Madrasdated High Court · 2025

Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025ORDERThis Criminal Original Petition has been filed to quash the First Information Report, filed against the petitioners in Crime No.44 of 2024 dated 21.10.2024, registered for the offences under Sections 5(l), 5(j)(ii), 6 and 9 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and Sections 9 and 10 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, on the ground of compromise.2. The learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners and the victim girl/2nd respondent are close relatives. The 1st petitioner is the son of the 2nd petitioner. There was a love affair between the 1st petitioner and the 2nd respondent/victim girl. On coming to know about the same, their parents who hail from lower strata of society, without understanding the consequences, performed their marriage on 19.05.2024 and later, when the victim girl had gone for pregnancy treatment, based on the information given by the Doctor of the Primary Health Centre, Puliyur, the FIR in Crime No.44 of 2024 came to be registered against the petitioners and others for performing child marriage and for the offences under the POCSO Act. He would further submit that after the victim girl 2/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025attained majority, their marriage was registered before the Sub-Registrar’s office, Mangalampet, Cuddalore District, on 04.11.2025 and meanwhile, the victim girl delivered a girl child and they all are living together happily under one roof. He would further submit that a Joint Compromise Memo signed by the petitioners and the 2nd respondent/victim girl for compromising the matter has also been filed and no useful purpose will be served by continuing the impugned proceedings and hence, the impugned proceedings may be quashed on the ground of compromise.3. The learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing on behalf of the 1st respondent-Police submitted that though the parties entered into a compromise while this case is pending, this Court, taking into account the seriousness of the offence, has to consider the issue as to whether an offence of this nature can be quashed on the ground of compromise between parties.4. The petitioners and the victim girl were present before this Court at the time of hearing and they were identified by the learned counsel for the petitioners and by Ms.Latha, SSI, All Women Police Station, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore District.3/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 20255. This Court also enquired both the parties and was satisfied that the 1st petitioner and the victim girl/2nd respondent are living together as husband and their marriage has also been registered before the Sub-Registrar’s office, Mangalampet, Cuddalore District.6. The main issue that requires the consideration of this Court is as to whether this Court can quash the criminal proceedings involving non-compoundable offences pending against the petitioners. 7. The Supreme Court, in a very recent judgment in K. Kirubakaran vs. State of Tamil Nadu [2025 INSC 1272], in which the appellant was convicted for the offences under Sections 366 IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, pursuant to the compromise entered into between the parties, by commencing the judgment with the quote “The final cause of law is the welfare of society” of Benjamin N. Cardozo, Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and finding that the crime was not the result of lust but love, quashed the proceedings against the appellant invoking Section 142 of the Constitution of India. The relevant paragraph of the said judgment read as under:4/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025“5.The only question which remains to be decided is whether the proceedings should be quashed in the present case, considering that the appellant is convicted of a heinous offence.6.We are conscious of the fact that a crime is not merely a wrong against an individual but against society as a whole. When an offence is committed, it wounds the collective conscience of the society and therefore the society, acting through its elected lawmakers, determines what would be the punishment for such an offence and how an offender should be dealt with, to deter its recurrence. The criminal law is, thus, a manifestation of the sovereign will of the society. However, the administration of such law is not divorced from the practical realities. Rendering justice demands a nuanced approach. This Court tailors its decisions to the specifics of each case: with firmness and severity wherever necessary and it is merciful when warranted. It is also in the best interest of society to bring a dispute to an end, wherever possible. We draw inspiration from Cardozo, J. to hold that the law aims to ensure not just punishment of the guilty, but also harmony and restoration of the social order.7.With such perspective in mind, we need to proceed to balance the competing interests of justice, deterrence, and rehabilitation.8.The founding fathers of the Constitution conferred this Court with the extraordinary power to do “complete justice” in proper cases. This constitutional power stands apart from all other powers and is intended to avoid situations of injustice being caused by the rigid application of law.9.Per the law made by the legislature, the appellant having been found guilty of a heinous offence, the proceedings in the present case on the basis of a compromise between the appellant and his wife cannot be quashed. But ignoring the cry of the appellant’s wife for compassion and empathy will not, in our opinion, serve the ends of justice. Even the most serious offenders of law do receive justice moderated by compassion from the courts, albeit in appropriate cases. Given the peculiar facts and circumstances here, a balanced 5/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025approach combining practicality and empathy is necessary. The appellant and the victim are not only legally married, they are also in their family way. While considering the offence committed by the appellant punishable under the P OCSO Act, we have discerned that the crime was not the result of lust but love. The victim of crime herself has expressed her desire to live a peaceful and stable family life with the appellant, upon whom she is dependent, without the appellant carrying the indelible mark on his forehead of being an offender. Continuation of the criminal proceedings and the appellant’s incarceration would only disrupt this familial unit and cause irreparable harm to the victim, the infant child, and the fabric of society itself.10.We are, thus, persuaded to hold that this is a case where the law must yield to the cause of justice.11.Accordingly, resting on the foregoing considerations, the developments subsequent to the trial, and in the interest of rendering complete justice, we deem it appropriate to invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India to quash the criminal proceedings against the appellant including the conviction and sentence. Ordered accordingly.12.Also, bearing in mind the interests of the appellant’s wife and child, we deem it appropriate to subject the appellant to the specific condition of not deserting his wife and child and also to maintain them for the rest of their life with dignity. If, in future, there be any default on the appellant’s part and the same is brought to the notice of this Court by his wife or their child or the complainant, the consequences may not be too palatable for the appellant.13.We make the interim order granting benefit to the appellant of exemption from surrendering absolute and discharge him from the bail bonds.14.The appeal is, accordingly, allowed.15.Needless to observe, this order is rendered in the unique circumstances that have unfolded before us and shall not be 6/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025treated as a precedent for any other case.”(emphasis supplied by this Court)8. It is also apropos to point out that the Supreme Court, in K.Dhandapani vs. The State [2022 LiveLaw (SC) 477], in which the appellant was convicted of the offences under Sections 5 and 6 of the POCSO Act, by a terse order, set aside the conviction and sentence slapped on the appellant, on the basis of the settlement arrived at between the parties. The following relevant paragraphs of the said order make an interesting reading:“T he appellant submitted that this Court should exercise its power unde r Article 142 of the Constitution and ought to do complete justice and it could not be in the interest of justice to disturb the family life of the appellant and the prosecutrix.After hearing the matter for some time on 08th March, 2022, we directed the District Judge to record the statement of the prosecutrix about her present status. The statement of the prosecutrix has been placed on record in which she has categorically stated that she has two children and they are being taken care of by the appellant and she is leading a happy married life.Dr. Joseph Aristotle S., learned counsel appearing for the State, opposed the grant of any relief to the appellant on the ground that the prosecutrix was aged 14 years on the date of the offence and gave birth to the first child when she was 15 years and second child was born when she was 17 years. He argued that the marriage between the appellant and the prosecutrix is not legal. He expressed his apprehension that the said marriage might be only for the purpose of escaping punishment and there 7/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025is no guarantee that the appellant will take care of the prosecutrix and the children after this Court grants relief to him.I n the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, we are of the considered view that the conviction and sentence of the appellant who is maternal uncle of the prosecutrix deserves to be set aside in view of the subsequent events that have been brought to the notice of this Court. This Court cannot shut its eyes to the ground reality and disturb the happy family life of the appellant and the prosecutrix. We have been informed about the custom in Tamil N adu of the marriage of a girl with the maternal uncle.For the aforesaid mentioned reasons, the conviction and sentence of the appellant is set aside in the peculiar facts of the case and shall not be treated as a precedent. The appeal is accordingly, disposed of. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.In case, the appellant does not take proper care of the prosecutrix, she or the State on behalf of the prosecutrix can move this Court for modification of this Order.”(emphasis supplied by this Court)9. Since the aforesaid decisions apply on all fours to the facts and circumstances obtaining in this case, this Court is inclined to quash the First Information Report registered against the petitioners in Crime No.44 of 2024 dated 21.10.2024, on the file of the 1st respondent police, by invoking Section 482 of Cr.P.C./ 528 BNSS.10. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed and First Information Report against the petitioners in Crime No.44 of 2024 dated 8/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 202521.10.2024, on the file of the 1st respondent police, is quashed.11. The Joint Compromise Memo signed by the parties dated 15.10.2025, for compromising the offences, shall form part of the record.12. This Courts hopes and trusts that the 1st petitioner will take due care of the victim girl and the child for the rest of their life and in the event of any default on his part in this regard being brought to the notice of this Court, the consequences that would befall the 1st petitioner would be very serious. 13. Before parting, this Court hastens to add that this Court is not oblivious of the fact that the Supreme Court, in K. Kirubakaran, supra, had invoked Article 142 of the Constitution of India and quashed the criminal proceedings against the appellant. However, since the facts obtaining in this case being akin to the facts in K. Kirubakaran, supra, this order is passed.14.11.2025ksa-2Index:Yes/No9/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025Speaking/Non-speaking orderNeutral Citation:Yes/No10/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025To 1. The Inspector of Police All Women Police Station Virudhachalam2.The Public Prosecutor High Court of Madras, Chennai11/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 2025A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA J.ksa-2Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 202512/13 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Crl.O.P.No.29158 of 202514.11.202513/13