High Court · 2025

1. Heard Sri Kshitij Tiwari, learned counsel for the applicants, Shri Virendra Singh, learned counsel for respondent no.2 as well as learned A.G.A. and perused the record on Board.

2. The applicant has invoked the inherent jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing the cognizance order dated 12.04.2021, charge-sheet dated 21.10.2021 and entire criminal proceedings of Criminal Case No. 3406 of 2021 arising out of Case Crime No. 06 of 2020, under Sections 498-A, 354-Kha, 323, 504 I.P.C. and Section 3/4 of D.P. Act, Police Station Mahila Thana Alinagar, District Chandauli, pending before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandauli.

3. It is submitted that during pendency of the criminal proceeding, both the parties have settled their dispute amicably out of the Court and arrived at compromise. Having considered the amicable settlement between the parties, this Court, vide order dated 24.02.2023, has relegated the parties before the court below to get their compromise verified. For ready reference, order dated 24.02.2023 is quoted herein below :- "Learned counsel for applicants is permitted to make necessary correction in the prayer clause of the instant application, during the course of the day. Heard learned counsel for applicants and learned A.G.A and perused the record. Learned counsel for the applicants has submitted that O.P. No.2 is wife of applicant no. 1 and on account of matrimonial discord, the instant criminal case has been instituted against the applicants. Learned counsel for the applicants has next drawn the attention of the Court to the compromise deed dated 24.1.2023 drawn between both the parties, copy of which has been annexed as Annexure No. S.A-2 to the supplementary affidavit. Learned counsel for the applicants has next submitted that the said compromise made between both the parties be verified by the court below. In view of the above, the parties are directed to appear before the court below within one month on a date to be fixed by the court below and in presence of both the parties, the court below shall verify the said compromise and forward its report to this court by the next date fixed. List on 7.4.2023. Till then, no coercive action shall be taken against the applicants in criminal case no. 3406 of 2021, arising out of case crime no. 06 of 2020 under section 498A, 354(Kha),323, 504 I.P.C. and 3/4 of D.P. Act P.S. Mahila Thana Alinagar, District Chandauli, pending in the court of C.J.M, Chandauli."

4. In pursuance of the order dated 24.02.2023 passed by this Court, learned Civil Judge (J.D.), FTC-I CD has verified the compromise deed and passed compromise verification order dated 12.08.2024 to the effect that both the parties have appeared before the court below along with compromise application and have been identified by their respective counsel. They have admitted the conditions of the compromise and stated that they entered into a compromise out of their own volition without any duress. Accordingly, compromise has been verified. Certified copy of the compromise and certified copy of the compromise verification order dated 12.08.2024 has been filed collectively as Annexure No. SA-1 to the supplementary affidavit filed by learned counsel for the applicants on 10/11.09.2024. Accordingly, compromise has been verified.

5. It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that in the above eventuality of amicable settlement took place between the parties, instant application may be allowed and the entire criminal proceedings may be quashed. It is further submitted that both the parties have entered into compromise out of their own volition without any duress and buried the hatchet. There is no grudges between them against each other. To quash the cognizance order as well as criminal proceeding, learned counsel for the applicant has relied upon the following judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court:- (i) B.S.Joshi & Others Vs. State of Haryana & Others; (2003) 4 SCC 675. (ii) Nikhil Merchant Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation; (2008) 9 SCC 667. (iii) Manoj Sharma Vs. State & Others; (2008) 16 SCC 1. (iv) Gyan Singh Vs. State of Punjab (2012) 10 SCC 303. (v) Narindra Singh & Others Vs. State of Punjab (2014) 6 SCC 466.

6. In a recent judgment passed by a Three Judges' Bench of the Apex Court in the Case of Parbatbhai Aahir alias Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others Vs. State of Gujarat and another, reported in AIR 2017 SC 4843, Hon'ble Supreme Court has summarized the ratio of all the cases decided earlier with respect to quashing of F.I.R./charge-sheet/criminal proceeding on the ground of settlement between the parties and expounded the ten categories in which application under Section 482 could be entertained for quashing the F.I.R./charge-sheet/criminal proceeding on the basis of compromise. Para no. 15 of the said judgement summarizing the proposition in this respect is reproduced below :- "15. (i) Section 482 preserves the inherent power of the High Court to prevent an abuse of the process of any court or to secure the ends of justice. The provision does not confer new powers. It only recognizes and preserves powers which inhere in the High Court; (ii) The invocation of the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a First Information Report or a criminal proceeding on the ground that a settlement has been arrived at between the offender and the victim is not the same as the invocation of jurisdiction for the purpose of compounding an offence. While compounding an offence, the power of the court is governed by the provisions of Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power to quash under Section 482 is attracted even if the offence is non-compoundable. (iii) In forming an opinion whether a criminal proceeding or compliant should be quashed in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482, the High Court must evaluate whether the ends of justice would justify the exercise of the inherent power; (iv) While the inherent power of the High Court has a wide ambit and plenitude it has to be exercised;(i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court; (v) The decision as to whether a complaint or First Information Report should be quashed on the ground that the offender and victim have settled the dispute, revolves ultimately on the facts and circumstances of each case and no exhaustive elaboration of principles can be formulated; (vi) In exercise of the power under Section 482 and while dealing with a plea that the dispute has been settled, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the offence. Heinous and serious offences involving mental depravity or offences such as murder, rape and dacoity cannot approximately be quashed though the victim or the family of the victim have settled the dispute. Such offences are, truly speaking, not private in nature but have a serious impact upon society. The decision to continue with the trial in such cases is founded on the overriding element of public interest in punishing persons for serious offences; (vii) As distinguished from serious offences, there may be criminal cases which have an overwhelming or predominant element of a civil dispute. They stand on a distinct footing insofar as the exercise of the inherent power to quash is concerned; (viii) Criminal cases involving offences which arise from commercial, financial, mercantile, partnership or similar transactions with an essentially civil flavour may in appropriate situations fall for quashing where parties have settled the dispute; (ix) In such a case, the High Court may quash the criminal proceeding if in view of the compromise between the disputants, the possibility of a conviction is remote and the continuation of a criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice; and (x) There is yet an exception to the principle set out in propositions (viii) and (ix) above. Economic offences involving the financial and economic well-being of the state have implications which lie beyond the domain of a mere dispute between private disputants. The High Court would be justified in declining to quash where the offender is involved in an activity akin to a financial or economic fraud or misdemeanor. The consequences of the act complained of upon the financial or economic system will weigh in the balance."

7. Learned A.G.A. has no objection, in case, the instant application is finally decided by this Court on the basis of compromise took place between the parties, which is duly verified by the court concerned.

8. Learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 has nodded the factum of the compromise entered into between the parties and he has no objection, if the instant application is decided finally on the basis of the said compromise. He also submits that compromise was verified in presence of both the parties, who have voluntarily entered into compromise and opposite party no.2 does not wants to prosecute the present case against the applicant any more as no dispute remains between the parties.

9. Having considered the compromise took place between the parties and with the assistance of the aforesaid guidelines, keeping in view the nature of gravity and severity of the offence, which are more particular in private dispute, it is deemed proper that in order to meet the ends of justice, the present proceeding should be quashed. In result, dispute between the parties will put to an end, peace will be resorted and relationship between them will be smooth. No useful purpose would be served to keep the present matter pending inasmuch as both the parties have buried the hatchet and as the time passes, it will be difficult to prove the guilt of the accused. The continuation of criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice.

10. In view of the aforesaid pronouncements of the Hon'ble Apex Court and in the light of the compromise took place between the parties, duly verified by the court concerned, the present application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is hereby allowed. The entire criminal proceeding of the aforementioned case is hereby quashed.

11. Let a copy of the order be transmitted to the concerned lower court for necessary action. Order Date :- 28.7.2025 Vibha Singh VIBHA SINGH VIBHA SINGH High Court of Judicature at Allahabad High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

1. Heard Sri Kshitij Tiwari, learned counsel for the applicants, Shri Virendra Singh, learned counsel for respondent no.2 as well as learned A.G.A. and perused the record on Board.

2. The applicant has invoked the inherent jurisdiction of this Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing the cognizance order dated 12.04.2021, charge-sheet dated 21.10.2021 and entire criminal proceedings of Criminal Case No. 3406 of 2021 arising out of Case Crime No. 06 of 2020, under Sections 498-A, 354-Kha, 323, 504 I.P.C. and Section 3/4 of D.P. Act, Police Station Mahila Thana Alinagar, District Chandauli, pending before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandauli.

3. It is submitted that during pendency of the criminal proceeding, both the parties have settled their dispute amicably out of the Court and arrived at compromise. Having considered the amicable settlement between the parties, this Court, vide order dated 24.02.2023, has relegated the parties before the court below to get their compromise verified. For ready reference, order dated 24.02.2023 is quoted herein below :- "Learned counsel for applicants is permitted to make necessary correction in the prayer clause of the instant application, during the course of the day. Heard learned counsel for applicants and learned A.G.A and perused the record. Learned counsel for the applicants has submitted that O.P. No.2 is wife of applicant no. 1 and on account of matrimonial discord, the instant criminal case has been instituted against the applicants. Learned counsel for the applicants has next drawn the attention of the Court to the compromise deed dated 24.1.2023 drawn between both the parties, copy of which has been annexed as Annexure No. S.A-2 to the supplementary affidavit. Learned counsel for the applicants has next submitted that the said compromise made between both the parties be verified by the court below. In view of the above, the parties are directed to appear before the court below within one month on a date to be fixed by the court below and in presence of both the parties, the court below shall verify the said compromise and forward its report to this court by the next date fixed. List on 7.4.2023. Till then, no coercive action shall be taken against the applicants in criminal case no. 3406 of 2021, arising out of case crime no. 06 of 2020 under section 498A, 354(Kha),323, 504 I.P.C. and 3/4 of D.P. Act P.S. Mahila Thana Alinagar, District Chandauli, pending in the court of C.J.M, Chandauli."

4. In pursuance of the order dated 24.02.2023 passed by this Court, learned Civil Judge (J.D.), FTC-I CD has verified the compromise deed and passed compromise verification order dated 12.08.2024 to the effect that both the parties have appeared before the court below along with compromise application and have been identified by their respective counsel. They have admitted the conditions of the compromise and stated that they entered into a compromise out of their own volition without any duress. Accordingly, compromise has been verified. Certified copy of the compromise and certified copy of the compromise verification order dated 12.08.2024 has been filed collectively as Annexure No. SA-1 to the supplementary affidavit filed by learned counsel for the applicants on 10/11.09.2024. Accordingly, compromise has been verified.

5. It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that in the above eventuality of amicable settlement took place between the parties, instant application may be allowed and the entire criminal proceedings may be quashed. It is further submitted that both the parties have entered into compromise out of their own volition without any duress and buried the hatchet. There is no grudges between them against each other. To quash the cognizance order as well as criminal proceeding, learned counsel for the applicant has relied upon the following judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court:- (i) B.S.Joshi & Others Vs. State of Haryana & Others; (2003) 4 SCC 675. (ii) Nikhil Merchant Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation; (2008) 9 SCC 667. (iii) Manoj Sharma Vs. State & Others; (2008) 16 SCC 1. (iv) Gyan Singh Vs. State of Punjab (2012) 10 SCC 303. (v) Narindra Singh & Others Vs. State of Punjab (2014) 6 SCC 466.

6. In a recent judgment passed by a Three Judges' Bench of the Apex Court in the Case of Parbatbhai Aahir alias Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others Vs. State of Gujarat and another, reported in AIR 2017 SC 4843, Hon'ble Supreme Court has summarized the ratio of all the cases decided earlier with respect to quashing of F.I.R./charge-sheet/criminal proceeding on the ground of settlement between the parties and expounded the ten categories in which application under Section 482 could be entertained for quashing the F.I.R./charge-sheet/criminal proceeding on the basis of compromise. Para no. 15 of the said judgement summarizing the proposition in this respect is reproduced below :- "15. (i) Section 482 preserves the inherent power of the High Court to prevent an abuse of the process of any court or to secure the ends of justice. The provision does not confer new powers. It only recognizes and preserves powers which inhere in the High Court; (ii) The invocation of the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a First Information Report or a criminal proceeding on the ground that a settlement has been arrived at between the offender and the victim is not the same as the invocation of jurisdiction for the purpose of compounding an offence. While compounding an offence, the power of the court is governed by the provisions of Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power to quash under Section 482 is attracted even if the offence is non-compoundable. (iii) In forming an opinion whether a criminal proceeding or compliant should be quashed in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482, the High Court must evaluate whether the ends of justice would justify the exercise of the inherent power; (iv) While the inherent power of the High Court has a wide ambit and plenitude it has to be exercised;(i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court; (v) The decision as to whether a complaint or First Information Report should be quashed on the ground that the offender and victim have settled the dispute, revolves ultimately on the facts and circumstances of each case and no exhaustive elaboration of principles can be formulated; (vi) In exercise of the power under Section 482 and while dealing with a plea that the dispute has been settled, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the offence. Heinous and serious offences involving mental depravity or offences such as murder, rape and dacoity cannot approximately be quashed though the victim or the family of the victim have settled the dispute. Such offences are, truly speaking, not private in nature but have a serious impact upon society. The decision to continue with the trial in such cases is founded on the overriding element of public interest in punishing persons for serious offences; (vii) As distinguished from serious offences, there may be criminal cases which have an overwhelming or predominant element of a civil dispute. They stand on a distinct footing insofar as the exercise of the inherent power to quash is concerned; (viii) Criminal cases involving offences which arise from commercial, financial, mercantile, partnership or similar transactions with an essentially civil flavour may in appropriate situations fall for quashing where parties have settled the dispute; (ix) In such a case, the High Court may quash the criminal proceeding if in view of the compromise between the disputants, the possibility of a conviction is remote and the continuation of a criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice; and (x) There is yet an exception to the principle set out in propositions (viii) and (ix) above. Economic offences involving the financial and economic well-being of the state have implications which lie beyond the domain of a mere dispute between private disputants. The High Court would be justified in declining to quash where the offender is involved in an activity akin to a financial or economic fraud or misdemeanor. The consequences of the act complained of upon the financial or economic system will weigh in the balance."

7. Learned A.G.A. has no objection, in case, the instant application is finally decided by this Court on the basis of compromise took place between the parties, which is duly verified by the court concerned.

8. Learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 has nodded the factum of the compromise entered into between the parties and he has no objection, if the instant application is decided finally on the basis of the said compromise. He also submits that compromise was verified in presence of both the parties, who have voluntarily entered into compromise and opposite party no.2 does not wants to prosecute the present case against the applicant any more as no dispute remains between the parties.

9. Having considered the compromise took place between the parties and with the assistance of the aforesaid guidelines, keeping in view the nature of gravity and severity of the offence, which are more particular in private dispute, it is deemed proper that in order to meet the ends of justice, the present proceeding should be quashed. In result, dispute between the parties will put to an end, peace will be resorted and relationship between them will be smooth. No useful purpose would be served to keep the present matter pending inasmuch as both the parties have buried the hatchet and as the time passes, it will be difficult to prove the guilt of the accused. The continuation of criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice.

10. In view of the aforesaid pronouncements of the Hon'ble Apex Court and in the light of the compromise took place between the parties, duly verified by the court concerned, the present application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is hereby allowed. The entire criminal proceeding of the aforementioned case is hereby quashed.

11. Let a copy of the order be transmitted to the concerned lower court for necessary action. Order Date :- 28.7.2025 Vibha Singh VIBHA SINGH VIBHA SINGH High Court of Judicature at Allahabad High Court of Judicature at Allahabad