Samay Singh v. State of Haryana and Anr

CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo1oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

oooooooooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo o o o ooooooAToCHANDIGARHo o oo o o o o o o o o o o o

1.oCRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oo o DateoofoDecision:o01.08.2023o SamayoSingho o o o o o o o…Appellanto oooooooooooVersuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoanotheroooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooo ...Respondentso

2.oCRA-S-3467-SB-2016o(O&M)o MajoroSinghoandootherso o o o o o o…Appellantso ooooooooooVersuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoanothero o o o ooooooooooo...Respondentso CORAM:o HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoRITUoTAGOREo Present:oo Mr.oShikharoKataria,oAdvocate,oo foroMr.oPratapoSingh,oAdvocate,oo forotheoapplicant-appellantoinoCRA-S-3381-SB-2016.o o Mr.oSagaroAggarwal,oAdvocateoo forotheoappellantoinoCRA-S-3467-SB-2016oando forotheocomplainantoinoCRA-S-3381-SB-2016.o o o o Mr.oDeepakoGrewal,oDAG,oHaryana.o o o o o ****o RITUoTAGORE,oJo(ORAL)o

1.ooo o Aboveocaptionedoappeals,oareoproposedotoobeodisposedoofobyo wayo ofo thiso commono judgmento aso theyo haveo emanatedo fromo theo sameo judgmentoofoconvictionoandoorderoofosentenceodatedo15.09.2016,opassedoino CriminaloAppealoNo.o100080oofo2014oandoCriminaloAppealoNo.o81oofo2014o byoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oKurukshetra.o

2.ooo o Briefo factso ofo Criminalo Appeal-S-3381-SBo ofo 2016o filedo byo appellantoSamayoSinghoareoasounder:-oooo CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo2oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

oo o Ono13.07.2006,ocomplainant-MajoroSinghomadeoaostatementotoo theopolice,oallegingothatoono01.07.2006oatoabouto3.00oP.M.,ooheohadocomeooono theo metalledo roado aftero payingo hiso respecto ato Peero Baba,o wheno heo waso assaultedobyoSamayoSingh,ohisobrotheroJaswinderoandoPardeep,owhoowieldedo weaponso sucho aso cutter,o ao clubo (danda)oando ao smallostick.o Karamo Singh,o RohtashoandoParladoalsoocameoinosupportoofoSamayoSinghoandogaveohimo injuriesowitho'lathis'oando'dandas'.oOnoraisingotheoalarmobyoMajoroSingh,o SultanoSinghoandootheropassersbyocameoandorescuedohim.oBeforeoleavingotheo spot,otheyothreatenedotookillohimoonogettingoanoopportunity.oItowasoallegedo thatoSamayoSinghoboreoaogrudgeoagainstotheocomplainantoregardingoaodisputeo whichohadotakenoplaceoaboutoaooneoandoaohalfomonth,oprior.o oo o Onotheobasisoofotheocomplaint,oFIRoNo.240odatedo13.07.2006o underoSectionso323,o324,o506oofoIPCoatoP.S.oShahabadowasoregisteredoando investigationoensued.oOnocompletionoofotheoinvestigation,oChallanowasofiled.o Accordingly,oSamayoSinghowasotriedoforocommissionoofooffencesopunishableo underoSectionso323,o324oando506oIPC.oTheotrialoCourt,oonoanalyzingotheo evidence,ogaveobenefitoofodoubtotooaccusedoSamayoSinghobyoholdingothato prosecutionofailedotooproveotheoguiltobeyondoreasonableodoubtoandoacquittedo himoofotheochargesovideojudgmentodatedo31.03.2014.o

3.ooo o FactsoofoCriminaloAppeal-S-3467-SBoofo2016ofiledobyoMajoro Singhoandoothersoareoasounder:-o oo o Complainant-SamayoSinghomadeoaostatementotoopoliceothatoono

11.07.2006oato2:30oPM,owhenoheowasogoingoonohisomotorcycleotoovillageo Bibipur,o theo accusedo Ramo Sarup,o Jarnailo Singh,o Guddu,o Sukhdevo Singh,o Surajo Bhan,o Hemo Raj,o Angrejo Singh,o Majoro Singho ando Sultano Singho ino furtheranceo ofo theiro commono intentiono armedo witho weapons,o 'lathis',o CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo3oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

'gandasi'oandoswords,oattackedouponohimoforonotocastingovoteoforothem.oOno hisoraisingoanoalarm,oBalwinderoSinghocameoatotheospotoandoonoseeingohim,o accusedoranoawayofromotheospotoalongowithotheirorespectiveoweapons.oOnotheo basisoofotheoaforesaidocomplaint,oFIRoNo.67odatedo12.07.2005ounderoSectionso 323,o324,o326,o506,o34oofoIPCowasoregisteredoatoP.S.oJhansaothatoledotoostarto ofo investigation.o Ono completiono ofo theo investigation,o Challano waso filedo againstoMajoroSinghoandoSultanoSinghounderoSectionso323,o324,o326,o506oando 34oIPC.oOtheroaccusedoRamoSarup,oJarnailoSingh,oGuddu,oSukhdevoSingh,o SurajoBhan,oHemoRajooandoAngrejoSinghowereosummonedounderoSectiono319o Cr.P.C.o Hemo Rajo waso lateroono declaredo aso proclaimedo personovideoorderoo datedo21.10.2013o(asoperonoteogivenoinotheojudgmentoofotheotrialoCourt).oOno appraisaloofoevidence,otrialoCourtoconvictedotheoaccused,onamely,oRamoSarup,o MajoroSinghoandoJarnailoSinghoforocommissionoofooffencesopunishableoundero Sectionso323oando324oIPCoandoacquittedoallotheoremainingoaccusedofromotheo charges,osooframedoagainstothemoandoreleasedotheoconvictsoonoprobationoforo goodoconductoandobehaviouroforoaoperiodoofooneoyearounderotheosupervisiono ofoDistrictoProbationoOfficer.o

4.oo o Theocomplainant-SamayoSinghoandotheoStateofiledotheoappealso againstotheojudgmentodatedo31.03.2014opassedoinoCriminaloCaseoNo.250oofo 2013oandoinoCriminaloCaseoNo.260oofo2013.oLearnedoAdditionaloSessionso Judge,oonoappraisaloofotheoevidence,oreversedotheofindingsoandoheldoaccused-SamayoSinghoguiltyoofocommissionoofooffenceopunishableounderoSectionso 323oando324oIPCobyoallowingotheoappealoandoconvictedoandosentencedohimoaso under:o o CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo4oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sr.o Offenceo Punishmento Fineo No.o committedo

1.o 323oIPCo TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.1,000/-oinodefaultoofo periodoofooneoyearo paymentoofofine,otoofurthero undergoosimpleoimprisonmento foroaoperiodoofooneomontho o

2.o 324oIPCo TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.1,000/-oinodefaultoofo periodoofothreeoyearso paymentoofofine,otoofurthero undergoosimpleoimprisonmento foroaoperiodoofooneomontho o oo o Also,oheldoallotheoeightoappellant-accusedoMajoroSingh,oJarnailo Singh,o Ramo Sarup,o Surajo Bhan,o Angrejo Singh,o Sultano Singh,o Dharambiroooooooo (nowo deceased)o ando Sukhdevo Singh,o guiltyo ofo commissiono ofo offenceso punishableounderoSectionso323,o324,o325,o326,o148,o149oIPCoandoconvictedo andosentencedothemoasounder:o Sr.o Offenceo Punishmento Fineo No.o committedo

1.o 148oIPCo TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.1,000/-oinodefaultoofo periodoofothreeoyearso paymentoofofine,otoofurthero undergoosimpleo imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofo oneomontho o

2.o 323oIPCoreado TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.1,000/-oinodefaultoofo withoSectiono periodoofooneoyearo paymentoofofine,otoofurthero 149oIPCo undergoosimpleo imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofo oneomontho

3.o 324oIPCoreado TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.1,000/-oinodefaultoofo withoSectiono periodoofothreeoyears paymentoofofine,otoofurthero 149oIPCo undergoosimpleo imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofo oneomontho

4.o 325oIPCoreado TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.1,000/-oinodefaultoofo withoSectiono periodoofothreeoyears paymentoofofine,otoofurthero 149oIPCo undergoosimpleo imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofo oneomontho

5.o 326oIPCoreado TooundergooRIoforoao Rs.5,000/-oinodefaultoofo withoSectiono periodoofofiveoyearso paymentoofofine,otoofurthero 149oIPCo undergoosimpleo imprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofo CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo5oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

o

5.ooo o DuringopendencyoofotheoappealsobeforeothisoCourt,ocompromiseo waso effectedo betweeno theo partieso ando accordingly,o appellantso filedo theo applicationsounderoSectiono482,oCr.P.C.obearingoCRMoNo.35015oofo2022oando CRMoNo.32727oofo2022,orespectively,oinobothotheoappealsoandorequestedoforo placingoonorecordotheocompromiseodatedo30.08.2018oasoAnnexureoA-1.oIno bothotheoappeals,oorderodatedo10.04.2023owasopassedobyoobservingothatotheo partiesoareoadoidemothatoaocompromiseohasotakenoplaceobetweenothem.oTheyo wereo accordinglyo directedo too appearo beforeo theo learnedo Chiefo Judicialo Magistrate/oDutyoJudicialoMagistrateoforogettingotheirostatementsorecorded.o LearnedoMagistrateowasofurtherodirectedotoosendotheoreportotoothisoCourtowitho hiso opiniono regardingo theo genuinenesso ofo theo compromiseo betweeno theo parties.o

6.ooo o ReportsoofolearnedoChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,oKurukshetraodatedo

10.05.2023oareoonorecordoinobothotheoappeals.oAsoperotheoreports,otheoparties,o namely,otheocomplainant-injuredo(MajoroSinghoandoSamayoSingh)oandoothero accusedo(JarnailoSingh,oSurajoBhan,oAngrejoSingh,oSultanoSingh,oRamoSarupo andoSukhdevoSingh),oappearedobeforeotheolearnedoChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,o Kurukshetra,owhoohaveobeenoidentifiedobyotheirocounsel,orecordedotheirojointo statementso beforeo theo Learnedo Magistrateo too theo effecto thato theyo haveo compromisedotheomatterovoluntarilyowithoutoanyopressureoorocoercion.oTheyo haveonoogrudgeoagainstoeachootheroanymore.oItoisoalsoorecordedothatoaccused,o namely,oDharambirohasoexpiredoandoplacedohisodeathocertificateoonorecordoaso Mark-A.o Learnedo Chiefo Judicialo Magistrateo alsoo recordedo hiso satisfactiono regardingotheogenuinenessoofotheocompromiseoarrivedoatobetweenotheoparties.o CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo6oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

7.ooo o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ando theo Stateo counsel.oo

8.oo o Theolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesohaveoadmittedotheofactoofotheo compromiseohavingobeenoarrivedoatobetweenotheopartiesoandoreportoofolearnedo Chiefo Judicialo Magistrate,o Kurukshetrao preparedo ono theo basiso ofo theo compromise.oTheoStateocounselosubmitsosubmissionooforeportobyotheolearnedo ChiefoJudicialoMagistrate,oKurukshetraoalongowithohisosatisfactionoregardingo theobonafideoofocompromiseobetweenotheopartiesoisoaomatterooforecord.o

9.ooooooooo oInopresentocase,oconvictionorenderedoinosomeoofotheooffenceso punishableounderoSectionso324,o326,o148oareonotocompoundableoandoothero offencesopunishableounderoSectionso323oando325oIPCoreadowithoSectiono149o IPCo areo compoundableo undero Sectiono 320o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973o (referredo too theo Code).o However,o ino theo factso ando circumstancesopeculiarotoothisocase,otheoprosecutionoquaonon-compoundableo offencesocanobeoclosedobyoquashingotheoFIRoandoconsequentoproceedings,o whenoovictimohasowillinglyoconsentedotootheonullificationoofotheoproceedingso onoaccountoofohavingoarrivedoatocompromise.oooRecognitionoofocompromiseo wouldo fostero theiro relationso ando bringo harmonyo ino theiro society.o Rather,o rejectiono ofo compromiseo mayo leado too illo willo ando furthero pendencyo ofo criminalo proceedingso mayo affecto careero ando happiness.o Ino giveno facts,o incidentso ino questiono doo noto affecto publico peaceo oro tranquility,o moralo turpitudeooroharmotheosocietyooromoralofabricooroinvolveomattersoconcerningo publicopolicy.oooInothisoregard,ogainfuloreferenceocanobeomadeotoojudicialo decisions.o

10.oo o Ino'Ramo Prasado ando Anothero v.o Stateo ofo Uttaro Pradesh'o 1982(2)oSCCo149,oHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoconvertedotheoconvictionofromo CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo7oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

307o IPCo too 324o IPCo ando aftero thato basedo ono compromise,o acceptedo theo compoundingoofooffenceounderosectiono324oIPCoandoacquittedotheoappellants.o

11.oo o Ino'Mohd.oRafiov.oStateoofoU.P.'o1998(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o455,o theoconvictohadogoneotooHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoagainstohisoconvictionobyo theotrialoCourtounderoSectionso323oando325oofoIPC,owhichowasoupheldobyo SessionsoandoHighoCourt.oAfterothat,otheoconvictoandotheovictimoenteredointoo anoout-of-courtocompromise.oHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoanalyzedotheoparties'o affidavitsofiledoinosupportoofotheocompromiseoandoobservedothatopartiesohado willinglyo ando voluntarilyo settledo theo matter.o Too maintaino goodo relations,o Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtograntedopermissionotoothemotoocompoundotheosaido offensesoandoorderotheoacquittal.o

12.oo o Ino'M.D.o Balalo Miano ando anothero v.o Stateo ofo Biharo ando another'oAIRo2001o(SCW)o5190,ooutoofothreeoconvicts,ooneowasoconvictedo underoSectiono376oIPCoandotheootherotwoowereoconvictedoonlyounderoSectionso 325o &o 323o ofo IPC.o Aftero theo Higho Courto confirmedo theo convictiono ando sentence,oallothreeoconvictsoapproachedoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt.oAlthougho Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtodidonotofindoanyoscopeoforograntingospecialoleaveobyo theo convicto challengingo hiso convictiono undero Sectiono 376o IPC,o however,o grantedo theo othero permissiono too theo othero twoo convictso too compoundo theo offenceso ando acquittedo botho ofo theo accusedo undero Sectiono 320(8)o ofo theo CriminaloProcedureoCode.o

13.oo o Ino'K.o Kandasamyo v.o K.P.M.V.P.o Chandrasekaran'o (2005)o4o SCCo349,obasedoonotheocompromise,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoacquittedo theoappellants/convictsoofotheooffenceounderoSectiono500oIndianoPenaloCode.o

14.oo o Ino'Khursheedo ando anothero v.o Stateo ofo U.P.o ando another'o 2007(12)o SCCo 68,o theo appellantso wereo convictedo byo Trialo Courto undero CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo8oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sectionso325,o323oreadowitho34oIPC.oTheiroappealoagainstoconvictionowaso dismissedobyotheoSessionsoCourtoandorevisionopetitionowasoalsoodismissedobyo HighoCourt.oTheoconvictsoapproachedotheoApexoCourtoandoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtoheld-o "[12].o Anooffenceoofo causingogrievouso hurtopunishableo underoSectiono325oIPCoisocoveredobyosub-sectiono(2)oofo Sectiono320oofotheoCode.oItoisothusoclearothatoanooffenceo punishableounderoSectiono325oIPCoisoalsoocompoundedo withotheopermissionoofotheoCourt.o [13].o Theo partieso haveo compoundedo theo offences.o Aso statedo ino theo compromiseo deed,o Gurfano Ahmad,o complainantoandohisomotheroKulsoomo@oBhoorio(injured)o didonotowantoanyoactionoagainstotheoappellantso(accused).o Theo partieso areo neighbours,o theiro houseso areo situatedo adjacento too eacho othero ando theyo haveo beeno livingo peacefullyoforolastomanyoyearsoandothereoisonoodisputeo amongothem.oItoisofurtherostatedothatotoocontinueosweeto relationshipo ando harmony,o complainanto sideo doeso noto wantotootakeoanyoactionoagainstotheoaccused.oAoprayerois,o therefore,omadeotooacceptotheocompromise.o [14].oOnotheofactsoandoinotheocircumstancesoofotheocase,o ando consideringo theo Deedo ofo Compromiseo ando havingo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo parties,o ino ouro opinion,o endso ofo justiceo wouldo beo meto ifo weo granto necessaryo permissionoforocompoundingoanooffenceopunishableoundero Sectiono325oreadowithoSectiono34oIPCoasorequiredobyosub-sectiono (2)o ofo Sectiono 320o ofo theo Code.o Theo offenceo punishableo undero Sectiono 323o IPCo haso alreadyo beeno compoundedobyotheoparties.o [15].o Sub-sectiono (8)o ofo Sectiono 320o stateso thato theo compoundingoofooffenceounderotheosectionoshallohaveoano effectoofoacquittaloofotheoaccusedowithowhomotheooffenceo haso beeno compounded.o Theo resultanto effecto ofo compoundingo ofo offenceso wouldo beo thato theo accusedoRIMPAL RANI CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo9oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

shouldobeoacquitted.oInootherowords,oonceotheooffenceso haveobeenocompoundedoandotheorequisiteopermissionoiso grantedobyotheoCourt,otheoaccusedomustobeoacquitted."o o

15.oo o Ino'Manojo&oAnotherov.oStateoofoMadhyaoPradesh'o2008(4)o R.C.R.o (Criminal)o 552,o Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o basedo ono compromise,o acceptedo theo compoundingo ofo theo offenceo undero sectiono 324o IPCo ando acquittedotheoappellants.o

16.oo o Ino'Md.oAbduloSufanoLaskaroandoothersov.oStateoofoAssam'o

(2008)o 9oSCCo 333,obasedoonoaocompromise,oHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoseto asideotheoconvictionoandosentenceounderosectiono324oIPC.oHon'bleoSupremeo Courtotookosimilaroviewsoino'MathuraoSinghov.oStateoofoU.P.'o2009(13)oSCCo 420oando ino'Gampao Govinduo v.o Stateo ofo Andhrao Pradesho thr.o Publico Prosecutor'o2008o(sup)oCri.oL.R.o(SC)o440.o

17.oo o InoGampao Govinduo (supra),oHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoaso under:-o "[3].oTheoTrialoCourtoconvictedotheosoleoappellantoundero Sectiono 326o ofo theo Indiano Penalo Codeo [hereinaftero referredo too aso "I.P.C."]o ando sentencedo too undergoo rigorousoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofothreeoyearsoandotoo payofineoofoRupeesooneothousand;oinodefault,otooundergoo furtherosimpleoimprisonmentoforoaoperiodoofooneomonth.o Onoappealobeingopreferred,otheoSessionsoCourtoconfirmedo theoconvictionoandosentence.oWhenotheomatterowasotakeno too theo Higho Courto ino revision,o theo convictiono ando sentenceounderoSectiono326oI.P.C.ohaveobeenosetoasideo andotheoappellantohasobeenoconvictedounderoSectiono324o I.P.C.oandosentencedotooundergoorigorousoimprisonmento foro ao periodo ofo oneo year.o Beforeo thiso Court,o ao jointo petitionoofocompromiseohasobeenofiledowhereinoitohasobeeno statedo thato theo partieso haveo settledo theiro disputes;o aso CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo10oooooooooooooooooooooooo

such,otheyobeopermittedotoocompoundotheooffence.oInoouro view,o theo prayero iso justo ando musto beo granted.o Accordingly,o theo criminalo appealo iso allowedo ando theo convictionoandosentenceoawardedoagainstotheoappellanto areosetoaside,oinoviewoofotheocompounding."o o

18.oo o Ino'Hirabhaio Jhaverbhaio v.o Stateo ofo Gujarato ando others'o

(2010)o 6o SCCo 688,o permittingo theo partieso too compromiseo theo convictiono undero sectiono 324o IPC,o Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto held,o "Theo injuredo complainantoandotwoootheroinjuredoareopermittedotoocompoundotheooffenceo punishableounderoSectiono324oIndianoPenaloCode.oInoviewoofosub-sectiono(8)o ofo Sectiono 320o ofo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o theo compositiono ofo offenceounderoSectiono324oIndianoPenaloCodeoshallohaveotheoeffectoofoano acquittaloofotheoappellantowithowhomotheooffenceohasobeenocompounded."o

19.oo o Ino'Dasanov.oStateoofoKeralaoandoanother'o(2014)o12oSCCo666,o theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoconvertedotheoconvictionofromoSectiono326oIPCo tooSectiono325oIPCoand,obasedoonocompromise,oacceptedotheocompoundingoofo theooffenceounderoSectiono325oIPCoandoacquittedotheoappellant.o

20.oo o Ino'Padmalayano v.o Sarasan'o (2014)o 13o SCCo 798,o Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto permittedo post-convictiono compromiseo foro offenceo undero Sectiono324oIPC.o

21.oo o Ino'Sathiyamoorthyo v.o State'o 2014(3)o RCRo (Criminal)o 867,o afteroobservingothatoafterotheocompromiseotheyohaveobeenostayingopeacefullyo inotheovillage.oHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoholds-o "[6].o Offenceso undero Sectionso 341o ando 325o areo compoundable.o Ino viewo ofo theo settlemento theyo cano beo permittedo too beo compounded.o However,o offenceso undero Sectionso148oando149oofotheoIPCoareonotocompoundable.o Hence,opermissionotoocompoundothemocannotobeogranted.o CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo11oooooooooooooooooooooooo

However,osinceotheoaccusedoandotheovictimohaveoenteredo intooaocompromise,oweofeelothatoitowouldobeoinotheointeresto ofo botho sideso too reduceo theo sentenceo awardedo too theo accusedounderoSectionso325oando341oofotheoIPCotootheo sentenceoalreadyoundergone.o [7].oInoRamoLaloandoanr.ov.oStateoofoJo&oK,o2000(1)oRCRo (Criminal)o 92o :o (1999)2o SCCo 213otheo accusedo wereo convictedo foro offenceo undero Sectiono 326o ofo theo IPC,o whichoisonon-compoundable.oLookingotootheofactothatotheo partieso hado arrivedo ato ao settlemento ando victimo hado noo grievance,othisoCourtoreducedotheosentenceoforotheooffenceo underoSectiono326otoosentenceoalreadyoundergoneobyotheo appellants-accused.o Weo areo inclinedo too followo similaro course.o

8.oInotheoresult,otheoappealoisopartlyoallowed.oTheooffenceso underoSectionso341oando325oofotheoIPC,oforowhichotheo appellantso areo convicted,o areo permittedo too beo compoundedo becauseo theyo areo compoundable.o Theo appellantso areo acquittedo ofo theo saido offences.o Theo appellantsoareostatedotoohaveoundergoneomoreothanosixo monthsoimprisonment.oSoofaroasooffencesounderoSectionso 148oando149oofotheoIPCoareoconcerned,otheoconvictionoofo theo appellantso foro theo saido offenceso iso reducedo too theo sentenceo alreadyo undergoneo byo themo subjecto too theo appellantso payingo Rs.o 30,000/-o aso compensationo too victim-Murugesan.o Compensationo beo paido withino threeo monthsofromotheodateoofothisojudgment."o

22.oo o Ino'ShankaroYadavov.oStateoofoChhattisgarh'o2017(4)oR.C.R.o (Criminal)o 50,o Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto whileo permittingo post-convictiono compromise,obyoholdingotheooffenceotoofallounderoSectiono324oIPC,oheld-o "[8].oHavingoregardotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheo case,o weo seeo noo reasonso too refuseo permissiono too theo partiesowhoohaveocompromisedotheooffencesowhichowereo CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo12oooooooooooooooooooooooo

compoundableounderotheo!odeoasoitostoodoino1<<4.oIfoitoiso so)o compoundingo cano beo permittedo ando theo appellantso accusedocanobeoac3uittedoinovie'oofoSectiono32&o$4%oofotheo !r. .!.)o 'hicho e?pressl"o enactso thato 'hereo theo compositionoofoanooffenceounderothisosectionoisorecordedo b"otheo!ourt)oitoshallohaveoeffectoofoanoac3uittaloofotheo accusedo'itho'homotheooffenceohasobeenocompounded.o :eoorderoaccordingl".5o o )%.ooooooo>hiso$ourtohasoinherentopo,erounderoSe"tiono-&)oofotheo$odeotoo interfereoinothisokindoofomatter.oooo )-.o o o o o o o o o <no (- <indero Sin4ho vs.o Stateo ofo P-ntia2'o 2%%.(,)o R.C.R.o (Crimina )o1%!2 o=i!eo6udgeso(en"hoofothiso$ourtoo2ser!edothatoHigho$ourto hasopo,ero too@uashotheoprose"utionotoose"ureoendso ofo justi"e.o There can never be any hard and fast category which can be prescribed to enable the Court to exercise its power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The only principle that can be laid down is the one which has been incorporated in the Section itself, i.e., to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or to secure the ends of justice. The compromise, in a modern society, is the sine qua non of harmony and orderly behavior. 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. Disputes which have their genesis in a matrimonial discord, landlord-tenant matters, commercial transactions and other such matters can safely be dealt with by the Court by exercising its powers under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the event of a compromise, but this is not to say that the power is limited to CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo13oooooooooooooooooooooooo

suchocases.oThereocanoneverobeoanyosuchorigidoruleotooprescribeotheoexerciseo ofosuchopower.oo

25.oooo o oIno Giano Singho Vs.o Stateo ofo Punjab,o (2012)o 10o SCCo 303,o Hon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtolaidodownotheofollowingoprinciples:-o "61.o …theo powero ofo theo Higho Courto ino quashingo ao criminaloproceedingooroFIRoorocomplaintoinoexerciseoofo itsoinherentojurisdictionoisodistinctoandodifferentofromotheo powero giveno too ao criminalo courto foro compoundingo theo offencesounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.oInherentopowero isoofowideoplenitudeowithonoostatutoryolimitationobutoitohaso toobeoexercisedoinoaccordowithotheoguidelineoengraftedoino suchopoweroviz;o(i)otoosecureotheoendsoofojusticeooro(ii)otoo preventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourt.oInowhatocaseso powerotooquashotheocriminaloproceedingoorocomplaintooro F.I.Ro mayo beo exercisedo whereo theo offendero ando victimo haveosettledotheirodisputeowouldodependoonotheofactsoando circumstanceso ofo eacho caseo ando noo categoryo cano beo prescribed.oHowever,obeforeoexerciseoofosuchopower,otheo Higho Courto musto haveo dueo regardo too theo natureo ando gravityo ofo theo crime.o Heinouso ando seriouso offenceso ofo mentalodepravityoorooffencesolikeomurder,orape,odacoity,o etc.ocannotobeofittinglyoquashedoevenothoughotheovictimooro victim'sofamilyoandotheooffenderohaveosettledotheodispute.o Suchooffencesoareonotoprivateoinonatureoandohaveoseriouso impacto ono society.o Similarly,o anyo compromiseo betweeno theovictimoandooffenderoinorelationotootheooffencesoundero specialostatutesolikeoPreventionoofoCorruptionoActoorotheo offencesocommittedobyopublicoservantsowhileoworkingoino thato capacityo etc;o cannoto provideo foro anyo basiso foro quashingocriminaloproceedingsoinvolvingosuchooffences.o Butotheocriminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyoandopre-dominatinglyociviloflavourostandoonodifferentofootingoforo theo purposeso ofo quashing,o particularlyo theo offenceso CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo14oooooooooooooooooooooooo

arisingo fromo commercial,o financial,o mercantile,o civil,o partnershipo oro sucho likeo transactionso oro theo offenceso arisingooutoofomatrimonyorelatingotoodowry,oetc.oorotheo familyodisputesowhereotheowrongoisobasicallyoprivateooro personaloinonatureoandotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiro entireodispute.oInothisocategoryoofocases,oHighoCourtomayo quashocriminaloproceedingsoifoinoitsoview,obecauseoofotheo compromiseo betweeno theo offendero ando victim,o theo possibilityo ofo convictiono iso remoteo ando bleako ando continuationoofocriminalocaseowouldoputoaccusedotoogreato oppressionoandoprejudiceoandoextremeoinjusticeowouldobeo causedotoohimobyonotoquashingotheocriminalocaseodespiteo fullo ando completeo settlemento ando compromiseo witho theo victim.o Ino othero words,o theo Higho Courto musto considero whetheroitowouldobeounfairoorocontraryotootheointerestoofo justiceo too continueo witho theo criminalo proceedingo oro continuationo ofo theo criminalo proceedingo wouldo tantamountotooabuseoofoprocessoofolawodespiteosettlemento andocompromiseobetweenotheovictimoandowrongdoeroando whetherotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice,oitoisoappropriateo thatocriminalocaseoisoputotooanoendoandoifotheoanswerotoo theoaboveoquestion(s)oisoinoaffirmative,otheoHighoCourto shallobeowellowithinoitsojurisdictionotooquashotheocriminalo proceeding."o

26.ooooooooo Ino'RamoGopaloandoanotherovsoTheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradesh',o 2021o(4)oR.C.R.o(Criminal)o322,oHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourt,orephrasingotheo scopeoofopowersoexercisableobyoaoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oOfotheoCodeo observedothato-o "11.oTrueo ito iso thato offenceso whicho areo 'non-compoundable'o cannoto beo compoundedo byo ao criminalo courtoinopurportedoexerciseoofoitsopowersounderoSectiono 320oCr.P.C.oAnyosuchoattemptobyotheocourtowouldoamounto tooalteration,oadditiono ando modificationoofoSectiono320o CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo15oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Cr.P.C,o whicho iso theo exclusiveo domaino ofo Legislature.o Thereoisonoopatentoorolatentoambiguityoinotheolanguageoofo Sectiono 320o Cr.P.C.,o whicho mayo justifyo itso widero interpretationoandoincludeosuchooffencesoinotheodocketoofo 'compoundable'o offenceso whicho haveo beeno consciouslyo keptooutoasonon-compoundable.oNevertheless,otheolimitedo jurisdictionotoocompoundoanooffenceowithinotheoframeworko ofo Sectiono 320o Cr.P.C.o iso noto ano embargoo againsto invokingoinherentopowersobyotheoHighoCourtovestedoinoito underoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oTheoHighoCourt,okeepingoino viewotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofoaocaseoando forojustifiableoreasonsocanopressoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oino aidotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtoand/orotoo secureotheoendsoofojustice.o

12.oTheo Higho Court,o therefore,o havingo regardo too theo natureo ofo theo offenceo ando theo facto thato partieso haveo amicablyosettledotheirodisputeoandotheovictimohasowillinglyo consentedo too theo nullificationo ofo criminalo proceedings,o canoquashosuchoproceedingsoinoexerciseoofoitsoinherento powersounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.,oevenoifotheooffenceso areononocompoundable.oTheoHighoCourtocanoindubitablyo evaluateotheoconsequentialoeffectsoofotheooffenceobeyondo theo bodyo ofo ano individualo ando thereaftero adopto ao pragmatico approach,o too ensureo thato theo felony,o eveno ifo goeso unpunished,o doeso noto tinkero witho oro paralyzeo theo veryo objecto ofo theo administrationo ofo criminalo justiceo system.o

13.oItoappearsotoousothatocriminaloproceedingsoinvolvingo non-heinouso offenceso oro whereo theo offenceso areo pre-dominantlyo ofo ao privateo nature,o cano beo annulledo irrespectiveo ofo theo facto thato trialo haso alreadyo beeno concludedooroappealostandsodismissedoagainstoconviction.o Handingooutopunishmentoisonototheosoleoformoofodeliveringo justice.oSocietalomethodoofoapplyingolawsoevenlyoisoalwayso subjectotoolawfuloexceptions.oItogoesowithoutosaying,othatoRIMPAL RANI CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo16oooooooooooooooooooooooo

theocasesowhereocompromiseoisostruckopost-conviction,otheo Higho Courto oughto too exerciseo sucho discretiono witho rectitude,okeepingoinoviewotheocircumstancesosurroundingo theo incident,o theo fashiono ino whicho theo compromiseo haso beenoarrivedoat,oandowithodueoregardotootheonatureoando seriousnesso ofo theo offence,o besideso theo conducto ofo theo accused,obeforeoandoafterotheoincidence.oTheotouchstoneo foro exercisingo theo extra-ordinaryo powero undero Sectiono 482oCr.P.C.owouldobeotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.oThereo canobeonoohardoandofastolineoconstrictingotheopoweroofotheo Higho Courto too doo substantialo justice.o Ao restrictiveo constructiono ofo inherento powerso undero Sectiono 482o Cr.P.C.omayoleadotoorigidoorospeciousojustice,owhichoino theogivenofactsoandocircumstancesoofoaocase,omayorathero leadotoograveoinjustice.oOnotheootherohand,oinocasesowhereo heinousooffencesohaveobeenoprovedoagainstoperpetrators,o noo sucho benefito oughto too beo extended,o aso cautiouslyo observedo byo thiso Courto inoNarindero Singhov.oStateo ofo PunjaboandoLaxmioNarayano(Supra).o

14.oInootherowords,ograveooroseriousooffencesoorooffenceso whichoinvolveomoraloturpitudeoorohaveoaoharmfuloeffectoono theo socialo ando moralo fabrico ofo theo societyo oro involveo matterso concerningo publico policy,o cannoto beo construedo betwixtotwooindividualsoorogroupsoonly,oforosuchooffenceso haveotheopotentialotooimpactotheosocietyoatolarge.oEffacingo abominableooffencesothroughoquashingoprocessowouldonoto onlyosendoaowrongosignalotootheocommunityobutomayoalsoo accordo ano undueo benefito too unscrupulouso habitualo oro professionalo offenders,o whoo cano secureo ao 'settlement'o throughoduress,othreats,osocialoboycotts,obribesooroothero dubiouso means.o Itoiso wellosaido thato "letonooguiltyo mano escape,oifoitocanobeoavoided."o

19.oWeothusosum-upoandoholdothatoasoopposedotooSectiono 320oCr.P.C.owhereotheoCourtoisosquarelyoguidedobyotheo compromiseo betweeno theo partieso ino respecto ofo offencesoRIMPAL RANI CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo17oooooooooooooooooooooooo

'compoundable'o withino theo statutoryo framework,o theo extra-ordinaryopoweroenjoinedouponoaoHighoCourtoundero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.oorovestedoinothisoCourtounderoArticleo 142oofotheoConstitution,ocanobeoinvokedobeyondotheometeso ando boundso ofo Sectiono 320o Cr.P.C.o Nonetheless,o weo reiterateothatosuchopowersoofowideoamplitudeooughtotoobeo exercisedo carefullyo ino theo contexto ofo quashingo criminalo proceedings,obearingoinomindo:o(i)oNatureoandoeffectoofotheo offenceoonotheoconsciousoofotheosociety;o(ii)oSeriousnessoofo theo injury,o ifo any;o(iii)oVoluntaryo natureo ofo compromiseo betweeno theo accusedo ando theo victim;o &o(iv)oConductoofo theoaccusedopersons,opriorotooandoafterotheooccurrenceoofo theo purportedo offenceo and/oro othero relevanto considerations."o

27.oooo o ooAfteroweighingouponopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheo twooappealsobeforeome,oIoamoofotheoconsideredoopinionothatocontinuationoofo theo criminalo proceedingso betweeno theo partieso willo noto serveo anyo fruitfulo purposeowhatsoever.oBothotheoinjuredohadosustainedoinjuriesoinotheoincident;o theopartiesobelongotootheosameovillageoandohaveovoluntarilyoenteredointootheo compromiseoafteroreconcilingotheirodifferences,oandowishotooaccordoaoquietuso tootheirodispute(s)oandonowotheyointendotooliveohappilyoinotheovillageoforotheo timesotoocome.oFurthermore,ooccurrenceotookoplaceowayobackoino2006oando thereoisonothingoonorecordotooevinceothatoafterotheoincidentoandoparticularlyo aftero theo compromise,o anyo untowardo incidento haso happenedo betweeno theo parties.o Thereo iso nothingo ono recordo too primao facieo showo thato partieso areo unscrupulousooroprofessionalooffenders.oTheonatureoofoinjuriesoincurred,oforo whichoappellantsohaveobeenoconvicted,odoonotoappearotooexhibitotheiromentalo depravityoorocommissionoofoanooffenceoofosuchoaoseriousonatureothatoquashingo ofo whicho wouldo overrideo publico interest.o Thus,o ino hueo ofo theseo peculiaro RIMPAL RANI circumstances,o continuationoofocriminaloproceedingso willonoto advanceotheo CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo18oooooooooooooooooooooooo

reformativeopurposeoofojurisprudenceojustoforotheosakeoofodeterrence.oTheo compromiseoinoquestionoseemsotoobeobonaofideoandowouldocertainlyopromoteo peaceoandoharmonyoamongstotheofamilies.oo

28.ooo o oIno theo presento case,o someo ofo theo offenceso punishableo undero Sectionso323oando325oareocompoundableoasoperoSectiono320oCr.P.C.oofotheo Code,owhereas,ootherooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso324,o326,o148oIPCo readowithoSectiono149oIPCoareonotocompoundable.oHowever,oinotheogiveno factsoofotheocaseoasodetailedoabove,otheoprosecutionoquaonon-compoundableo offencesocanobeoclosedobyoquashingotheoFIRoandoconsequentoproceedingsobyo exercisingotheoextraordinaryopoweroenjoinedouponothisoCourtounderoSectiono 482oCr.P.C.,osoothatoharmony,opeaceoandofellowshipomayoprevailoamongstotheo parties,owhoohaveodecidedotooforgetoandoforgiveoanyoill-willoagainstoeacho other.oo

29.oooooooooo oIno'Parambiro Singho Gillo vso Malkiato Kaur',o 2010(1)o R.C.R.o (Criminal)o 256o ando 'Sunilo Tomaro vso Stateo ofo NCTo ofo Delhi',o 2022(2)o Cri.CCo 179,o partialo quashingo oro parto quashingo ofo FIRo onlyo quao theo petitioner/accusedowithowhomotheocomplainantohasocompromisedoorosettledo theomatterowasoallowedoandorecognized.oInoLovelyoSalhotraoandoanotherovso State,oNCToofoDelhio(2018)o12oSCCo391,oitowasoobservedoandoheldoasounder:-o "3.oWeohaveotakenointooaccountotheofactsoofotheomatteroino questionoasoitoappearsotoousothatonoocognizableooffenceoiso madeooutoagainstotheoappellantso-oherein.oTheoHighoCourto wasowrongoinoholdingothatotheoF.I.R.ocannotobeoquashedo inopartoandoitooughtotoohaveoappreciatedotheofactothatotheo appellantso -o hereinocannotobeoallowedo too suffero ono theo basisoofotheocomplaintofiledobyoRespondentoNo.2o-ohereino onlyo ono theo groundo thato theo investigationo againsto co-CRA-S-3381-SB-2016o(O&M)oandoooooooooooooooo2023:PHHC:099612ooooooooo19oooooooooooooooooooooooo

accusedoisostillopending.oItoisopertinentotoonoteothatotheo learnedoMagistrateohasoopinedothatonoooffenceoisomadeo outoagainstoco-accusedoNos.o2,o3,o4oando6oprimaofacie.o

6.oAccordingly,oweosetoasideotheosaidoorderoofotheoHigho CourtoandoquashotheoF.I.R.oquaotheoappellantso-oherein."o 30oo o Inoviewoofotheoaboveoreasoningoandoconsideringotheoentireofactso ofotheocase,otheoaboveocaptionedojudgmentsoofoconviction,osentence,oFIR,o chargeoare,oherebyoquashedoquaotheoappellantsoSamayoSingh,oMajoroSingh,o JarnailoSingh,oSurajoBhan,oAngrejoSingh,oSultanoSingh,oDharambiro(sinceo deceased),oSukhdevoSinghoandoRamoSarupoaloneoexceptoHemrajo(whoohaso beenodeclaredoasoproclaimedopersonovideotrialoCourtoorderodatedo21.10.2013).o However,otheofineoamountoisoforfeitedotootheoStateoasocostoincurredobyoit.oTheo bailobondsoofotheoappellantsoareoaccordinglyodischarged.oo

31.o o Appealsoareodisposedoofoaccordingly.o Allo pendingo applicationso preferredobyoappellants,oifoany,ostandodisposedoof.oCopyoofothisojudgmentobeo sentotootheolearnedotrialoCourtoforonecessaryoinformation.oo

32.oo o Photocopyoofothisoorderobeoplacedoonotheoconnectedocaseofileo numberedoabove.oo oo (RITUoTAGORE)ooo o o o o o o o o oooooooJUDGEo o

01.08.2023 Rimpalo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o :o Yes/Noo