Shrawasti, 'State v. Chhotey Lal & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge

1. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.

2. The APPLICATION U/S 482 No.- 4508 of 2018 has been preferred by the applicants, namely, Chhotey Lal, Adalat Prasad @ Adalat Prasad Pandey, Dhondhey @ Ram Shanker Pandey and Jeetu Ram @ Jeet Ram for the following main relief(s):- "to quash the entire proceedings of Session Trial No. 50/2007, arising out of Case Crime No. 54/1991, under section 308, 323 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station - Gilaula, District - Shrawasti, 'State Vs Chhotey Lal & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge/Fast Track Court-IInd, Shrawasti, on the basis of compromise dated 09.07.2018. It is further prayed that the further proceedings of Session Trial No. 50/2007, arising out of Case Crime No. 54/1991, under section 308, 323 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station Gilaula, District - Shrawasti, 'State Vs Chhotey Lal & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge / Fast Track Court-IInd, Shrawasti, may kindly be stayed, during pendency of this petition. Any other order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper may kindly be passed in favour of the petitioners in the interest of justice."

3. The APPLICATION U/S 482 No.- 4378 of 2018 has been preferred by the applicants, namely, Radhey Shyam Tiwari, Kewal Prasad Tiwari @ Ram Kewal, Rajmani Tiwari, Virendra Kumar @ Bhure, Guru Prasad Dubey, Dinesh Kumar Dubey, Babadeen Mishra, Ram Kumar, Peshkar, Tilak Ram, Kalpanath Shukla @ Nanmun for the following main relief(s):- "to quash the entire proceedings of Session Trial No. 108 of 2012, arising out of Case Crime No. 54-A/1991, under section 143, 452, 427 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station Gilaula, District Shrawasti, 'State Vs Virendra Kumar @ Bhure & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge / Fast Track Court-lind, Shrawasti, on the basis of compromise dated 09.07.2018. It is further prayed that the further proceedings of Session Trial No. 108/2012, arising out of Case Crime No. 54A/1991, under section 143, 452, 427 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station Gilaula, District - Shrawasti, 'State Vs Virendra Kumar @ Bhure & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge / Fast Track Court-IInd, Shrawasti, may kindly be stayed, during pendency of this petition. Any other order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper may kindly be passed in favour of the petitioners in the interest of justice."

4. After taking note of the facts of the case indicated in the applications detailed above, this Court on 20.07.2018 and 25.07.2018 passed the following order:- "Vakalatnama filed today by Mr. Pawan Kumar Mishra, Advocate, on behalf of the opposite party no.2, is taken on record. It is submitted that both the parties have settled their dispute outside the Court. They have executed a settlement deed in presence of notary, civil court, Lucknow. Under such circumstance, office is directed to send the settlement deed in original annexed with this application as annexure 4 to the learned trial court for verification. Learned trial court is directed to make an enquiry and record evidence regarding the same as to whether all the parties had settled their dispute or not and then send a report to this Court. Put up after receipt of report alongwith Criminal Miscellaneous Case No.4378 of 2018."

5. In compliance of the order of this Court dated 20/25.07.2018, the Additional District and Sessions Judge/Fast Track Court, District Shravasti submitted its report vide letter dated 09.11.2022. The relevant part of the report is extracted herein-under:- "महहदय, चच उपरहक ववषयक सनदरर मम ससदर अवगत करसनस हह वक उपरहक दहनन सत पररकण मम उरयपक दसरस पसततत यसवचकस कक उपरसनत मसननरय नयसयसलय दसरस पकरण मम जसजच कर तथस ससकय ररकसरर कर आखयस पसततत करनक कह आदकवशत वकयस गयस थस। इसकक सनदरर मम, जवक दहनन सत पररकण वसद ककस कक स हह। मसननरय नयसयसलय दसरस पसररत आदकश कक अनतकम मम सत पररकण ससखयस 50/2007 रसधकशयसम वतवसरर कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस। इसकक उपरसनत वदनससक 15.09.2018 वररकनद कत मसर उरर रचरक कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस। वदनससक 19.09.2018 रसमकक वल उरर कक वल पससद कह पर०रबलच० 6 वतवसरर, पर०रबलच० 9 वतलकरसम, पर०रबलच० 7 बसबसदरन तथस वदनससक 23.10.2018 पर०रबलच० 11 कलपनसथ कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस। इसकक उपरसनत वदनससक 18.12.2018 कह वसदर दसरस आदकश पतक पर यह असवकत वकयस गयस वक अब कहई रर ससकर पसततत नहह करनस हह। उपरहक पसततत ससकयन सक यह सपष हह वक उरयपक कक मधय कहई वववसद सत पररकण ससखयस 50/2007 कह पर०रबलच० 8 पकशकसर, वदनकश कत मसर दचबक व वदनससक 05.12.2018 गतर पससद दचबक कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस तथस वदनससक 08.10.2018 रसजमवण वतवसरर तथस वदनससक 12.10.2018 कह पर०रबलच० 3 रसमकत मसर, मम वदनससक 21.08.2018 कह पर०रबलच० 10 कह पर०रबलच० 2 कह पर०रबलच० 1 मम नहह रह गयस हह। पर०रबलच० 5 पर०रबलच० 4 इस पकसर मसननरय नयसयसलय कक आदकश कक अनतकम मम सत पररकण ससखयस-108/2012 कह अदसलत पसणरकय कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस, आदकश कक उपरसनत वदनससक 23.10.2018 अब दहनन मतकदमन कक पककसरगण सतलह हह और आपस मम कहई वववसद शकष नहह हह। वदनससक 14.11.2018 रसम शसकर पतत छहटकलसल जह वसदर मतकदमस (ममतक) मम मसननरय नयसयसलय कक इसमम उसनक कहस हह वक कह ढहढक उरर मम रर सतलह हहनक कक बसत कह सवरकसर वकयस हह। इस कस पतत हह, पकसर नयसयसलय दसरस कक गयर जसजच सक दहनन पकन मम सतलह हहनक कक बसत हह गयर हह। इस समबनध मम पचवर मम वदनससक 03.08.2021 कह आखयस पकवषत कक जस चतकक हह। अतत आखयस मसननरय नयसयसलय कक समक रखक जसनक हकतत पतनत ससदर पकवषत हह।"

6. It appears on the record that on account of some petty dispute between the parties the F.I.R.s were lodged as Case Crime No. 54 of 1991, under Section 308 and 323 I.P.C., and Case Crime No. 54-A of 1991, under Sections 143, 452 and 427 I.P.C., at Police Station Gilaula, District Shrawasti and based upon the charge sheet(s) filed by the investigating officer, the Magistrate took cognizance and, thereafter, committed the matter before the Court of Sessions where the trial(s) were registered as Sessions Trial No. 50 of 2007 (State of U.P. vs. Chhotey Lal and others) and Sessions Trial No. 108 of 2012 (State vs. Virendra Kumar @ Bhure and others). It further appears that dispute between the parties have been settled and they have entered into an agreement voluntarily and their signatures have been verified by their respective counsels and with regard to the same a photocopy of the compromise deed dated 09.07.2018 has been enclosed at Page No. 30 to the application.

7. Considering the aforesaid as also the submissions made by learned Counsel for the parties as also the observations made by Apex Court in the case of State of Karnataka Vs. L. Muniswamy and Others, 1977 (2) SCC 699; State of Haryana Vs. Bhajan Lal and Others, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335; Prashant Bharti Vs. State (NCT of Delhi), (2013) 9 SCC 293; Rajiv Thapar and Ors. Vs. Madan Lal Kapoor, (2013) 3 SCC 330; Ahmad Ali Quraishi and Ors. Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors. (2020) 13 SCC 435, according to which inherent power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. (akin to Section 528 BNSS, 2023) could be exercised to prevent abuse of process of any Court or otherwise to secure ends of justice, as also the observations made by Apex Court in the case of Ramgopal and others Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh, (2022) 14 SCC 531, Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab [2012 10 SCC 303], Mohd. Ibrahim Vs. State of U.P., 2022 SCC Online ALL 106, Gold Quest International Ltd. Vs. State of Tamilnadu, 2014 (15) SCC 235, B.S. Joshi Vs. State of Haryana, 2003 (4) SCC 675, Jitendra Raghuvanshi Vs. Babita Raghuvanshi, 2013(4) SCC 58, Madhavarao Jiwajirao Scindia Vs. Sambhajirao Chandrojirao Angre, 1988 1 SCC 692, Nikhil Merchant Vs. C.B.I. and another, 2008(9) SCC 677, Manoj Sharma Vs. State and others, 2008(16) SCC 1, State of M.P. Vs. Laxmi Narayan and others, 2019(5) SCC 688, Narindra Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and another, (2014) 6 SCC 466, Manoj Kumar and others Vs. State of U.P and others (2008) 8 SCC 781, Union Carbide Corporation and others Vs. Union of India and others (1991) 4 SCC 584, Manohar Lal Sharma Vs. Principal Secretary and others (2014) 2 SCC 532 and Supreme Court Bar Association Vs. Union of India (1998) 4 SCC 409, according to which, in given facts, based upon the settlements between the parties the criminal proceedings can be quashed, as also the nature of dispute/crime, this Court is of the view that the present applications are liable to be allowed as chances of ultimate conviction are extremely bleak and hence no useful purpose would be served by allowing the criminal proceedings to continue. Accordingly, present application(s) are allowed. Consequently, the entire proceedings of Sessions Trial No. 50 of 2007 (State of U.P. vs. Chhotey Lal and others) and Sessions Trial No. 108 of 2012 (State vs. Virendra Kumar @ Bhure and others), quoted above, are hereby quashed qua the applicants.

8. Office/Registry is directed to send the copy of this order to the court concerned through email/fax for necessary compliance. Order Date :- 7.2.2025 Praveen PRAVEEN KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

1. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.

2. The APPLICATION U/S 482 No.- 4508 of 2018 has been preferred by the applicants, namely, Chhotey Lal, Adalat Prasad @ Adalat Prasad Pandey, Dhondhey @ Ram Shanker Pandey and Jeetu Ram @ Jeet Ram for the following main relief(s):- "to quash the entire proceedings of Session Trial No. 50/2007, arising out of Case Crime No. 54/1991, under section 308, 323 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station - Gilaula, District - Shrawasti, 'State Vs Chhotey Lal & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge/Fast Track Court-IInd, Shrawasti, on the basis of compromise dated 09.07.2018. It is further prayed that the further proceedings of Session Trial No. 50/2007, arising out of Case Crime No. 54/1991, under section 308, 323 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station Gilaula, District - Shrawasti, 'State Vs Chhotey Lal & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge / Fast Track Court-IInd, Shrawasti, may kindly be stayed, during pendency of this petition. Any other order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper may kindly be passed in favour of the petitioners in the interest of justice."

3. The APPLICATION U/S 482 No.- 4378 of 2018 has been preferred by the applicants, namely, Radhey Shyam Tiwari, Kewal Prasad Tiwari @ Ram Kewal, Rajmani Tiwari, Virendra Kumar @ Bhure, Guru Prasad Dubey, Dinesh Kumar Dubey, Babadeen Mishra, Ram Kumar, Peshkar, Tilak Ram, Kalpanath Shukla @ Nanmun for the following main relief(s):- "to quash the entire proceedings of Session Trial No. 108 of 2012, arising out of Case Crime No. 54-A/1991, under section 143, 452, 427 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station Gilaula, District Shrawasti, 'State Vs Virendra Kumar @ Bhure & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge / Fast Track Court-lind, Shrawasti, on the basis of compromise dated 09.07.2018. It is further prayed that the further proceedings of Session Trial No. 108/2012, arising out of Case Crime No. 54A/1991, under section 143, 452, 427 I.P.C., pertaining to Police Station Gilaula, District - Shrawasti, 'State Vs Virendra Kumar @ Bhure & others', pending in the court of Additional Sessions Judge / Fast Track Court-IInd, Shrawasti, may kindly be stayed, during pendency of this petition. Any other order or direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper may kindly be passed in favour of the petitioners in the interest of justice."

4. After taking note of the facts of the case indicated in the applications detailed above, this Court on 20.07.2018 and 25.07.2018 passed the following order:- "Vakalatnama filed today by Mr. Pawan Kumar Mishra, Advocate, on behalf of the opposite party no.2, is taken on record. It is submitted that both the parties have settled their dispute outside the Court. They have executed a settlement deed in presence of notary, civil court, Lucknow. Under such circumstance, office is directed to send the settlement deed in original annexed with this application as annexure 4 to the learned trial court for verification. Learned trial court is directed to make an enquiry and record evidence regarding the same as to whether all the parties had settled their dispute or not and then send a report to this Court. Put up after receipt of report alongwith Criminal Miscellaneous Case No.4378 of 2018."

5. In compliance of the order of this Court dated 20/25.07.2018, the Additional District and Sessions Judge/Fast Track Court, District Shravasti submitted its report vide letter dated 09.11.2022. The relevant part of the report is extracted herein-under:- "महहदय, चच उपरहक ववषयक सनदरर मम ससदर अवगत करसनस हह वक उपरहक दहनन सत पररकण मम उरयपक दसरस पसततत यसवचकस कक उपरसनत मसननरय नयसयसलय दसरस पकरण मम जसजच कर तथस ससकय ररकसरर कर आखयस पसततत करनक कह आदकवशत वकयस गयस थस। इसकक सनदरर मम, जवक दहनन सत पररकण वसद ककस कक स हह। मसननरय नयसयसलय दसरस पसररत आदकश कक अनतकम मम सत पररकण ससखयस 50/2007 रसधकशयसम वतवसरर कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस। इसकक उपरसनत वदनससक 15.09.2018 वररकनद कत मसर उरर रचरक कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस। वदनससक 19.09.2018 रसमकक वल उरर कक वल पससद कह पर०रबलच० 6 वतवसरर, पर०रबलच० 9 वतलकरसम, पर०रबलच० 7 बसबसदरन तथस वदनससक 23.10.2018 पर०रबलच० 11 कलपनसथ कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस। इसकक उपरसनत वदनससक 18.12.2018 कह वसदर दसरस आदकश पतक पर यह असवकत वकयस गयस वक अब कहई रर ससकर पसततत नहह करनस हह। उपरहक पसततत ससकयन सक यह सपष हह वक उरयपक कक मधय कहई वववसद सत पररकण ससखयस 50/2007 कह पर०रबलच० 8 पकशकसर, वदनकश कत मसर दचबक व वदनससक 05.12.2018 गतर पससद दचबक कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस तथस वदनससक 08.10.2018 रसजमवण वतवसरर तथस वदनससक 12.10.2018 कह पर०रबलच० 3 रसमकत मसर, मम वदनससक 21.08.2018 कह पर०रबलच० 10 कह पर०रबलच० 2 कह पर०रबलच० 1 मम नहह रह गयस हह। पर०रबलच० 5 पर०रबलच० 4 इस पकसर मसननरय नयसयसलय कक आदकश कक अनतकम मम सत पररकण ससखयस-108/2012 कह अदसलत पसणरकय कस बयसन असवकत वकयस गयस, आदकश कक उपरसनत वदनससक 23.10.2018 अब दहनन मतकदमन कक पककसरगण सतलह हह और आपस मम कहई वववसद शकष नहह हह। वदनससक 14.11.2018 रसम शसकर पतत छहटकलसल जह वसदर मतकदमस (ममतक) मम मसननरय नयसयसलय कक इसमम उसनक कहस हह वक कह ढहढक उरर मम रर सतलह हहनक कक बसत कह सवरकसर वकयस हह। इस कस पतत हह, पकसर नयसयसलय दसरस कक गयर जसजच सक दहनन पकन मम सतलह हहनक कक बसत हह गयर हह। इस समबनध मम पचवर मम वदनससक 03.08.2021 कह आखयस पकवषत कक जस चतकक हह। अतत आखयस मसननरय नयसयसलय कक समक रखक जसनक हकतत पतनत ससदर पकवषत हह।"

6. It appears on the record that on account of some petty dispute between the parties the F.I.R.s were lodged as Case Crime No. 54 of 1991, under Section 308 and 323 I.P.C., and Case Crime No. 54-A of 1991, under Sections 143, 452 and 427 I.P.C., at Police Station Gilaula, District Shrawasti and based upon the charge sheet(s) filed by the investigating officer, the Magistrate took cognizance and, thereafter, committed the matter before the Court of Sessions where the trial(s) were registered as Sessions Trial No. 50 of 2007 (State of U.P. vs. Chhotey Lal and others) and Sessions Trial No. 108 of 2012 (State vs. Virendra Kumar @ Bhure and others). It further appears that dispute between the parties have been settled and they have entered into an agreement voluntarily and their signatures have been verified by their respective counsels and with regard to the same a photocopy of the compromise deed dated 09.07.2018 has been enclosed at Page No. 30 to the application.

7. Considering the aforesaid as also the submissions made by learned Counsel for the parties as also the observations made by Apex Court in the case of State of Karnataka Vs. L. Muniswamy and Others, 1977 (2) SCC 699; State of Haryana Vs. Bhajan Lal and Others, 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335; Prashant Bharti Vs. State (NCT of Delhi), (2013) 9 SCC 293; Rajiv Thapar and Ors. Vs. Madan Lal Kapoor, (2013) 3 SCC 330; Ahmad Ali Quraishi and Ors. Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Ors. (2020) 13 SCC 435, according to which inherent power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. (akin to Section 528 BNSS, 2023) could be exercised to prevent abuse of process of any Court or otherwise to secure ends of justice, as also the observations made by Apex Court in the case of Ramgopal and others Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh, (2022) 14 SCC 531, Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab [2012 10 SCC 303], Mohd. Ibrahim Vs. State of U.P., 2022 SCC Online ALL 106, Gold Quest International Ltd. Vs. State of Tamilnadu, 2014 (15) SCC 235, B.S. Joshi Vs. State of Haryana, 2003 (4) SCC 675, Jitendra Raghuvanshi Vs. Babita Raghuvanshi, 2013(4) SCC 58, Madhavarao Jiwajirao Scindia Vs. Sambhajirao Chandrojirao Angre, 1988 1 SCC 692, Nikhil Merchant Vs. C.B.I. and another, 2008(9) SCC 677, Manoj Sharma Vs. State and others, 2008(16) SCC 1, State of M.P. Vs. Laxmi Narayan and others, 2019(5) SCC 688, Narindra Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab and another, (2014) 6 SCC 466, Manoj Kumar and others Vs. State of U.P and others (2008) 8 SCC 781, Union Carbide Corporation and others Vs. Union of India and others (1991) 4 SCC 584, Manohar Lal Sharma Vs. Principal Secretary and others (2014) 2 SCC 532 and Supreme Court Bar Association Vs. Union of India (1998) 4 SCC 409, according to which, in given facts, based upon the settlements between the parties the criminal proceedings can be quashed, as also the nature of dispute/crime, this Court is of the view that the present applications are liable to be allowed as chances of ultimate conviction are extremely bleak and hence no useful purpose would be served by allowing the criminal proceedings to continue. Accordingly, present application(s) are allowed. Consequently, the entire proceedings of Sessions Trial No. 50 of 2007 (State of U.P. vs. Chhotey Lal and others) and Sessions Trial No. 108 of 2012 (State vs. Virendra Kumar @ Bhure and others), quoted above, are hereby quashed qua the applicants.

8. Office/Registry is directed to send the copy of this order to the court concerned through email/fax for necessary compliance. Order Date :- 7.2.2025 Praveen PRAVEEN KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench