IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V
FRIDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF JANUARY 2019 / 21ST POUSHA, 1940
Crl.MC.No. 6945 of 2017
CC 19/2017 of J.M.F.C.-I,KANJIRAPPALLY
CRIME NO. 1213/2016 OF Mundakayam Police Station, Kottayam
PETITIONER/ACCUSED:
JOJI THOMAS,
S/O. THOMAS, AGED 33 YEARS, KUNNEPARAMBIL HOUSE,
VANDANPATHAL P.O, ERUMELY NORTH VILLAGE, MUNDAKAYAM.
BY ADV. SRI.SERGI JOSEPH THOMAS
RESPONDENTS/STATE/DE FACTO COMPLAINANT:
1 STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE,
MUNDAKAYAM POLICE STATION THROUGH THE PUBLIC
PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA,
ERNAKULAM-692 031.
2 JINCY JOSE,
AGED 30 YEARS, D/O. JOSE, MUNDATTU HOUSE, CHENNADU
P.O, POONJAR SOUTH VILLAGE-686581.
R2 BY ADVS.
SRI.GEORGE VARGHESE KIZHAKKAMBALAM
SRI.V.RAJENDRAN (PERUMBAVOOR)
R1 BY SRI C K PRASAD, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 11.01.2019,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
Crl.MC.No. 6945 of 2017 2
ORDER
This petition is filed under Section 482 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure (“the Code” for brevity) with a prayer to quash
the proceedings pending against the petitioner.
2. The petitioner herein is the accused in C.C.No.19 of
2017 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I,
Kanjirappally. He is accused of having committed the offence
punishable under Section 498A IPC. The 2nd respondent is the de
facto complainant and she is the wife of the petitioner herein.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
submitted that at the instance of well wishers and family
members, the parties have decided to put an end to their discord.
It is urged that the dispute is purely private in nature. The learned
counsel has heavily relied upon Annexure-A6 settlement
agreement and also Annexure-A7 affidavit filed by the de facto
complainant to substantiate his contention. According to the
learned counsel, the continuance of criminal proceedings will only
result in gross inconvenience and hardship.
Crl.MC.No. 6945 of 2017 3
4. The learned Public Prosecutor after getting instructions
has submitted that the statement of the 2nd respondent has been
recorded and she has stated in unequivocal terms that the
settlement arrived at is genuine.
5. I have considered the submissions advanced.
6. In Gian singh v. State of Punjab [(2012) 10 SCC
303] and in Narinder singh v. State of Punjab [(2014) 6 SCC
466] the Apex Court has laid down that in appropriate cases, the
High Court can take note of the amicable resolution of disputes
between the victim and the wrongdoer to put an end to the
criminal proceedings. Further in Jitendra Raghuvanshi
Others v. Babita Raghuvanshi Another (2013) 4 SCC 58 it
was observed that it is the duty of the courts to encourage
genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes. If the parties ponder
over their faults and terminate their disputes amicably by mutual
agreement instead of fighting it out in a court of law, the courts
should not hesitate to exercise its powers under Section 482 of
the Code. Permitting such proceedings to continue would be
nothing, but an abuse of process of court. The interest of justice
Crl.MC.No. 6945 of 2017 4
also require that the proceedings be quashed.
7. Having considered all the relevant circumstances, I am
of the considered view that this Court will be well justified in
invoking its extraordinary powers under Section 482 of the Code
to quash the proceedings.
In the result, this petition will stand allowed.
Annexure-A3 final report and all proceedings pursuant thereto
against the petitioner now pending as C.C.No.19 of 2017 on the
file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Kanjirappally are
quashed.
SD/-
RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V.,
JUDGE
DSV/-
Crl.MC.No. 6945 of 2017 5
APPENDIX
PETITIONER’S/S EXHIBITS:
ANNEXURE A1 TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT DATED 10/11/2016
IN CMP NO. 506/2016 ON THE FILES OF THE
JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT-1,
KANJIRAPPALLY.
ANNEXURE A2 TRUE COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO.1213/2016
OF MUNDAKAYAM POLICE STATION.
ANNEXURE A3 THE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN
CRIME NO. 1213/2016, TAKEN COGNIZANCE OF BY
THE JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT-
1, KANJIRAPPALLY AS CC NO. 19/2017 DATED
15/12/2016.
ANNEXURE A4 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF ORIGINAL
PETITION NO. 541/2016 ON THE FILES OF THE
FAMILY COURT, PALA DATED 16/11/2016.
ANNEXURE A5 TRUE COPY OF IA NO. 786/2016 IN O.P NO.
541/2016 ON THE FILES OF THE FAMILY COURT,
PALA.
ANNEXURE A6 TRUE COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT OF MEDIATION
IN OP NO. 541/2016 ON THE FILES OF THE
FAMILY COURT,PALA.
ANNEXURE A7 AFFIDAVIT DATED 05.10.2018 SWORN BY THE
SECOND RESPONDENT STATING THE SETTLEMENT
OF ALL THE DISPUTES.
RESPONDENT’S/S EXHIBITS:
NIL
//TRUE COPY//
P.A.TO JUDGE
