsequently, house was opened with the help and assistance of the police. In afore background, FIR, detailed hereinabove, came to be lodged against the accused.

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3. Though after completion of investigation, Police has already presented Challan in the competent Court of law, but before same could be taken to its logical end, parties to the lis have decided to settle the dispute amicably inter se them by way of compromise placed on record, as such, accused have approached this Court in the instant proceedings, praying therein to quash and set aside the FIR as well as consequent proceedings pending before the competent Court of law.

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4. In terms of order dated 02.03.2026, respondent-State has filed status report, but the same is silent about the compromise. However, complainant has also come present and is represented by Mr. Mukesh Sharma, Advocate. He states on oath that he of his own volition and without there being any external pressure has entered into compromise

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with the accused, whereby they have decided to settle the dispute amicably inter se them. He states that since FIR sought to be quashed in the instant proceedings is a result of misunderstanding, coupled with the fact that accused have already apologized for their misconduct and undertaken not to repeat such act in future, he does not wish to prosecute the case further and shall have no objection in case aforesaid FIR as well as consequential proceedings pending in the competent Court of law are quashed and set aside and the accused are acquitted of the offences alleged in the FIR. While admitting contents of the compromise to be correct, he also admits his signatures thereupon. His statement made on oath is taken on record.

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5. Having heard statement made on oath by the complainant, Mr. Vishal Panwar, learned Additional Advocate General, fairly states that no fruitful purpose would be served in case FIR as well as consequent proceedings, sought to be quashed, are allowed to sustain, rather that would unnecessarily widen the rift inter se accused and complainant. He further states that otherwise also, chances of conviction of accused are very remote and bleak on account of the amicable settlement arrived inter se parties, as such, this Court may pass appropriate orders.

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6. 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

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SCC 466 has specifically held that power under S. 482 CrPC is not to be exercised in the cases which involve heinous and serious offences of mental

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depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society.

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7. 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 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 to above clearly depicts that in para 29.1, Hon’ble Apex Court has returned the findings that 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 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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8. 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

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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 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.

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9. The Hon’ble Apex Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and anr. (2012) 10 SCC 3 03 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 for compounding offences under Section 320 Cr.PC. 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.PC 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

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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 depravity nor are they against the society. Hon'ble Apex Court

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further observed that when offences of a personal nature, burying them would bring about peace and amity between the two sides.

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

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12. Since parties have compromised the matter with each other and respondent No.2, at whose instance FIR sought to be quashed in the instant proceedings came to be lodged, is not interested in pursuing the criminal prosecution of the accused, this Court sees no impediment in accepting the prayer made on behalf of the accused for quashing of the FIR along with all consequential proceedings.

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13. Consequently, in view of the aforesaid discussion as well as law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court (supra), FIR No.74 of 2023, dated 06.07.2023, under Sections 342, 506, 504 and 34 of IPC, registered at Police Station Dharampur, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, along with consequential proceedings is 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, along with all pending applications.

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April 17, 2026 Sunil

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(Sandeep Sharma), Judge

Charan Singh Arora and Another v. State of Hp and Another

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Charan Singh Arora and Another v. State of Hp and Another

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