The High Court quashed an FIR under Sections 498-A and 406 IPC in a matrimonial dispute. Relying on a reported compromise and statutory provisions, the court held that continuing proceedings would cause oppression despite the settlement.
FIR No. 02 dated 10.01.2013 and all consequential proceedings were quashed.
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.
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CRM-M-30984-2015
In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh.
CRM-M-30984-2015 Date of Decision: 04.11.2015
Satish Bhiana and others
...Petitioners
Versus
State of Punjab and another
...Respondents
CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SABINA
Present: Mr. Jitender Dhanda, Advocate, for the petitioners.
Mr. J.S. Sekhon, AAG, Punjab. *****
SABINA, J.
Petitioners have filed this petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing of FIR No.02, dated 10.01.2013, under Sections 498-A and 406 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC' for short), registered at Police Station Malout City and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise.
Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that now parties have amicably settled their dispute.
Vide order dated 16.09.2015, trial Court was directed to record the statements of the parties and send its report with regard to genuineness of the compromise effected
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CRM-M-30984-2015
between the parties.
In pursuance to the said order, the trial Court, after recording the statements of the parties, has reported that the compromise effected between the parties was voluntary and without any pressure, coercion or threat.
As per the Full Bench judgment of this Court in
Kulwinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab, 2007 (3)
RCR (Criminal) 1052, High Court has power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to allow the compounding of non-compoundable offence and quash the prosecution where the High Court felt that the same was required to prevent the abuse of the process of any Court or to otherwise secure the ends of justice. This power of quashing is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone.
Hon'ble the Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab and another 2012 (4) RCR (Crl.) 543 ,
has held as under:-
“57. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: the power of the High Court in quashing a criminal proceeding or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is distinct and different from the power given to a criminal court for compounding the offences under Section 320 of the Code. Inherent power is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation but it has to be exercised in accord with the guideline engrafted in such power viz; (i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any Court. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or complaint or F.I.R
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CRM-M-30984-2015
may be exercised where the offender and victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case and no category can be prescribed. However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime. Heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victim’s family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominatingly civil flavour stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute. In this category of cases, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceeding or continuation of the criminal proceeding would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and compromise between the victim and wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal
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CRM-M-30984-2015
proceeding.”
Since the parties have arrived at a compromise and have decided to live in peace, no useful purpose would be served in allowing the criminal proceedings to continue.
Accordingly, this petition is allowed. FIR No.02,
dated 10.01.2013, under Sections 498-A and 406 IPC, registered at Police Station Malout City and all the consequential proceedings, arising therefrom, are quashed.
2 issues framed by the court
Whether criminal proceedings under Sections 498-A and 406 IPC can be quashed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. on account of a settlement between parties.
Whether the compromise was voluntary and free from coercion, satisfying the requirements for quashing matrimonial offences.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Kulwinder Singh and others vs. State of PunjabDistinguished¶24
2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052
Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab and anotherApplied¶27
2012 (4) RCR (Crl.) 543
3 provisions across 2 enactments
Satish Bhiana and others
State of Punjab and another
Sabina
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
