CRM No.M-16480 of 2017
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH
Criminal Misc. No. M- 16480 of 2017(OM)
Date of Decision: November 30 , 2017.
Akant Malhotra …… PETITIONER(s)
Versus
State of Haryana and another …… RESPONDENT (s)
CORAM:- HON’BLE MRS.JUSTICE LISA GILL
Present: Mr. Rahul Deswal, Advocate
for the petitioner.
Mr. Anmol Malik, AAG, Haryana.
None for respondent No.2.
*****
LISA GILL, J.
Prayer in this petition is for quashing of FIR No.386 dated
01.06.2015 under Sections 406/323/498A/506 IPC, registered at Police Station
Karnal Civil Lines, District Karnal and all other consequential proceedings
arising therefrom on the basis of a compromise arrived at between the parties.
The abovesaid FIR was registered at the instance of respondent No.2
due to matrimonial discord with her husband i.e., the petitioner. With the
intervention of respectables and relatives, a compromise was arrived at between
the parties, the terms of which were reduced into writing on 01.05.2017
(Annexure P2). The parties decided to part ways.
Learned counsel for the petitioner informs that petition under
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Section 13B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 filed by the petitioner and
respondent No.2 has since been allowed on 26.10.2017. The entire settled
amount has been handed over by the petitioner to respondent No.2.
This Court on 23.05.2017 directed the parties to appear before
learned trial court for recording their statements in respect to the above-
mentioned compromise. Learned trial court was directed to submit a report
regarding the genuineness of the compromise, as to whether it has been arrived at
out of the free will and volition of the parties without any coercion, fear or undue
influence. Learned trial court was also directed to intimate whether the
petitioner is absconding/proclaimed offender and whether any other case is
pending against him. Information was sought as to whether all affected persons
are a party to the settlement.
Pursuant to order dated 23.05.2017, the parties appeared before the
learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Karnal and their statements were
recorded on 15.07.2017. Respondent No.2 stated that she has compromised the
matter with the petitioner out of her own free will, without any kind of pressure
or coercion. It is further submitted by respondent No.2 that she no longer wishes
to continue with the present proceedings and she has no objection in case the
abovesaid FIR against the accused petitioner is quashed. Statement of the
petitioner in respect to the settlement was recorded as well.
As per report dated 18.07.2017 received from the learned Judicial
Magistrate First Class, Karnal, it is opined that compromise between the parties
is genuine, arrived at out their free will without any pressure or undue influence.
The petitioner, who is the sole accused in this case, is not reported to be a
proclaimed offender. Statements of the parties are appended alongwith the said
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report.
Mr. Sunil Rana, Advocate had appeared on behalf of respondent
No.2 before this Court on 23.05.2017 and affirmed and verified the factum of
settlement between the parties.
Learned counsel for the State, on instructions from HC Ram Niwas,
submits that as the abovesaid FIR arises out of a matrimonial dispute, the State
has no objection to the quashing of the FIR in question as well as all
consequential proceedings on the basis of a settlement arrived at between the
parties.
In Kulwinder Singh and others versus State of Punjab and
another 2007 (3) R.C.R. (Criminal) 1052, a five member Bench of this Court has
observed as under:-
“The compromise, in a modern society, is the sine qua non of
harmony and orderly behaviour. It is the soul of justice and if the
power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code is used to
enhance such a compromise which, in turn, enhances the social
amity and reduces friction, then it truly is “finest hour of justice”.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court in B.S.Joshi and others v. State of
Haryana, 2003(4) SCC 675 has observed that it becomes the duty of the Court
to encourage genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes.
Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of this case, it would be
in the interest of justice to quash the abovesaid FIR as no useful purpose would
be served by continuance of the present proceedings. It will merely lead to
wastage of precious time of the court and would be an exercise in futility.
This petition is, thus, allowed and FIR No. 386 dated 01.06.2015
under Sections 406/323/498A/506 IPC, registered at Police Station Karnal Civil
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Lines, District Karnal alongwith all consequential proceedings are, hereby,
quashed.
( LISA GILL )
November 30 , 2017. JUDGE
‘om’
Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No
Whether reportable: Yes/No
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