The Kerala High Court quashed the prosecution against the petitioner in a criminal case involving injuries to a juvenile. The court relied on an amicable out-of-court settlement and the petitioner's status as the victim's grandfather.
Prosecution against the petitioner in C.C.No.1764/2014 will be quashed under Section 482 Cr.P.C.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.UBAID
FRIDAY, THE 18TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2015/27TH AGRAHAYANA, 1937
Crl.MC.No. 7684 of 2015 ()
CC 1764/2014 of JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT-II, KANNUR CRIME NO. 321/2014 OF IRIKKOOR POLICE STATION, KANNUR DISTRICT
==================
PETITIONER/ACCUSED:
MAHMOOD C.H., AGED 69 YEARS, S/O. KALANTHAN MUSLIAR CHIRATTAYADAN HOUSE, IRIKKOOR AMSOM, NEDUVALLOOR AMSOM THALIPPARAMABA TALUK, KANNUR DISTRICT - 670 593.
BY ADV. SRI.E.C.BINEESH
RESPONDENTS/STATE & COMPLAINANT:
1. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM.
2. MUBEENA K, AGED 36 YEARS
R2 BY ADV. SMT.M.B.SHYNI
R1 BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI. JUSTIN JACOB
THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18-12-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
Crl.MC.No. 7684 of 2015 ()
APPENDIX
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS
RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS
NIL
// TRUE COPY // P.A. TO JUDGE
SD
P. UBAID, J.
Crl.M.C.No.7684 of 2015
Dated this the 18th day of December, 2015
The petitioner herein seeks orders quashing the prosecution against him in C.C.No.1764/2014 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II, Kannur, involving the offences under Section 324 IPC and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as 'the J.J.Act) on the ground of amicable settlement out of court. He is the grandfather of the victim of offence in this case. The complaint against him was made by his daughter, who is the mother of the victim. Now, the whole dispute stands settled amicably out of court. The defacto complainant has filed affidavit to the effect that the whole dispute stands settled amicably, and she has no grievance or complaint against her father. Even otherwise, a prosecution under Section 23 of the J.J.Act is not sustainable on facts. To sustain such a charge, the prosecution must have a case that the juvenile was mentally or physically harassed or tortured by the person in charge of the juvenile, or
2
Crl.M.C.No.7684 of 2015
having custody or control of the juvenile. The petitioner herein does not come under such category. So, this is only a case of simple assault, which comes only under Section 324 IPC. Infliction of injury with any burning substance will come under Section 324 IPC. Any way, the parties have now come to terms, and the petitioner is none other than the grandfather of the victim. Copy of the wound certificate made available to me by the learned Public Prosecutor shows that the victim had sustained some very simple burns on the neck. The petitioner has explanation for this. He submitted that it was not an intended or deliberate act. Any way, the victim is now happy with his grandfather. It is appropriate that the prosecution be quashed in such a situation.
In the result, this petition is allowed. The prosecution against the petitioner in C.C.No.1764/2014 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II, Kannur will stand quashed under Section 482 Cr.P.C.
P. UBAID, JUDGE
sd
// True Copy // P.A. to Judge
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the prosecution under Section 324 IPC and Section 23 of the JJ Act should be quashed in view of an amicable settlement.
Whether the petitioner, being the grandfather of the victim, falls under the custody category for Section 23 of the JJ Act.
Whether a simple assault causing minor burns warrants continued prosecution despite settlement.
3 provisions across 3 enactments
MAHMOOD C.H.
STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM.
MUBEENA K
P. UBAID
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
