1. Ajay Singh, aged about 30 years, Son of- Gangadhar Singh, resident of village v. 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Dharmendra Singh, son of Tirathnath Singh, resident of
Case Details
Cr. M.P. No.4033 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Cr.M.P. No.4033 of 2023 ------ 1. Ajay Singh, aged about 30 years, Son of- Gangadhar Singh, resident of village- Soso, P.O.- Nawagarh, P.S.- Sikidari, Dist- Ranchi. 2. Kapil Mahto @ Amar Nath Mahto, aged about 32 years, Son of- Jagarnath Mahto @ Asharam Mahto, resident of village- Baijnath Tata, P.O. & P.S.- Angara, District- Ranchi … Petitioners Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Dharmendra Singh, son of Tirathnath Singh, resident of village- Sirka, Naya Toli, P.O.- Maheshpur, P.S.- Angara, District- Ranchi. … Opposite Parties For the Petitioners For the State For the O.P. No.2 ------
Legal Reasoning
: Mr. Arun Kumar, Advocate : Ms. Vandana Bharti, Addl. P.P. : Mr. Prabhat Singh, Advocate ------ P R E S E N T HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY By the Court:- Heard the parties. 2. This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition has been filed invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure with a prayer to quash and set aside the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Angara P.S. Case No.92 of 2022 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 341, 342, 323, 364, 147, 148, 149 of the Indian Penal Code which is now pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class- XXII, Ranchi. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners and learned counsel for the opposite party No.2 jointly draw the attention of this Court towards Interlocutory 1 Cr. M.P. No.4033 of 2023 Application No.179 of 2024 which is supported by the separate affidavits of the petitioners and opposite party No.2-informant wherein it has been categorically mentioned that the petitioners are local businessmen and have been made accused in this case due to ill motive and maliciously. Learned counsel for the petitioners further submits that the genesis of the occurrence is the land dispute between the parties over which both the parties have been claiming their ownership and because of land dispute, this case has been instituted against the petitioners. It is next submitted that due to intervention of well-wishers and friends, the entire confusions and misunderstanding giving rise to lodging of the case has been sorted out between the parties, hence, in view of the compromise, the informant does not want to proceed with the case. Learned counsel for the petitioners next submits that the dispute between the parties is basically a private dispute and no public policy is involved. Learned counsel for the petitioners next submits that in view of the compromise between the parties, the continuation of this criminal proceeding will amount to abuse of process of law as in view of the compromise, the chances of conviction of the petitioners is remote and bleak. Hence, it is submitted that the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Angara P.S. Case No.92 of 2022 which is now pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class-XXII, Ranchi, be quashed and set aside. 4. Learned Addl.P.P. appearing for the State submits that in view of the compromise between the parties, the State has no serious objection for quashing and setting aside the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Angara P.S. Case No.92 of 2022 which is now pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class-XXII, Ranchi. 2 Cr. M.P. No.4033 of 2023 5. Having heard the rival submissions made at the Bar and after carefully going through the materials available in the record, it is pertinent to mention here that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur & Others vs. State of Gujarat & Another reported in (2017) 9 SCC 641, had the occasion to consider the jurisdiction of the High Court under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure inter alia on the basis of compromise between the parties and has held in paragraph No.11 as under:- “11. Section 482 is prefaced with an overriding provision. The statute saves the inherent power of the High Court, as a superior court, to make such orders as are necessary (i) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court; or (ii) otherwise to secure the ends of justice. In Gian Singh [Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303 : (2012) 4 SCC (Civ) 1188 : (2013) 1 SCC (Cri) 160 : (2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 988] a Bench of three learned Judges of this Court adverted to the body of precedent on the subject and laid down guiding principles which the High Court should consider in determining as to whether to quash an FIR or complaint in the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction. The considerations which must weigh with the High Court are : (SCC pp. 342-43, para 61) “61. … 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 FIR may be exercised where the offender and the 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 a serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and the offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, etc.; 3 Cr. M.P. No.4033 of 2023 for any basis cannot provide for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominatingly civil flavour stand on a 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, the High Court may quash the criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and the victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal case would put the 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 the wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that the criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in the affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding.” (Emphasis supplied)” 6. Perusal of the record reveals that the offences involved in this case are not heinous offences nor is there any serious offence of mental depravity is involved in this case rather the offences involved in this case relates to private dispute between the parties. 7. Because of the complete settlement between the offenders and the victim, the possibility of conviction of the petitioners is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal case would put the petitioners to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to them by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. 4 Cr. M.P. No.4033 of 2023 8. Hence, this Court is of the considered view that this is a fit case where entire criminal proceedings in connection with Angara P.S. Case No.92 of 2022 which is now pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class-XXII, Ranchi, as prayed for by the petitioners, be quashed and set aside. 9. Accordingly, the entire criminal proceedings in connection with Angara P.S. Case No.92 of 2022 which is now pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class-XXII, Ranchi is quashed and set aside against the petitioners. 10. 11.
Decision
In the result, this Cr.M.P. stands allowed. In view of disposal of the instant Cr.M.P., I.A. No.179 of 2024 stands disposed of accordingly. (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi Dated the 22nd of January, 2024 AFR/ Animesh 5