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HIGH COURT OF DELHI
W.P.(CRL) 43/2023
MD AASIF & ORS. ..... Petitioners
Through: Mr. Anil Sehgal and Mr. Lalit Kumar, Advocate with P-1 to 5.
Through: Mr. Anand V. Khatri, APP for State with SI Pravesh, PS Nihal Vihar.
Mr. Rovin Kumar, Advocate with R- 2.
Date of Decision: 17.04.2023.
JUDGMENT
1. The present petition has been filed seeking quashing of FIR bearing No.682/2022 dated 14.06.2022 under Sections 498A/406/34 of IPC registered at Police Station Nihal Vihar, Delhi.
2. In brief, facts are that the marriage between Petitioner No. 1 and respondent no. 2/complainant was solemnized on 05.04.2010 as per Muslim rites and rituals at Badau, UP. No child was born out of this wedlock. Thereafter owing to temperamental differences both parties started residing separately since 25.04.2021. Consequently, respondent No. 2/complainant lodged the present FIR against the Petitioners herein the chargesheet has not been filed in the present case.
3. It has been submitted that Respondent No. 2 also filed a complaint under section 12 of the DV act against all the petitioners. Further, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that during the pendency of the proceedings, the parties have entered into a settlement at the Delhi Mediation Centre, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi i on 27.10.2022 on the following terms and conditions:
4. The petitioners and the complainant/respondent no. 2 are present before this court in person and have been duly identified by the IO. Respondent No. 2 states that she has entered into the settlement voluntarily out of her own free will, without any fear, force or coercion. She states that in pursuance of the settlement, the Demand Draft bearing DD No. 035623 dated 11.04.2023 of Rupees One Lakh Seventy Thousand in the name of Farhana drawn from Axis Bank has been handed over today. She further states that since the terms and conditions of the settlement have complied, she has no objection if the present FIR and all criminal proceedings emanating therefrom are quashed.
5. Since the dispute between the parties has been settled, I consider that continuance of proceedings in FIR No. 682/2022 dated 14.06.2022 under Sections 498A/406/34 of IPC registered at Police Station Nihal Vihar, Delhi would serve no useful purpose and may cause prejudice to the petitioner and be an exercise in futility. The chances of conviction would also be bleak and remote, given that the parties do not wish to pursue the present complaint on account of the settlement. It has been stated that respondent no. 2 has already withdrawn the complaint under section 12 DV act on 15.11.2022.
6. In view of the above, I do not see any reason to reject the settlement. It is better to put a quietus to the dispute in view of the settlement deed arrived at between the parties voluntarily without any force, fear or coercion. The Supreme Court and this Court have time and again held that cases arising out of matrimonial differences should be put to quietus if the parties have arrived upon a genuine settlement. Reliance can be placed on B.S. Joshi v. State of Haryana, (2003) 4 SCC 675; K. Srinivas Rao v. D.A. Deepa, (2013) 5 SCC 226; Yashpal Chaudhrani and Others vs. State (Govt. of NCT Delhi) and Another, 2019 SCC OnLine Del 8179).
7. Considering the totality of facts and circumstances of the case and to prevent abuse of the power of the Court and secure the ends of justice the FIR No.682/2022 dated 14.06.2022 under Sections 498A/406/34 of IPC registered at Police Station Nihal Vihar, Delhi and all criminal proceedings emanating therefrom are quashed.
8. Accordingly, the present petition stands disposed of.
DINESH KUMAR SHARMA, J APRIL 17, 2023