Sanjay v. The State (NCT of Delhi) & Ors.

Delhi High Court · 04 Apr 2016 · 2016:DHC:2753

Suresh Kait

Crl.M.C.No.1315/2016

2016:DHC:2753

criminal petition_allowed Significant

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The Delhi High Court quashed a non-compoundable Section 304A IPC criminal case under Section 482 CrPC following an amicable settlement between parties, emphasizing the court's inherent power to prevent abuse of process and serve ends of justice.

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Crl.M.C.No.1315/2016 HIGH COURT OF DELHI

JUDGMENT

delivered on: 04th April, 2016 CRL.M.C. No.1315/2016
SANJAY..... Petitioner Represented by: Mr.Rishab Raj Jain, Adv with petitioner.

versus

THE STATE ( NCT OF DELHI) & ORS..... Respondents
Represented by: Mr.Arun Kumar Sharma, APP for the State.
Mr.Narendra Gautam, Adv for Respondent Nos.2 & 3 with both respondents in person.
Counsel for respondent No.4. (appearance slip not given).

CORAM:

HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SURESH KAIT
SURESH KAIT, J. (Oral)
Crl.M.A.5614/2016 (for exemption)
Exemptions allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
Accordingly, the application is allowed.
CRL.M.C. No.4393/2016

1. Vide the present petition filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, petitioner seeks quashing of FIR No.374/2010 registered at Police Station Amar Colony for the offence 2016:DHC:2753 punishable under Section 304A of the IPC and the consequential proceedings emanating therefrom against him.

2. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the aforesaid case was registered on the complaint of respondent No.2 as his son namely Master Bunty died due to electric current as the electrification work was carried out on behalf of respondent No.4/BSES in the area. Respondent No.3 is mother of deceased child. The police has filed the charge sheet and after framing of charges, matter is pending trial before learned Trial Court. Meanwhile, the respondents Nos. 2 and 3 have amicably settled their disputes with the petitioner before the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, New Delhi on 27.07.2015 for a total sum of Rs.4,50,000/- to be paid by respondent No.4/BSES to parents of deceased child.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner further submits that pursuant to the said settlement, respondent No.4 has already paid a sum of Rs.2,50,000/- to parents of deceased child during the proceedings of CS No.78/2015 before learned Additional District Judge-06, South District, Saket Courts, New Delhi on 27.08.2015. The balance amount of Rs.2,00,000/- is also being tendered today in the Court to respondent Nos.[2] & 3 vide drafts No.015893 and 015895 both dated 25.02.2016 drawn on Axis Bank in favour of respondent Nos.[2] & 3 in the sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each, which facts are not being disputed by respondent Nos.[2] & 3.

4. Respondents No.2 and 3 are personally present in the Court through learned counsel above named and for their identification purpose they produced original EPIC bearing Nos.GMP5434501 and ARE1736305 issued by the Election Commission of India. Originals seen and returned to them. Learned counsel for respondent Nos.[2] & 3 does not dispute the statement made by learned counsel for petitioner and submits that matter has been settled between the parties. The affidavit of respondent Nos.[2] & 3 is at Page Nos.52-57 of the petition. Further submits that the matter has been settled with the petitioner, thus, they do not wish to pursue this case further and have no objection if the present petition is allowed.

5. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.4/BSES submits that matter has been settled between the parties before the Mediation Centre, Saket Courts, New Delhi on 27.07.2015 for a total sum of Rs.4,50,000/- to be paid to parents of deceased child.

6. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the State submits that the chargesheet has been filed by the police and after framing of charges, matter is pending trial before learned Trial Court. Since the parties have amicably settled the matter and the respondent Nos.[2] and 3, parents of deceased do not wish to pursue the case against the petitioner, therefore, looking to the overall circumstances, no useful purpose will be served in continuing the proceedings. Thus, the State has no objection if the present petition is allowed.

7. Undisputedly, offence punishable under Section 304A of the IPC is non-compoundable, however, considering the facts and circumstances of the case and in exercise of the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, this Court has power to accept the compromise. This issue has been decided by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the case titled as Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and Another (2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 998 wherein held as under:- “58.....However, certain offences which overwhelmingly and predominantly bear civil flavour having arisen out of civil, mercantile, commercial, financial, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony, particularly relating to dowry, etc. or the family dispute, where the wrong is basically to the victim and the offender and the victim have settled all disputes between them amicably, irrespective of the fact that such offences have not been made compoundable, the High Court may within the framework of its inherent power, quash the criminal proceeding or criminal complaint or FIR if it is satisfied that on the face of such settlement, there is hardly any likelihood of the offender being convicted and by not quashing the criminal proceedings, justice shall be casualty and ends of justice shall be defeated.”

8. While recognizing the need of amicable resolution of disputes in cases like the instant one, the aforesaid dictum has been affirmed by the Apex Court in a recent judgment in Narinder Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Anr. 2014 6 SCC 466. The pertinent observations of the Apex Court are as under:-

“29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings:

29.[1] Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution.

29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure:

(i) ends of justice, or

(ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court.

29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, for the offences alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender.

29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves.

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29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal cases.

29.6. Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be generally treated as crime against the society and not against the individual alone. However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because there is a mention of Section 307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as to whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to proving the charge under Section 307 IPC. For this purpose, it would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained, whether such injury is inflicted on the vital/delegate parts of the body, nature of weapons used, etc. Medical report in respect of injuries suffered by the victim can generally be the guiding factor. On the basis of this prima facie analysis, the High Court can examine as to whether there is a strong possibility of conviction or the chances of conviction are remote and bleak. In the former case it can refuse to accept the settlement and quash the criminal proceedings whereas in the latter case it would be permissible for the High Court to accept the plea compounding the offence based on complete settlement between the parties. At this stage, the Court can also be swayed by the fact that the settlement between the parties is going to result in harmony between them which may improve their future relationship.

29.7. While deciding whether to exercise its power under Section 482 of the Code or not, timings of settlement play a crucial role. Those cases where the settlement is arrived at immediately after the alleged commission of offence and the matter is still under investigation, the High Court may be liberal in accepting the settlement to quash the criminal proceedings/investigation. It is because of the reason that at this stage the investigation is still on and even the charge-sheet has not been filed. Likewise, those cases where the charge is framed but the evidence is yet to start or the evidence is still at infancy stage, the High Court can show benevolence in exercising its powers favourably, but after prima facie assessment of the circumstances/material mentioned above. On the other hand, where the prosecution evidence is almost complete or after the conclusion of the evidence the matter is at the stage of argument, normally the High Court should refrain from exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code, as in such cases the trial court would be in a position to decide the case finally on merits and to come to a conclusion as to whether the offence under Section 307 IPC is committed or not. Similarly, in those cases where the conviction is already recorded by the trial court and the matter is at the appellate stage before the High Court, mere compromise between the parties would not be a ground to accept the same resulting in acquittal of the offender who has already been convicted by the trial court. Here charge is proved under Section 307 IPC and conviction is already recorded of a heinous crime and, therefore, there is no question of sparing a convict found guilty of such a crime.”

9. All the parties who are present in the Court today, approbate the aforesaid settlement dated 27.07.2015 and undertake to remain bound by the same.

10. As discussed above, offence punishable under Section 304A of the IPC is non-compoundable being of serious nature, however, if the Court feels that continuation of criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility and justice in this case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to an end and peace is restored, it can order for quashing of the FIR or criminal proceedings as it is the duty of the Court to prevent continuation of unnecessary judicial process.

11. In view of the law discussed above, considering the settlement arrived at between the parties and the statements of respondent Nos.[1] to 4, I am of the considered opinion that this matter deserves to be given a quietus as continuance of proceedings arising out of the FIR in question would be an exercise in futility.

12. Consequently, FIR No.374/2010 registered at Police Station Amar Colony for the offences punishable under Sections 304A of the IPC and all proceedings emanating therefrom, are hereby quashed.

13. Accordingly, the present petition is allowed with no order as to cost.

14. A copy of this order be given dasti to the learned counsel for the parties. Crl. M.A.No.5615/2016 (for stay) Dismissed as infructuous.

SURESH KAIT (JUDGE) APRIL 04, 2016 M

Sanjay v. The State (NCT of Delhi) & Ors.

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