Ankush Kumar Vs State of Punjab and Others

The present petition has been filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing of FIR No.277 dated 08.11.2020 registered under Sections 363, 366 & 376 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012 at Police Station Kotwali, District Patiala (Annexure P-1) and all other subsequent proceedings arising therefrom on the basis of compromise dated 05.01.2024 (Annexure P-2) effected between the parties.

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Vide order dated 22.08.2024, while directing the parties to appear before the trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate for recording their statements qua compromise, the following contentions of learned counsel for the petitioner were noted :-

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“Learned counsel for the petitioner, inter alia,

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Vinod Kothiyal 2025.04.03 17:13 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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CRM-M-1484-2024

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submits that the petitioner and the alleged victim/respondent No.3 herein were in a consensual relationship. However, as she was minor at that time, father of the victim registered the present FIR against the petitioner. It is submitted that in the meantime, the victim/respondent No.3 attains majority and therefore the petitioner and respondent No.3 have solemnized marriage on 05.1.2024. Even a compromise dated 05.1.2024 (Annexure P-2) has been entered into between the parties being the petitioner, victim/respondent No.3 and the mother of the victim i.e. respondent No.2 herein. The complainant is not the party in the said compromise as he, during proceedings, expired. The petitioner is the only accused in the FIR who has never been declared as proclaimed offender.”

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Learned counsel for the parties have stated that the present FIR may be quashed as the parties have amicably settled the dispute and a cost of Rs.30,000/- imposed vide order dated 05.12.2024 has also been deposited by the petitioner.

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During the course of preliminary hearing, the trial Court was directed to record the statements of all the concerned parties, with regard to the genuineness and validity of the compromise by this Court. 5. In compliance thereof, report dated 29.03.2025 from learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patiala has been received through learned District and Sessions Judge, Patiala, with statements of the parties, in which, it has been mentioned that the compromise is genuine and there was no undue influence or coercion from any side.

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The Hon'ble Full Bench of this Court in case Kulwinder

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Singh vs. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052

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and Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court in case Sube Singh and another vs. State of Haryana and another, 2013(4) RCR (Criminal) 102 observed that compounding of offence can be allowed even after conviction, during proceedings of the appeal against conviction pending in Sessions Court and in case of involving non-compoundable offence.

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An identical question came to be decided by Hon'ble

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Supreme Court in case Gian Singh Versus State of Punjab and another, 2012(4) RCR (Criminal) 543 . Having interpreted the relevant provisions, it was ruled as under:-

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“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. 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 for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly 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

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where the wrong is basically private or personnel 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 proceeding.”

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The same view has been reiterated by the Apex Court in

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case Narinder Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and another, 2014(2) RCR (Criminal) 482.

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Having regard to the contentions of learned counsel for the parties and the fact that both the parties to the litigation have entered. into compromise and on that basis, the present petition under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 has been filed for quashing the present FIR. The compromise has been arrived at with the intervention of the respectables and family members and the parties have decided to keep harmony between them and to live peacefully in future. Hence, it would be in the interest of justice that parties are allowed to compromise the matter. Moreover, learned counsel for the parties are ad idem that, in view of the settlement of disputes between the parties, the present petition deserves to be accepted in this context.

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Vinod Kothiyal 2025.04.03 17:13 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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In view of above, the instant petition is allowed. Consequently, the impugned FIR No.277 dated 08.11.2020 registered under Sections 363, 366 & 376 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012 at Police Station Kotwali, District Patiala (Annexure P-1) and all other consequential proceedings arising therefrom are hereby quashed, on the basis of compromise, qua the petitioner only.

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03.04.2025 kothiyal

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(NAMIT KUMAR) JUDGE

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Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable: Yes/No

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Vinod Kothiyal 2025.04.03 17:13 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

Ankush Kumar v. State of Punjab and Others

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Ankush Kumar v. State of Punjab and Others

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