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2015 DIGILAW 1438 (RAJ)

Ganpat Singh v. State of Rajasthan

2015-08-03

VIJAY BISHNOI

body2015
JUDGMENT 1. - This Criminal Misc. Petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the petitioner with a prayer for quashing the FIR No.44/2012 dated 20.03.2012 of Police Station, Siriyari, District Pali on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that during the pendency of this criminal misc. petition the dispute between the petitioner and the respondent No.2 has been amicably settled and, therefore, learned counsel for the petitioner has prayed that the impugned FIR filed against the petitioner at the instance of respondent No.2 be quashed on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties in the light of law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Gian Singh v. State of Punjab & Anr. reported in JT 2012(9) SC-426 . 3. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.2, in the presence of respondent No.2, has submitted that the dispute between the petitioner and the respondent No.2 was in respect of some money transaction and as the petitioner has paid the money to the respondent No.2, the respondent No.2 does not want to press the charges levelled against the petitioner in the impugned FIR and he has no objection if the impugned FIR is quashed on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties. 4. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 5. It is admitted that the dispute between the petitioner and the respondent No.2 has already been settled amicably and for this effect a photocopy of compromise-deed dated 28.01.2014 is also produced on record at the instance of learned counsel for the petitioner. Today also learned counsel for the respondent No.2 has categorically submitted that the respondent No.2 does not want to press the charges levelled against the petitioner and he has no objection if the impugned FIR is quashed as the dispute has already been resolved between the parties. 6. The Hon'ble Apex Court while answering a reference in the case of Gian Singh (supra) has held as below:- "57. 6. The Hon'ble Apex Court while answering a reference in the case of Gian Singh (supra) has held as below:- "57. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: 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 F.I.R may be exercised where the offender and 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 serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil flavour stand on 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. 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, High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put 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 wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding." 7. Having considered the facts and circumstances of the case and looking to the fact that the dispute between the petitioner and the respondent No.2 is in respect of some money transaction and the petitioner has paid the money to the respondent No.2, therefore, the dispute has now been settled between them, it is a fit case wherein the FIR pending against the petitioner can be quashed while exercising powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. 8. In view of the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Gian Singh's case (supra) and in the facts and circumstances as noted above this Criminal Misc. Petition is allowed and the FIR No.44/2012 dated 20.03.2012 of Police Station, Siriyari, District Pali is hereby quashed.Stay petition is disposed of.Petition Allowed. *******