Sukh Ram v. State of HP & Ors.

quashing of FIR No.226 of 2024, dated 28.7.2024, registered at Police Station, Sadar, Una, District Una, H.P., for the commission of o6ences punishable under Sections 281 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, (BNS), 2023 and 2 Sections 184 and 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act) based on compromise e6ected between the parties.

#2. It has been asserted that the matter has been reconciled between the parties with the intervention of friends and no fruitful purpose would be served by continuing with the present proceeding. Hence the present petition.

#3. Statements of informant Mukesh Kumar and victims Prem Singh, Asha Devi, Prem Lata and legal guardian of Anshik and Dhruv were recorded on 24.06.2026 in which they stated that they had entered into a compromise voluntarily with the accused without any in>uence from any person. Section 351(4)(a) of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 provides that when a person who would otherwise be competent to compound an o6ence is a child or of unsound mind, any person competent to contract on his behalf may compound the o6ence. Therefore, the natural guardian is competent to compound the o6ence on behalf of the minors.

#4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the records carefully. 3

#5. The o6ences punishable under Sections 281 and 125 (a) of BNS correspond to Section 279 and Section 337 of IPC, respectively. This Court has quashed the F.I.R. registered for the commission of o6ences punishable under Sections 279 and 337 of IPC in Sushant vs State of H.P. 2023 HLJ 531, Vikas Huda vs. State of H.P. 2023 STPL 3009, Kulvinder Singh vs Ankush Kumar 2023 HLR 384 and Nishant vs. State 2022 Suppl. Shim Law Cases 45 based on compromise. This Court has also quashed the F.I.R. registered for the commission of an o6ence punishable under Sections 184 and 187 of the MV Act, inter alia, in Rajender Thakur Vs. State of H.P. and others 2022 STPL 10700 HP and Akshay Kumar and others Vs. State of HP and others 2022 STPL 9456 HP. These judgments are binding on this Court.

#6. In view of these binding precedents, the present petition is allowed, and the FIR No.226 of 2024, dated

28.7.2024, registered at Police Station, Sadar, Una, District Una, H.P., for the commission of o6ences punishable under Sections 281 and 125(a) of BNS, Sections 184 and 187 of the MV Act and the consequential proceedings pending/initiated 4 against the petitioner-accused in pursuance thereof are ordered to be quashed.

#7. Petition stands disposed of in the above terms, so also pending miscellaneous applications, if any.

#8. Parties are permitted to produce a copy of this judgment, downloaded from the webpage of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, before the authorities concerned, and the said authorities shall not insist on the production of a certi, ed copy, but if required, may verify passing of the order from the Website of the High Court. 12th August, 2026 (Chander) (Rakesh Kainthla) Judge