Pradeep Kumar Tomar and Another v. State of Haryana and Another

o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 1oCRM 24420 2023 o o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-24420-2023o PradeepoKumaroTomaroandoanotheroooooo o o o o o o ....Petitionersooo V/so StateoofoHaryanaoandoanotherooo o o o o o ....Respondentso DateoofoReserve:o12.02.2026o Dateoofopronouncement:o19.02.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o19.02.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Ms.oAmritaoGarg,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo o o Ms.oAnjalioSheoran,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.oo

1.o o Theopresentopetitionohasobeenopreferredobyotheoaccusedoundero Sectiono482oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973oseekingoquashingoofo theoFIRoNo.0392oofo2021odatedo07.10.2021o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoasotheo 'impugnedoFIR'),oregisteredounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o 1860,o ato Policeo Stationo Ferozepuro Jhirka,o aso alsoo theo charge-sheeto datedo

24.10.2021o (Annexureo P-2)o alongwitho theo consequentialo proceedingso emanatingotherefromoonotheobasisoofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo09.05.2023oo (copyowhereofoisoappendedoasoAnnexureoP-5owithotheopresentopetition).oo

2.o o Theo factualo matrixo ofo theo caseo ino hando reflectso thato ono

06.10.2021oatoabouto6:00oPM,otwooworkmen,onamely,oOmosonoofoMohano SinghoandoRampal,owhoowereostatedotoobeoworkingoatotheofactoryopremises,o o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 2oCRM 24420 2023 o o metowithoanoaccidentowhileowalkingoonoaobeamoofotheoshutteringostructure.oIto hasobeenofurtheroallegedothatoonlyooneoportionoofotheoshutteringocollapsedo whileotheoremainingoportionoremainedointact,oasoaoresultoofowhichobothotheo workmeno sustainedo injuries.o Immediately,o theyo wereo takeno too ao localo hospitalo wherebyo Omo sono ofo Mohano Singho succumbedo too theo injurieso whereasoRampalowasoshiftedotooBlossomoHospital,oAgra,ofromowhereoheowaso laterotakenohomeobyohisofamilyobutoheoexpiredolateroon.ooOnotheocomplaintoofo theo brother-in-lawo ofo theo deceasedo Om,o theo impugnedo FIRo waso goto registered.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haso iteratedo thato theo petitionersohaveobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoimpugnedoFIRoonoaccounto ofotheofactothatotheyoareocontractualoemployeesoatotheofactoryopremisesowhereo theounfortunateoaccidentotookoplaceoandohaveonoosupervisory,omanagerialooro technicaloroleoinotheoexecutionoofotheoshutteringowork.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatothereoisonotoevenoaowhisperoinotheoimpugnedoFIRooroino theo finaloreportoundero Sectiono173o Cr.P.C.o indicatingo anyo specificoactooro omissiono ono theo parto ofo theo petitionerso whicho couldo constituteo criminalo negligenceoasoemployedoinoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC.oLearnedocounselohaso emphasizedo thato duringo theo courseo ofo investigation,o theo Directoro ofo theo factoryoasowelloasotheoforeman,owhoowereooriginallyonamedoinotheoimpugnedo FIRohaveobeenofoundoinnocentoandoplacedoinoColumnoNo.IIoofotheochallan.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero submittedo thato theo incidento ino questiono waso accidentaloinonatureoinasmuchoasotheodeceasedopersonsowereowalkingoonoao beamoofotheoshutteringostructureoonotheiroownoandoonlyoaoportionoofotheo shutteringocollapsedowhileotheoremainingostructureoremainedointact.oItohaso MAHAVIR SINGH beenofurtherocontendedothatotheopetitioners,oimmediatelyoafterotheoincident,o o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 3oCRM 24420 2023 o o extendedofinancialoassistanceoofoRs.3,00,000/-otootheofamilyoofodeceasedoOmo ando alsoo boreo theo medicalo expenseso ofo Rampalo duringo hiso treatmento ato BlossomoHospital,oAgra,obesidesopayingoaosumoofo₹3,00,000/-otoohisofamilyo afterohisodemise,owhichodemonstrateotheobonaofideoconductoofotheopetitioners.oo ItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedothatorespondentoNo.o2,owhooisotheocomplainanto andobrother-in-lawoofodeceasedoOm,ohasoexecutedoanoaffidavitostatingothereino thato theo impugnedo FIRo haso beeno lodgedo ono accounto ofo someo misunderstandingoandounderotheoinfluenceoofolocalopersons.oLearnedocounselo hasocontendedothatosinceotheopartiesohaveoamicablyoresolvedotheirodisputeso andohaveoenteredointooaowrittenocompromiseodatedo09.05.2023ooutoofotheiro owno freeo willo withouto anyo coercion,o theo continuationo ofo criminalo proceedingsowouldoamountotooabuseoofotheoprocessoofolawoandowouldoserveo noousefulopurpose.oOnotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,olearnedocounselohaso prayedo thato theo impugnedo FIRo ino questiono alongo witho allo consequentialo proceedingsobeoquashed.ooo

4.o o Pero contra,o learnedo Stateo counselo haso opposedo theo granto ofo petitionoinohandoonotheogroundothatotheoinstantocaseopertainsotooanooffenceo undero Sectiono 304-Ao ofo IPCo involvingo theo deatho ofo twoo workmeno and,o therefore,o theo mattero cannoto beo treatedo aso ao privateo disputeo betweeno theo parties.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso iteratedo thato theo allegationso ino theo impugnedoFIRoandotheomaterialocollectedoduringotheocourseoofoinvestigationo primao facieo discloseo theo commissiono ofo ao cognizableo offenceo relatingo too criminalo negligenceo ando theo sameo haso directo bearingo ono publico safety.o LearnedoStateocounselohasoemphasizedothatotheoinherentopowersoofothisoCourto underoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oareotoobeoexercisedosparinglyoandoonlyoinocaseso MAHAVIR SINGH whereotheoallegationsodoonotodiscloseoanyooffenceoorowhereotheoproceedingso o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 4oCRM 24420 2023 o o areomanifestlyoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolaw.oFurthermore,otheocompromiseo enteredointoobetweenotheopetitionersoandorespondentoNo.o2ocannotoformotheo basiso foro quashingo ofo theo impugnedo FIRo inasmucho aso theo offenceo undero Sectiono304-AoIPCoisonotocompoundableoandoinvolvesolossoofohumanolife.o AccordingotoolearnedoStateocounsel,osuchooffencesoareoagainstotheosocietyoato largeo ando noto merelyo againsto ano individualo ando theo legalo heirso ofo theo deceasedocannot,obyowayoofoaocompromise,oabsolveotheoaccusedoofocriminalo liabilityoarisingooutoofoanoactoofoallegedonegligenceowhichoresultedoinodeath.oo Onotheseogrounds,olearnedoStateocounselohasoprayedoforotheodismissaloofotheo presentopetition.oo

5.o o Learnedo counselo appearingo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.o 2-complainantosubmitsothatotheodisputeobetweenotheopartiesohasobeenoamicablyo resolvedoandothatoaocompromiseodeedodatedo09.05.2023ohasobeenoexecutedo voluntarilyo ando withouto anyo coerciono oro undueo influence.o Ito haso beeno contendedo thato respondento No.o 2o haso initiallyo lodgedo theo impugnedo FIRo undero ao misconceptiono ando undero theo influenceo ofo certaino localo personso withoutobeingofullyoawareoofotheofactualopositionoregardingotheooccurrence.oo Learnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatouponogainingoproperoknowledgeo ofotheocircumstancesoinowhichotheoaccidentotookoplace,orespondentoNo.o2ohaso comeotootheoconclusionothatotheoincidentowasopurelyoaccidentaloinonatureoando notoattributableotooanyonegligenceoonotheopartoofotheopetitioners.oFurthermore,o inoviewoofotheocompromiseoinoquestion,otheorespondentoNo.o2odoesonotowisho toopursueotheocriminaloproceedingsoandohasonooobjectionoifotheoimpugnedo FIRoinoquestionoandotheoconsequentialoproceedings,oareobeingoquashed.oo

6.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ando haveo goneo o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 5oCRM 24420 2023 o o

7.o o ThisoCourt,owhileorelyingouponotheojudgmentsopassedobyotheo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Giano Singho vs.o Stateo ofo Punjabo ando another,o 2012(10)oSCCo303;oNarinderoSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o2014(6)oSCCo466;o ParbatbhaioAahiro@oParbatbhaioBhimsinhbhaioKarmuroandoOrs.oVs.oStateoofo Gujarato ando anr.o AIRo 2017o SUPREMEo COURTo4843;o Stateo ofo Madhyao Pradeshovs.oLaxmioNarayanoandoothersoAIRo2019oSUPREMEoCOURTo1296o andobyothisoCourtoinoBaldevoSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjabo&oanother,odecidedoono

02.06.2016o o ino CRM-M-40769-2014,ohaso observedo ino Satnamo Singho Vs.o StateoofoPunjaboandoAnother;o2025o(4)oLawoHeraldo3188oasounder:oStateoofoPunjaboandoAnother;o2025o(4)oLawoHeraldo3188o o "Analysiso(reolaw)o o 10.o Theoconventionaloview,opremisedouponotheostatutoryoframework,o waso thato criminalo offence(s)o couldo beo settledo onlyo byo wayo ofo compounding,oasoperotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono320oofotheoCr.P.C.,o1973o (nowoSectiono359oofoBNSS,o2023).oInoordinaryoparlance,o"compounding"o isoknownoaso"compromise"ooro"settlement".oThisoexpressionoisoordinarilyo understoodoasocondoningoaofelonyoinoexchangeofororepatriationoreceivedobyo theo victim-complainanto fromo theo felon.o o Ino othero words,o noo compounding/compromiseoofoaocriminalooffenceocouldobeopermittedobyotheo Court,oexceptoforoanooffenceowhichometowithotheorigoursoofoSectiono320oofo Cr.P.C.o Therefore,o theo questiono aroseo whethero theo Higho Court,o byo exercisingoitsoplenary/inherentojurisdiction,ounderoSectiono482oofoCr.P.C.,o couldo quasho ongoingo FIR/criminalo proceedings,o ono theo basiso ofo compromise/settlementohavingobeenoarrivedoatobetweenotheorivaloparties,o pertainingo too theo offenceso whicho doo noto fallo withino theo ambito ofo 'compoundable'.o o 10.1.o Beforeoproceedingofurther,oitowouldobeogermaneotoodelveointootheo nature,oscopeoandoambitoofopowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofo Cr.P.C.,o1973.o o 10.2.o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o 10.3o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o 11.o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoGianoSingho(supra)ohaso enunciatedothatotheopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoforoquashingoofocriminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo settlemento areo materiallyo differento fromo compoundingoofooffenceoinotermsoofoSectiono320oofoCr.P.C.o(NowoSectiono MAHAVIR SINGH 359oofoBNSS,o2023)oasoaoCourtowhileoexercisingopowerounderoSectiono320o o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 6oCRM 24420 2023 o o ofoCr.P.C.o(NowoSectiono359oofoBNSS,o2023)oisocircumscribedobyotheo statutoryoprovisionobutotheoHighoCourtomayoproceedotooquashoaocriminalo offence/criminaloproceedingsoifotheoendsoofojusticeojustifyoexerciseoofosucho power.oItowasothusoheldothatotheocriminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyo ando predominantlyo civilo flavor;o offenceso arisingo outo ofo matrimonialo dispute;ooffencesoarisingooutoofofamilyodisputeoasoalsoooffencesowhichoareo basicallyo privateo oro personalo ino nature,o couldo beo quashedo byo theo Higho Courtoinocaseotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiroentireodispute(s).oFurther,otheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoNarinderoSingho(supra)ohasoheldo thato theo possibilityo ofo convictiono beingo remoteo ando bleak,o whereaso continuationoofotheocriminalocaseoputtingotheoaccusedotoooppressionoando prejudiceo &o theo partieso beingo puto too generalo inconvenience,o aso alsoo prejudiceo couldo beo consideredo aso factorso byo theo Higho Court,o whileo examiningoaopleaoforoquashingoofocriminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofo settlement/compromise.oTootheosameoeffectoisotheodictaoofotheojudgmentoofo threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Parbatbhaio Aahiro caseo (supra).o o Further,o ao threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentoofoLaxmioNarayanocaseo(supra)o reiteratedo theo principleso laid-downo ino caseso ofo Giano Singho (supra),o NarinderoSingh(supra)oandoParbatbhaioAahiro(supra).oo o 11.1.o Itois,othus,ounequivocalothatotheoplenaryopowersovestedoinoaoHigho Court,o byo virtueo ofo itso veryo constitution,o areo too beo exercisedo witho circumspectiono ando ino ao mannero befittingo judicialo propriety.o o Theo invocationo ofo inherento jurisdictiono musto serveo theo endso ofo justice,o necessitatingoaoholisticoevaluationoofoallotheoattendantocircumstances.ooTheo criminalojusticeosystemoisonotomerelyoaoforumofororesolvingointerpersonalo disputes;oitoembodiesotheosovereignoobligationoofotheoStateotoosafeguardotheo fundamentalorightsoofoitsocitizens,oincludingotheoprotectionoofolife,oliberty,o ando property.o Ino adjudicatingo petitionso seekingo quashingo ofo criminalo proceedingsoonotheobasisoofoaopurportedocompromiseobetweenotheoparties,o theocourtomustotranscendotheoimmediateoassertionsoofoharmony.ooWhileotheo absenceo ofo currento grievanceso betweeno partieso mayo beo ao materialo consideration,oitocannotobeotheodeterminativeocriterion.ooTheocourtoisoduty-boundo too scrutinizeo theo gravityo ofo theo allegations,o theo natureo ofo theo offences,oandotheiroramificationsoonotheopublicoorderoandosocietalowelfare.o Thisojudicialoresponsibilityoisoaccentuatedoinocasesoinvolvingoheinousooro egregiousooffences,owhereotheobroaderosocietalointerestooutweighsoprivateo settlements.oCompromisingosuchocasesoonotheogroundoofomutualoaccordo risksounderminingotheopublicoconfidenceoinotheojusticeodeliveryosystemoando MAHAVIR SINGH jeopardizingotheolargerointerestoofolawoenforcement.oo o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 7oCRM 24420 2023 o o o 11.2.o Theoaureateoenunciationoofolaw,obyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino aboveo judgments,o essentiallyo pointso outo thato theo primeo factorso foro considerationo ofo quashingo ofo FIR/criminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo compromise/settlementoisothatotheodispute/offenceoisoessentiallyoprivateoino nature;o continuationo ofo criminalo proceedingo wouldo beo ano exerciseo ino futilityo aso itso fate-accomplio iso known;o pendencyo ofo sucho proceedingso wouldo beo ano undesirableo burdeno ono theo police/prosecutiono aso alsoo theo Courts,owhichoareoalreadyostrugglingohardotoomanageotheoeveroincreasingo andounmanageableodocketoand/orosuchoquashingowouldoensureotheoendsoofo justice.oo o 12.o Theo basico ando essentialo edificeo ofo ao pleao seekingo quashingo ofo FIR/criminaloproceedings,oonotheobasisoofocompromise,oisotheoconsentoofo theo victim.o Ino othero words,o theo consento ono theo parto ofo theo victimo foro compromise/settlementoofoFIR/criminaloproceedingsoisosine-qua-nonoforo suchopetitionotoosucceed.oo o 12.1.o Foroanoextendedoperiodoofotime,ocriminalojurisprudenceowas,obyo andolarge,oacquisitive,oplacingotheocrimeoandocriminaloactoatoitsoepicenter.o Theojuristsohaveopreoccupiedothemselvesowithotheorightsoandosafeguardso concerningotheoaccused,oconcomitantly,otheovictim,oi.e.otheodeofactooando realo sufferero whoseo veryo miseryo puto theo criminalo lawo intoo motion,o remainedo ao forgotteno figure.o Consciouso ofo thiso criticalo lacunaeo ino theo criminalo justiceo administrationo system,o J.o Krishnao Iyer,o renderedo theo followingoseminaloobservation:o o "Itoisoaoweaknessoofoourojurisprudenceothatotheovictimsoofocrime,o andotheodistressoofotheodependentsoofotheoprisoner,odoonotoattractotheo attentionoofotheolaw.oIndeed,ovictimoreparationoisostillotheovanishingo pointoofoourocriminalolaw.oThisoisoaodeficiency,owhichomustobeo rectifiedobyotheolegislature."o o o o o -(J.oKrishnaoIyer;oo o Video(parao9)oRattanoSinghoVs.oStateoofoPunjab,o(1980)oAIRooSupremeo Courto84)o o o Untilo recently,o ao victimo waso renderedo almosto entirelyo passive,o relegatedotootheoperipheryoofojudicialoprocessoandocompelledotooremainoano outsider,o muteo spectator,o witho virtuallyo noo substantiveo roleo ino theo prosecutionofocriminalotrial.oWithotheodevelopmentoofo'victimology'oasoao distincto ando vitalo domaino ofo jurisprudence,o ao transformativeo shifto haso occurred.o Unfoldingo witho theo coinageo ofo theo termo 'victimology'o byo Benjamino Mendelsohno ino 1947,o thiso evolutiono reflectso ao belatedo acknowledgmentoofo aovictim'soinherentorightotooparticipateoandohaveoao MAHAVIR SINGH meaningfulovoiceoinotheoprosecutionoofoaocriminalotrial.oInorecognitionoofo o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 8oCRM 24420 2023 o o thisoevolvingojurisprudence,oseminaloamendmentsowereointroducedotootheo Cr.P.C.,o 1973,o video Cr.P.C.o (Amendment)o Act,o 2008,o resultingo intoo insertiono ofo Sectiono 2(wa)o whicho defineso ao victim'o ando variouso othero provisionso (sucho aso Sectiono 24(8)o ando provisoo too Sectiono 372,o etc.),o thereby,ogivingostatutoryorecognitionotootheorightsoevolvedoinofavouroofoao victim.oo o o Pertinently,oaovictimocanonoolongerobeorelegatedotootheoperipheryooro renderedoaoforgottenoentityoonceotheomachineryoofocriminalolawohasobeeno setointoomotion.oTheoterminusoofocriminalojusticeosystemomustotranscendo beyondo theo mereo safeguardingo ofo rightso ofo ano accusedo ando musto encompassotheopreservationoandoeffectiveovindicationoofotheorightsoofoao victim.o Theo lawo musto adopto ano equipoiseo approach,o harmoniouslyo balancingotheocompetingointerestsoofotheoaccusedoandotheovictim.oItoisoao boundenodutyoofotheocourtsoofolawotooensureothatojusticeoembracesotheo injuredoandoafflicted.ooJurisprudentially,otheoguaranteeounderoArticleo21o embracesobothotheolifeoandolibertyoofotheoaccusedoasowelloasointerestoofotheo victim,ohisonearoandodearoonesoasowelloasoofotheocommunityoatolargeoando thereforeocannotobeoalienatedofromoeachootherowitholevity.oAsoanoage-oldo adage,owhichohasometowithoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oreadso thus:o o o "Weocannotoremainoobliviousotootheosubstantialosufferingoofo theovictims.oItostandsoasoaofactothatocriminalojusticeoreformoandocivilo rightsomovementoinoIndiaohasohistoricallyoonlyopaidoconsiderableo attentionotootheorightsoofotheoaccusedoandoneglectedotooaddressotoo theosameoextentotheoimpactoofocrimeoonotheovictims.oItoisonotoonlyo theovictimsoofocrimeoonlyothatorequireosoothingobalm,obutoalsootheo incidentalo victimso likeo theo family,o theo co-suffererso ando too ao relativelyo largero extento theo societyo too.o Theo judiciaryo haso ao paramountodutyotoosafeguardotheorightsoofotheovictimsoasodiligentlyo asothoseoofotheoperpetrators."o o o o Withoimpunity,oaofurtheroreferenceoinothisoregardocanobeo madeotooanoobservationomadeobyoJ.oF.M.oIbrahimoKalifulla,oinoaoFiveojudgeo BenchodictaoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,owhichoreadsoasounder:o o o "….Whileo consideringo theo problemo ofo penologyo weo shouldo noto overlookotheoplightoofovictimologyoandotheosufferingsoofotheopeopleowhoo die,osufferooroareomaimedoatotheohandsoofocriminals."o o o o o -(J.oF.M.oIbrahimoKalifulla;oo o Video(parao72)oUnionoofoIndiaoVs.V.oSriharano@oMurugano&Ors.,o(2016)o 7oSCCo1)o o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 9oCRM 24420 2023 o o o 13.o Conceptually;oFIR-complainant/informantoisodifferentofromovictim,o though,oinoaogivenocase,otheyomayobeosameoperson.oInoaocaseopertainingotoo anooffence,oasoaoresultowhereofoaodeathohasooccurred,oitoisotheodeceasedo whooisotheorealovictim.oInosuchoaocase,otheosurvivingofamilyomembersoofo theo deceasedo includingo theo spouse/parents/children/guardian/care-givero etc.o nayo theo FIR-complainant/informanto cannoto adorno theo mantleo ofo primaryovictimoforopurposeoofosettlement/compromise.oTheojurisprudentialo foundationo foro quashingo criminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo ao compromise,orestsouponotheoabsenceoofogrievanceobyotheovictim,oagainsto theoaccused.ooInooffenceounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC/Sectiono106oofo BNSoinvolvingodeathodueotoorashoandonegligentoact/odriving,otheoprimaryo victimo iso theo deceased,o whoseo demiseo iso directlyo attributableo too theo accused'soallegedorashoandonegligentoact/odriving.oTheodeceased,obeingotheo primaryo aggrievedo partyo (i.e.o theo realo victim),o iso noo longero capableo ofo expressingo consento oro grievance,o renderingo anyo compromiseo witho theo informantoorocomplainantoincongruousowithothisofoundationaloprinciple.oAo settlementobetweenotheoaccusedoandotheocomplainant,owhoomerelyoinitiatedo theocriminaloprocess,ofailsotoosatisfyotheounderlyingorationaleoforosuchoao quashingotoosucceed.oItodisregardsotheoirreversibleoharmoinflictedouponotheo deceasedoandotheobroaderosocietalointerestoimplicatedoinocrime(s)oofothiso gravity.oThus,opermittingoquashingoinosuchoinstancesounderminesotheoruleo ofolawoandotrivializesotheoseriousonatureoofotheooffence,owarrantingojudicialo circumspectionoandorestraint.oo o 13.2.o Ao pertinento issueo whicho craveso attentiono ofo thiso Courto iso theo probableo erosiono ofo judicialo integrityo wheno criminalo proceedings,o particularlyoinvolvingograveoandoseriousooffenceso(suchoasoSectiono304-Ao IPC/Sectiono 106o BNS),o areo quashedo solelyo ono theo basiso ofo ao compromise/settlemento ,havingo beeno arrivedo ato betweeno rivalo parties.oThisopracticeoofoenteringointoocompromise,omoreooftenothanonot,o involvesopecuniaryoconsideration;oproferredoasoreparationoorocompensationo tootheovictim'sofamily;ocreatesodeeplyodeleteriousoimpactoonotheosocietalo psycheothatotheocriminalojusticeosystemoisoavailableoforocommodification.o Sucho ao scenarioo suggestso thato penalo absolutiono iso ao purchasableo commodity,o thereby,o implyingo thato seriouso publico wrongs,o ino whicho societyo aso ao wholeo haso stakes,o cano beo puto too naughto o byo theo accusedo person'sofinancialocapacity.oSuchoanooutcomeoisoantitheticalotootheoRuleoofo Law,owhichodemandsothatotheoseverityoofoaocrimeoandopenaloconsequenceso musto remaino insulatedo fromo theo privateo financialo arrangementso ofo theo parties,o thereby,o maintainingo publico confidenceo ino theo impartialityo ando MAHAVIR SINGH deterrento efficacyo ofo theo justiceo deliveryo system.o Theo law,o beingo ao o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 10oCRM 24420 2023 10 o o guarantoroofoequityoandofairness,ocannotoaffordotoobeosubjugatedotootheo influenceo ofo wealth,o lesto ito compromiseo itso sacrosancto essenceo ando institutionalointegrity.oTheoinherentopowersoofothisoCourt,ooughtonotobeo employedoforoprivatizationoofocriminaloliability.oAnooldoageoadageoreadso thus:o o o "Whyoinohistoryohasoeveryoneoalwaysofocusedoonotheoguyo withotheobigostick,otheohero,otheoactivist,otootheoneglectoofotheopooro slobowhooisoatotheoendoofotheostick,otheovictim,otheopassivisto–ooro maybe,o theo pooro slobo (ino bondages)o isn'to allo thato mucho ofo ao passivistovictimo–omaybeoheoaskedoforoit?"o o 14.o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoDaxabeno(supra)ohaso heldothatoanoFIR/criminaloproceedingsoquaoanooffenceounderoSectiono306o ofotheoIPCocannotobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlementosinceo suchoanooffenceofallsoinotheocategoryoofoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoando iso too beo treatedo aso crimeo againsto theo Societyo ando noto againsto ano individual(s).oTootheosameoeffectoisotheodictaoofotheoDivisionoBenchoofothiso CourtoinoBaldevoSingh'socaseo(supra)owherein;odealingowithoaoFIRoundero Sectiono 304-Ao ofo theo IPC;o thiso Courto haso heldo thato thereo cano beo noo quashingoofoanooffenceoregisteredounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPCoando subsequento proceedingso emanatingo therefrom,o solelyo ono theo basiso ofo ao compromiseo arrivedo ato betweeno theo legalo heirs/representativeso ofo theo victimo (deceased)o ando theo accused.Thiso Courto musto soundo ao wordo ofo cautionoherein,oviz.,oaopleaoforoquashingoanoFIRounderoSectiono304-Aoofo theo IPC/o Sectiono 106o ofo theo BNS,o filedo solelyo ono theo basiso ofo meritso thereofo iso veryo mucho maintainableo ando oughto too beo consideredo ando ratiocinatedouponomeritsothereof.oo o 15.o Asoaoresultoofoabove-saidorumination,oitoisoclearonayocrystaloclearo thatoanoFIRo(asoalsooproceedingsoemanatingotherefrom)ounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC/Sectiono106oofotheoBNSocannotobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofoao compromise/settlementoarrivedoatobetweenotheoaccusedoonooneohandoando FIR-complainant/informant/survivingo familyo ofo theo victimo (includingo spouse/parents/children/guardian/care-giveroetc.)oonotheootherohand.ooEveno ifocredenceoisosoughtotoobeolendotoosuchoaocompromise/settlement,obyowayo oforaisingoplea(s)oonomerits,oincludingotheopleaothatotheooffenceoofoSectiono 304-Ao ofo theo IPCo /Sectiono 106o ofo theo BNSo iso noto madeo outo ino theo facts/circumstanceso ofo ao giveno case,o stillo sucho petitiono oughto too beo rejected.o"oo

8.o o LearnedoCounseloforotheopetitionerohasolaidogreatoemphasisoono MAHAVIR SINGH 2026.02.19 11:48 theoaspectothatotheofactsoofotheoSatnamoSingho(supra)oareodistinguishableo o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 11oCRM 24420 2023 11 o o fromo theo factso ofo theo instanto caseo byo arguingo thato ao factoryo mishapo iso qualitativelyodistinctofromoaoroadosideoaccident.oThisoCourtofindsotheosaido carvedodistinctionowithoutoaolegalodifference.oItoisotoobeoborneoinomindothato whileotheofactualoconspectusomayovary,otheoratioodecidendioremainsoidenticalo aso theo coreo issueo iso noto theo geographyo ofo theo incidento buto theo legalo impossibilityoofoaocompromiseowhereotheoprimaryovictimoisonoolongeropresento too offero his/hero consent.o Theo essentialo edificeo ofo quashingo criminalo proceedingsoonotheobasisoofoaocompromise,orestsouponotheoabsenceoofoanyo subsistingogrievanceobyotheovictimoagainstotheoaccused.oHowever,oinocasesoofo homicidalonegligence,otheodeceasedoremainsotheoprimaryoaggrievedoparty.o Anyo settlemento enteredo intoo byo theo o relativeso is,o ato best,o ao secondaryo resolutionothatocannotosupersedeotheointerestoofotheostate,oactingoasoparenso patriae,oinoprosecutingoanoactothatohasoextinguishedoaohumanolife.oo

8.1.o o Pertinently,owhileoSectiono2(x)oofotheoBNSS,o2023oemploysoao statutoryofictionotooincludeo'guardians'oando'legaloheirs'owithinotheodefinitiono ofoao'victim',othisoinclusionoisointendedoforotheopurposeoofocompensationoando proceduralostanding,oratherothanotooaffordothemotheomoraloorolegaloauthorityo toocondoneoaodeathoonobehalfoofotheodeparted.oTooallowosuchoaocompromiseo tooterminateocriminaloproceedingsowouldobeotootreatoao'lostolife'oasoaopurelyo privateocommodityoandonegatingotheodeterrentoeffectoofolawoandopublicosafetyo elementoinherentoinosuchotragedies.o Theopowero tooquashoanoFIR/criminalo proceedingsounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C./528oBNSSoisoanoequitableoremedyo thato musto noto beo usedo too bypasso theo gravityo ofo ano irreversibleo harm.o Pertinently,ocrimesoinvolvingodeathotranscendotheoboundariesoofoaoprivateo injuryoandoratherofalloinotheocategoryoofocrimeoagainstosocietyoatolarge.o o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 12oCRM 24420 2023 12 o o o o Ergo,odespiteotheofactualomatrixoofoinstantocaseoinvolvingoaomis-happeningo atoao factoryo premises,obeingo distincto fromo vehicularo roadosideo accidentoinoSatnamoSingho(supra),otheounderlyingolegaloprincipleoremainso akin:otheosilenceoofotheograveocannotobeosubstitutedobyotheosignaturesoofotheo heirsoonoaocompromise/settlementodeed,oandotheopetitionoforoquashingomusto failoonotheoaltaroofothisofoundationalolegalotruth.o

9.o o Indubitably,ofromotheomaterialoplacedoonorecord,oitoemergesothato theoincidentoinoquestionooccurredoatoaoworkplaceoinvolvingoshutteringoando structuraloactivity,owhereotwoolabourersohaveolostotheirolivesoafteroallegedlyo fallingofromoaobeam.oTheogravamenoofotheoallegationsoinotheoimpugnedoFIRo andotheofinaloreportounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oisothatoproperosafetyomeasureso wereo noto ensuredo ato theo siteo whicho resultedo ino theo fatalo accident.o Theo determinationoofotheoroleoofotheopetitioners,otheonatureoofotheirodutiesoando whethero thereo waso anyo omissiono amountingo too criminalo negligenceo areo mattersowhichorequireoappreciationoofoevidenceoduringotrial.oTheoprimaryo groundourgedoseekingoquashingoofotheoimpugnedoFIRoasowelloasocharge-sheeto alongwitho theo consequentialo proceedings,o iso ono theo basiso compromiseo betweeno theo petitionerso ando respondento No.o 2.o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionersohasoarguedothatoonceotheoentireo matterohasobeenosettled,othereo wouldobeonoofruitfulopurposeowouldobeoservedobyoallowingotheoproceedingso toocontinue.oItoisosettledolawothatotheoinherentopowersoofothisoCourtoundero Sectiono482oCr.P.C.oareotoobeoexercisedosparinglyoandowithocaution.oTheo offenceounderoSectiono304-AoofoIPCoisonotomerelyobetweenotheoaccusedoando theocomplainantobutohaveoaodirectonexusowithopublicosafety.oTheoacceptanceo ofoaocompromiseoinosuchomattersowouldobeocontraryotootheolargeropublico I attest to the accuracy andinterest.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoStateoofoMadhyaoPradeshov.oLaxmio o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 13oCRM 24420 2023 13 o o Narayano (supra)o haso heldo thato offenceso whicho haveo seriouso impacto ono Societyocannotobeoquashedomerelyoonotheobasisoofocompromiseobetweenotheo parties.oTheosaidojudgment,oratherothanosupportingotheocaseoofotheopetitioners,o reinforcesotheoprincipleothatotheoCourtomustoconsiderotheonatureoandogravityo ofotheooffenceoandoitsosocietaloimpact.ooo

10.o o Theo contentiono thato certaino accusedo haveo beeno placedo ino ColumnoNo.IIodoesonotoipsoofactooentitleotheopetitionersotoosimilaroreliefoino proceedingsounderoSectiono482oCr.P.C.oTheopleaothatotheopetitionersowereo contractualo employeeso ando hado noo roleo ino theo allegedo negligenceo iso essentiallyoaodefenceowhichocanobeoexaminedoonlyoonotheobasisoofoevidenceo beforeo theo trialo Court.o Furthermore,o theo paymento ofo compensationo oro financialoassistanceotootheofamiliesoofotheodeceasedocannotobeotreatedoasoao groundoforoquashingocriminaloproceedingsoarisingooutoofoanooffenceoundero Sectiono304-AoIPC.oIndubitably,otheoimpugnedoFIRopertainsotootheodeathoofo OmosonoofoMohanoSinghoandoRampal,owho,oof-course,ocannotopossiblyobeoao partyo too theo compromise.o Thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredo viewo thato theo compromiseobetweenotheopetitionersoandorespondentoNo.o2odoesonotoeffaceo theoallegationsorelatingotoocriminalonegligenceoresultingoinodeath,onorodoesoito renderotheocontinuationoofotheoprosecutionoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolaw.oo

11.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o o Theopetitionoinohand;oseekingoquashingoofoFIRoNo.o0392oofo2021o datedo07.10.2021oregisteredounderoSectionso304-AoofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o 1860,o ato Policeo Stationo Ferozepuro Jhirka,o aso alsoo theo chargesheeto datedo

24.10.2021o (Annexureo P-2)o alongwitho theo consequentialo proceedingso emanatingotherefromoonotheobasisoofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo09.05.2023;o o o CRM-M-24420-2023o o o o o o 14oCRM 24420 2023 14 o o

(ii)o o Anyo observationso madeo and/oro submissionso notedo hereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheoconcernedoCourto shalloproceedofurther,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,owithoutobeingoinfluencedowitho theosame.o

(iii)o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Februaryoo19,o2026o Ajay/mahaviroo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo