Satnam Singh v. State of Punjab and Another

o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o CRM-M-59021-2025o o o o o o SatnamoSinghoo ….Petitionero versuso o StateoofoPunjaboandoanotheroo ….Respondentso o Reservedoon:oo o o Novembero07,o2025o Dateoofodecision/pronouncement:oo Novembero20,o2025o DateoofoUploading:oo o o Novembero20,o2025o o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Mr.oKamaldipoSinghoSidhu,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oAmitoKumaroGoyal,oAdditionaloAGoPunjab.oo o o o Ms.oKirandeepoKaur,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.o o *****o o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o o o Theo presento petitiono haso beeno preferredo byo theo accusedo undero Sectiono528oofotheoBharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023oseekingoquashingo ofotheoFIRoNo.48odatedo09.06.2022o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoasotheo'impugnedo FIR'),oregisteredounderoSectionso304-Ao&o279oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode,o1860,oato Policeo Stationo Ajitwal,o Districto Moga,o aso alsoo theo proceedingso subsequento thereto,oincludingotheojudgmentoofoconvictionodatedo04.04.2024o(AnnexureoP-2)o passedoinocaseoNo.CHI/282/2022otitledoaso"StateoversusoSatnamoSingh"obyotheo learnedoJudicialoMagistrateoIstoClass,oMogao(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'JMIC'),o onotheobasisoofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo07.04.2024o(copyowhereofoisoappendedo asoAnnexureoP-4owithotheopresentopetition).oo

o o 2o o

2.o o TheogravamenoofotheoimpugnedoFIRoisothatocomplainant,onamely,o HarbhajanoSingh,osonoofoGurmailoSingh,ostatedothatoono08.06.2022oatoabouto6:00o p.m.,ohisoson,onamely,oGurjitoSingh,oalongowithoAshpreetoSingho(sonoofoSwarano Singh,oresidentoofovillageoChuharoChak),owasotravellingoonoaomotorcycleobearingo registrationo No.PB29-AC-6834o (Platina)o fromo villageo Buttaro towardso Takhanvadh.o Theo complainanto waso followingo themo ono hiso owno motorcycleo bearingoregistrationoNo.PB29N-1761o(Platina).oWhenotheomotorcycleoofohisosono andoAshpreetoSinghoreachedonearotheohouseoofoJagdeepoSingh,osonoofoNaharo Singh,o residento ofo villageo Takhanvadh,o ao JCBo machineo bearingo registrationo No.PB29X-4981oapproachedofromotheodirectionoofoTakhanvadhoatohighospeed,o beingodrivenorashlyoandonegligentlyobyoSatnamoSingh,opetitioneroherein,o(whoseo identityo theo complainanto learnto aftero theo incident),o sono ofo Balwindero Singh,o residentoofoTakhanvadh.oTheoJCBostruckotheomotorcycle,ocausingoseriousoinjurieso tooGurjitoSinghoandoAshpreetoSingh.oGurjitoSinghosustainedoaoheadoinjury.oPeopleo gatheredoatotheospot,oandotheocomplainantoarrangedoaovehicleotootakeohisoinjuredo sonotooCiviloHospital,oMoga.oHowever,oGurjitoSinghosuccumbedotoohisoinjurieso onotheoway.oAshpreetoSinghowasoadmittedotooCiviloHospital,ovillageoDhudike.o Basedoonotheseosetoofoallegations,otheoimpugnedoFIRowasoregistered.oo

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedothatotheopetitionerohaso beenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoimpugnedoFIR.oLearnedocounselohasofurthero submittedothatoaocompromiseohasobeenoenteredointoobetweenotheopetitioneroando theoFIR-complainanto(fatheroofotheodeceased)oono07.04.2024,orelevantowhereofo readsoasounder:oo "I,oHarbhajanoSingh,oAadharoNo.858259264437osonoofoGurmailo SinghosonoofoSampuranoSinghoresidentoofoDhudikeo(FirstoParty)o BalwinderoSingh,oAadharoNo._osonoofoGurcharanoSinghosonoofoIndero SinghoresidentoofoTakhanwad,oDistrictoMoga.oAbouto2oyearsoago,oHarbhajano Singh'sosonoGurjitoSinghohadoanoaccidentowithoBalwinderoSingh'soHydrao

o o 3o o Crane,owhichowasodrivenobyoBalwinderoSingh'sosonoSatnamoSingh.oGurjito Singhohasobeenodied.oHarbhajanoSinghohasofiledocasesoagainstoBalwindero Singho&oSatnamoSingh,oinooneoofowhichoSatnamoSinghohasobeenoconvictedo andoagainstoBalwinderoSingh,oaoclaimocaseoisopendingoinotheoHighoCourt.o Todayodatedo07.04.2024,obothotheopartiesohaveobeenoaffectedocompromiseoino theopresenceooforespectableopersonsonamelyoJasdipoSingho@oGarry,oJagtaro SinghoDhaliwaloandoChamkauroSinghoKamrade.oSecondopartyoBalwindero SinghowillobeopayoanoamountoofoRs.13,00,000/-otoothoseothreeorespectableo personsouptoodatedo14.04.2024oandoHarbhajanoSinghowillobeoboundotoogiveo theostatementotooaolawyersoinotheoHon'bleoCourtsowhereveroitoisorequiredotoo dooso.oBalwinderoSinghowillobearotheoexpenseoofotheolawyersoinotheocase.o Compromiseohasowritten,owhichocanouseful.oDatedo07.04.2024."o o o o Learnedocounselohas,othus,oiteratedothatotheoimpugnedoFIRowhicho waso registeredo ono accounto ofo ao misunderstandingo haso sinceo beeno resolvedo betweenotheopartiesoandoinoorderotookeepopeaceoasoalsooharmony,otheopartiesodoo notowishotoocontinueotheoproceedings,oincludingotheoimpugnedoFIR,oagainstoeacho other.oLearnedocounselohasofurtherourgedothatonoousefulopurposeowouldolikelyobeo servedobyoallowingotheocriminaloprosecutionotoocontinueoagainstotheopetitioner.o Thus,oitohasobeenoiteratedothatotheopetitionoinohandobeoallowed.oo

4.o o LearnedoStateocounselohasosubmittedothatotheocharge-sheeto(challan)o wasorightlyoputoupoagainstotheopetitioneroandoheohasosinceobeenoconvictedobyotheo learnedoJMICovideojudgmentodatedo04.04.2024,owhichoisobasedoonoevidenceo broughtoforthoandothus,otheopetitionoinohandodeservesotoobeodismissed.oLearnedo Stateocounsel:ohasosubmittedothatoinoaocaseopertainingotooanooffenceounderoSectiono 304-AoofotheoIPC,otheodeceasedoindividualoisotheorealovictimoandohenceoanyo compromiseoorosettlementoreachedowithotheofamilyomembersoorolegaloheirsoofotheo deceasedo victim,o cannoto operateo too absolveo theo offender,o noro shouldo ito beo construedoasoaomitigatingofactor,osufficient,otoowarrantotheoquashingoofosuchoano FIR,oonotheobasisoofocompromise.oLearnedoStateocounselohasoplacedorelianceoupono theodictaopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoDaxabenoVs.oStateoofoGujarato &oOthers,o(2022)oAIRoSupremeoCourto3530,oandoconcededothatowhileotheosaido

o o 4o o dictaopertainsotooanooffenceounderoSectiono306oofotheoIPC,ohowever,obyowayoofo corollary,otheounderlyingoprincipleoasolaidodownoinoDaxabeno(supra)owillobeo extendedoandoappliedoanalogouslyotooanooffenceounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC,o also.oFurthermore,orelyingouponotheodicta,opassedobyoaoDivisionobenchoofothiso Hon'bleoCourtopassedoinoCRM-M-40769-2024,otitledoasoBaldevoSinghoVs.oStateo ofoPunjaboandoanother,odecidedoono02.06.2016,oitohasobeenosubmittedobyotheo learnedoStateocounselothatogivenotheogravityoandofataloconsequencesoinherentoino anooffenceounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC,otheosameocannotobeoclassifiedoasooneo thatoisomerelyoprivateoinonature.oConcludingohisosubmissions,otheolearnedoStateo counselo haso submittedo thato quashingo ano FIRo pertainingo too anooffenceoundero Sectiono 304-Ao ofo theo IPC,o ono theo basisoofo compromise/settlemento iso noto ino consonanceowithotheosettledojurisprudenceogoverningotheodomainoofoquashingo criminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlement.o

5.o o LearnedocounselofororespondentoNo.2/ocomplainantohasoratifiedotheo compromiseohavingobeenoeffectedobetweenotheopartiesoandosubmitothatorespondento No.2/ocomplainantohasonooobjection,oinocase,otheoimpugnedoFIRoincludingotheo judgmentoofoconvictionodatedo04.04.2024opassedobyolearnedoJMIC,oareoquashed.o

6.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaveoperusedotheo record.oo PrimeoIssueoo o

7.o o Theoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheopresentopetitionoisoaso toowhetherotheoimpugnedoFIRoregisteredounderoSectionso304-Ao&o279oofotheoIPCo andoproceedingsoarisingotherefrom,oincludingotheojudgmentoofoconvictionodatedo

04.04.2024opassedobyolearnedoJMIC,odeserveotoobeoquashed.oo

o o 5o o o o Theoseminalolegaloissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoisoasotoowhethero ano FIRo (aso alsoo proceedingso emanatingo therefrom)o undero Sectiono 304-Ao ofo IPC/Sectiono106oofotheoBharatiyaoNyayaoSanhita,o2023ocanobeoquashedoonotheo basisoofocompromise/settlement.oo

8.o o RelevantoStatutoryoProvisionsoo o o TheoIndianoPenaloCode,o1860o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso'IPC')o o o Sectiono304-AoofotheoIPCoreadsoasounder:o "304A.oCausingodeathobyonegligence.--Whoeverocausesotheodeathoofoanyo persono byo doingo anyo rasho oro negligento acto noto amountingo too culpableo homicide,oshallobeopunishedowithoimprisonmentoofoeitherodescriptionoforoao termowhichomayoextendotootwooyears,oorowithofine,oorowithoboth."o o o o TheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredo aso'theoCr.oP.C.')oo o o Sectiono482oofoCr.oP.C.,oreadsoasounder:o o "482.oSavingoofoinherentopoweroofoHighoCourto–oNothingoinothiso CodeoshallobeodeemedotoolimitooroaffectotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourto toomakeosuchoordersoasomayobeonecessaryotoogiveoeffectotooanyoorderoundero thisoCode,oorotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtoorootherwiseotoo secureotheoendsoofojustice."oo o o o TheoBharatiyaoNyayaoSanhita,o2023o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso BNS,o2023)o o o Sectiono106oofoBNS,o2023oreadsoasounder:o "106.oCausingodeathobyonegligence.—(1)oWhoeverocausesodeathoofo anyopersonobyodoingoanyorashooronegligentoactonotoamountingotooculpableo homicide,oshallobeopunishedowithoimprisonmentoofoeitherodescriptionoforoao termowhichomayoextendotoofiveoyears,oandoshalloalsoobeoliableotoofine;oandoifo suchoactoisodoneobyoaoregisteredomedicalopractitionerowhileoperformingo medicalo procedure,o heo shallo beo punishedo witho imprisonmento ofo eithero descriptionoforoaotermowhichomayoextendotootwooyears,oandoshalloalsoobeo liableotoofine."o o o o TheoBharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(hereinafterotoo beoreferredoasoBNSS,o2023)o o o SectionoofotheoBNSS,o2023oreadsoasounder:o o

o o 6o o "528.oSavingoofoinherentopowersoofoHighoCourto–oNothingoinothiso SanhitaoshallobeodeemedotoolimitooroaffectotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHigho Courtotoomakeosuchoordersoasomayobeonecessaryotoogiveoeffectotooanyoordero underothisoSanhita,oorotoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtooro otherwiseotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice."o o RelevantoCaseoLawoo o

9.oo o Theoprecedents,oaproposotootheomatter(s)oinoissue,oareoasofollows:o I.o Re:oPowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofoCr.oP.C.,ovis-a-vis.,o quashingoofotheoFIR/criminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofocompromiseo o

(i)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Giano Singho vs.o Stateo ofo Punjabo ando another,o2012o(10)oSCCo303oaothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto hasoheldoasounder:oo "48.oTheoquestionoisowithoregardotootheoinherentopoweroofotheoHighoCourtoino quashingotheocriminaloproceedingsoagainstoanooffenderowhoohasosettledohiso disputeowithotheovictimoofotheocrimeobutotheocrimeoinowhichoheoisoallegedlyo involvedoisonotocompoundableounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o 57.oo Theopositionothatoemergesofromotheoaboveodiscussionocanobeo summarisedothus:otheopoweroofotheoHighoCourtoinoquashingoaocriminalo proceedingooroFIRoorocomplaintoinoexerciseoofoitsoinherentojurisdictionoiso distincto ando differento fromo theo powero giveno too ao criminalo courto foro compoundingotheooffencesounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.oInherentopowero isoofowideoplenitudeowithonoostatutoryolimitationobutoitohasotoobeoexercisedoino accordowithotheoguidelineoengraftedoinosuchopoweroviz;o(i)otoosecureotheoendso ofojusticeooro(ii)otoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourt.oInowhatocaseso powerotooquashotheocriminaloproceedingoorocomplaintooroF.I.Romayobeo exercisedowhereotheooffenderoandovictimohaveosettledotheirodisputeowouldo dependoonotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoeachocaseoandonoocategoryocanobeo prescribed.oHowever,obeforeoexerciseoofosuchopower,otheoHighoCourtomusto haveodueoregardotootheonatureoandogravityoofotheocrime.oHeinousoandoseriouso offencesoofomentalodepravityoorooffencesolikeomurder,orape,odacoity,oetc.o cannotobeofittinglyoquashedoevenothoughotheovictimoorovictim'sofamilyoando theooffenderohaveosettledotheodispute.oSuchooffencesoareonotoprivateoinonatureo andohaveoseriousoimpactoonosociety.oSimilarly,oanyocompromiseobetweenotheo victimo ando offendero ino relationo too theo offenceso undero specialo statuteso likeoPreventiono ofo Corruptiono Actooro theo offenceso committedo byo publico servantsowhileoworkingoinothatocapacityoetc;ocannotoprovideoforoanyobasiso foroquashingocriminaloproceedingsoinvolvingosuchooffences.oButotheocriminalo casesohavingooverwhelminglyoandopre-dominatinglyociviloflavourostandoono differentofootingoforotheopurposesoofoquashing,oparticularlyotheooffenceso

o o 7o o arisingofromocommercial,ofinancial,omercantile,ocivil,opartnershipoorosucho likeotransactionsoorotheooffencesoarisingooutoofomatrimonyorelatingotoodowry,o etc.oorotheofamilyodisputesowhereotheowrongoisobasicallyoprivateooropersonalo inonatureoandotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiroentireodispute.oInothisocategoryo ofocases,oHighoCourtomayoquashocriminaloproceedingsoifoinoitsoview,obecauseo ofo theo compromiseo betweeno theo offendero ando victim,o theo possibilityo ofo convictionoisoremoteoandobleakoandocontinuationoofocriminalocaseowouldoputo accusedotoogreatooppressionoandoprejudiceoandoextremeoinjusticeowouldobeo causedotoohimobyonotoquashingotheocriminalocaseodespiteofulloandocompleteo settlementoandocompromiseowithotheovictim.oInootherowords,otheoHighoCourto mustoconsiderowhetheroitowouldobeounfairoorocontraryotootheointerestoofo justiceotoocontinueowithotheocriminaloproceedingoorocontinuationoofotheo criminaloproceedingowouldotantamountotooabuseoofoprocessoofolawodespiteo settlementoandocompromiseobetweenotheovictimoandowrongdoeroandowhethero toosecureotheoendsoofojustice,oitoisoappropriateothatocriminalocaseoisoputotooano endoandoifotheoanswerotootheoaboveoquestion(s)oisoinoaffirmative,otheoHigho Courto shallo beo wello withino itso jurisdictiono too quasho theo criminalo proceeding."o o

(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoNarinderoSinghovs.oStateoofoPunjab,o2014(6)o SCCo466o,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:oo o "31.oInoviewoofotheoaforesaidodiscussion,oweosumoupoandolayodowno theofollowingoprinciplesobyowhichotheoHighoCourtowouldobeoguidedoinogivingo adequateotreatmentotootheosettlementobetweenotheopartiesoandoexercisingoitso powerounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeowhileoacceptingotheosettlementoando quashingotheoproceedingsoororefusingotooacceptotheosettlementowithodirectiono toocontinueowithotheocriminaloproceedings:o o (I)o Powero conferredo undero Sectiono 482o ofo theo Codeo iso too beo distinguishedofromotheopowerowhicholiesoinotheoCourtotoocompoundotheo offencesounderoSectiono320oofotheoCode.oNoodoubt,ounderoSectiono482oofotheo Code,otheoHighoCourtohasoinherentopowerotooquashotheocriminaloproceedingso evenoinothoseocasesowhichoareonotocompoundable,owhereotheopartiesohaveo settledo theo mattero betweeno themselves.o However,o thiso powero iso too beo exercisedosparinglyoandowithocaution.o o (II)Whenotheopartiesohaveoreachedotheosettlementoandoonothatobasiso petitionoforoquashingotheocriminaloproceedingsoisofiled,otheoguidingofactoroino suchocasesowouldobeotoosecure:o o (i)oendsoofojustice,ooro o (ii)otoopreventoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourt.oWhileoexercisingo theopowerotheoHighoCourtoisotooformoanoopinionoonoeitheroofotheoaforesaido twooobjectives.o o (III)oSuchoaopoweroisonotobeoexercisedoinothoseoprosecutionsowhicho involveoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoofomentalodepravityoorooffencesolikeo murder,orape,odacoity,oetc.oSuchooffencesoareonotoprivateoinonatureoandohaveo aoseriousoimpactoonosociety.oSimilarly,oforooffencesoallegedotoohaveobeeno committedounderospecialostatuteolikeotheoPreventionoofoCorruptionoActoorotheo offencesocommittedobyoPublicoServantsowhileoworkingoinothatocapacityoareo nototoobeoquashedomerelyoonotheobasisoofocompromiseobetweenotheovictimo andotheooffender.o o (IV)oOnotheoother,othoseocriminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyoando pre-dominantlyo civilo character,o particularlyo thoseo arisingo outo ofo commercialo transactionso oro arisingo outo ofo matrimonialo relationshipo oro familyodisputesoshouldobeoquashedowhenotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiro entireodisputesoamongothemselves.o

o o 8o o o (V)oWhileoexercisingoitsopowers,otheoHighoCourtoisotooexamineoasotoo whetherotheopossibilityoofoconvictionoisoremoteoandobleakoandocontinuationo ofocriminalocasesowouldoputotheoaccusedotoogreatooppressionoandoprejudiceo andoextremeoinjusticeowouldobeocausedotoohimobyonotoquashingotheocriminalo cases.o o (VI)oOffencesounderoSectiono307oIPCowouldofalloinotheocategoryoofo heinousoandoseriousooffencesoandothereforeoisotoobeogenerallyotreatedoaso crimeoagainstotheosocietyoandonotoagainstotheoindividualoalone.oHowever,otheo HighoCourtowouldonotorestoitsodecisionomerelyobecauseothereoisoaomentiono ofoSectiono307oIPCoinotheoFIRoorotheochargeoisoframedounderothisoprovision.o ItowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotooexamineoasotoowhetheroincorporationo ofoSectiono307oIPCoisothereoforotheosakeoofoitoorotheoprosecutionohasocollectedo sufficiento evidence,o whicho ifo proved,o wouldo leado too provingo theo chargeo underoSectiono307oIPC.oForothisopurpose,oitowouldobeoopenotootheoHigho Courtotoogoobyotheonatureoofoinjuryosustained,owhetherosuchoinjuryoisoinflictedo onotheovital/delegateopartsoofotheobody,onatureoofoweaponsousedoetc.oMedicalo reportoinorespectoofoinjuriesosufferedobyotheovictimocanogenerallyobeotheo guidingofactor.oOnotheobasisoofothisoprimaofacieoanalysis,otheoHighoCourtocano examineoasotoowhetherothereoisoaostrongopossibilityoofoconvictionoorotheo chancesoofoconvictionoareoremoteoandobleak.oInotheoformerocaseoitocanorefuseo tooacceptotheosettlementoandoquashotheocriminaloproceedingsowhereasoinotheo laterocaseoitowouldobeopermissibleoforotheoHighoCourtotooacceptotheopleao compoundingotheooffenceobasedoonocompleteosettlementobetweenotheoparties.o Atothisostage,otheoCourtocanoalsoobeoswayedobyotheofactothatotheosettlemento betweenotheopartiesoisogoingotooresultoinoharmonyobetweenothemowhichomayo improveotheirofutureorelationship.o o (VII)oWhileodecidingowhetherotooexerciseoitsopowerounderoSectiono 482oofotheoCodeooronot,otimingsoofosettlementoplayoaocrucialorole.oThoseocaseso whereotheosettlementoisoarrivedoatoimmediatelyoafterotheoallegedocommissiono ofooffenceoandotheomatteroisostillounderoinvestigation,otheoHighoCourtomayobeo liberalo ino acceptingo theo settlemento too quasho theo criminalo proceedings/investigation.oItoisobecauseoofotheoreasonothatoatothisostageotheo investigationo iso stillo ono ando eveno theo chargeo sheeto haso noto beeno filed.o Likewise,othoseocasesowhereotheochargeoisoframedobutotheoevidenceoisoyetotoo startoorotheoevidenceoisostilloatoinfancyostage,otheoHighoCourtocanoshowo benevolenceo ino exercisingo itso powerso favourably,o buto aftero primao facieo assessmentoofotheocircumstances/materialomentionedoabove.oOnotheoothero hand,o whereo theo prosecutiono evidenceo iso almosto completeo oro aftero theo conclusionoofotheoevidenceotheomatteroisoatotheostageoofoargument,onormallyo theoHighoCourtoshouldorefrainofromoexercisingoitsopowerounderoSectiono482o ofotheoCode,oasoinosuchocasesotheotrialocourtowouldobeoinoaopositionotoodecideo theocaseofinallyoonomeritsoandotoocomeoaoconclusionoasotoowhetherotheooffenceo underoSectiono307oIPCoisocommittedooronot.oSimilarly,oinothoseocasesowhereo theoconvictionoisoalreadyorecordedobyotheotrialocourtoandotheomatteroisoatotheo appellateo stageo beforeo theo Higho Court,o mereo compromiseo betweeno theo partiesowouldonotobeoaogroundotooacceptotheosameoresultingoinoacquittaloofo theooffenderowhoohasoalreadyobeenoconvictedobyotheotrialocourt.oHereochargeo isoprovedounderoSectiono307oIPCoandoconvictionoisoalreadyorecordedoofoao heinousocrimeoand,otherefore,othereoisonooquestionoofosparingoaoconvictofoundo guiltyoofosuchoaocrime."o o

(iii)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Parbatbhaio Aahiro @o Parbatbhaio Bhimsinhbhaio Karmuro ando Ors.o Vs.o Stateo ofo Gujarato ando anr.o AIRo 2017o

o o 9o o SUPREMEoCOURTo4843,oaothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto hasoheldoasounder:oo o "15oTheobroadoprinciplesowhichoemergeofromotheoprecedentsoonotheo subject,omayobeosummarisedoinotheofollowingopropositionso:o o (i)oSectiono482opreservesotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourtotoo preventoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyocourtoorotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.o Theoprovisionodoesonotoconferonewopowers.oItoonlyorecognisesoandopreserveso powersowhichoinhereoinotheoHighoCourt;o o (ii)oTheoinvocationoofotheojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtotooquashoao FirstoInformationoReportooroaocriminaloproceedingoonotheogroundothatoao settlementohasobeenoarrivedoatobetweenotheooffenderoandotheovictimoisonototheo sameoasotheoinvocationoofojurisdictionoforotheopurposeoofocompoundingoano offence.oWhileocompoundingoanooffence,otheopoweroofotheocourtoisogovernedo byotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono320oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973.o TheopowerotooquashounderoSectiono482oisoattractedoevenoifotheooffenceoisonon-compoundable.o o (iii)o Ino formingo ano opiniono whethero ao criminalo proceedingo oro complaintoshouldobeoquashedoinoexerciseoofoitsojurisdictionounderoSectiono 482,otheoHighoCourtomustoevaluateowhetherotheoendsoofojusticeowouldojustifyo theoexerciseoofotheoinherentopower;o o (iv)oWhileotheoinherentopoweroofotheoHighoCourtohasoaowideoambito andoplenitudeoitohasotoobeoexercised;o(i)otoosecureotheoendsoofojusticeooro(ii)o toopreventoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyocourt;o o (v)oTheodecisionoasotoowhetheroaocomplaintooroFirstoInformationo Reportoshouldobeoquashedoonotheogroundothatotheooffenderoandovictimohaveo settledotheodispute,orevolvesoultimatelyoonotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo eachocaseoandonooexhaustiveoelaborationoofoprinciplesocanobeoformulated;o o (vi)oInotheoexerciseoofotheopowerounderoSectiono482oandowhileodealingo withoaopleaothatotheodisputeohasobeenosettled,otheoHighoCourtomustohaveodueo regardo too theo natureo ando gravityo ofo theo offence.o Heinouso ando seriouso offencesoinvolvingomentalodepravityoorooffencesosuchoasomurder,orapeoando dacoityocannotoappropriatelyobeoquashedothoughotheovictimoorotheofamilyoofo theovictimohaveosettledotheodispute.oSuchooffencesoare,otrulyospeaking,onoto privateoinonatureobutohaveoaoseriousoimpactouponosociety.oTheodecisionotoo continueowithotheotrialoinosuchocasesoisofoundedoonotheooverridingoelementoofo publicointerestoinopunishingopersonsoforoseriousooffences;o o (vii)oAsodistinguishedofromoseriousooffences,othereomayobeocriminalo caseso whicho haveo ano overwhelmingo oro predominanto elemento ofo ao civilo dispute.oTheyostandoonoaodistinctofootingoinosoofaroasotheoexerciseoofotheo inherentopowerotooquashoisoconcerned;o o (viii)o Criminalo caseso involvingo offenceso whicho ariseo fromo commercial,ofinancial,omercantile,opartnershipoorosimilarotransactionsowitho anoessentiallyociviloflavouromayoinoappropriateosituationsofalloforoquashingo whereopartiesohaveosettledotheodispute;o o (ix)o Ino sucho ao case,o theo Higho Courto mayo quasho theo criminalo proceedingo ifo ino viewo ofo theo compromiseo betweeno theo disputants,o theo possibilityoofoaoconvictionoisoremoteoandotheocontinuationoofoaocriminalo proceedingowouldocauseooppressionoandoprejudice;oando o (x)oThereoisoyetoanoexceptionotootheoprincipleosetooutoinopropositionso

(viii)o ando (ix)o above.o Economico offenceso involvingo theo financialo ando economicowell-beingoofotheostateohaveoimplicationsowhicholieobeyondotheo domainoofoaomereodisputeobetweenoprivateodisputants.oTheoHighoCourtowouldo beojustifiedoinodecliningotooquashowhereotheooffenderoisoinvolvedoinoano activityo akino too ao financialo oro economico fraudo oro misdemeanour.o Theo

o o 10o o consequencesoofotheoactocomplainedoofouponotheofinancialooroeconomico systemowilloweighoinotheobalance."o o

(iv)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Stateo ofo Madhyao Pradesho vs.o Laxmio NarayanoandoothersoAIRo2019oSUPREMEoCOURTo1296,oaothreeoJudgeoBencho ofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:oo o "13.oConsideringotheolawoonotheopointoandotheootherodecisionsoofothiso Courtoonotheopoint,oreferredotoohereinabove,oitoisoobservedoandoheldoaso under:o o i)othatotheopoweroconferredounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeotooquasho theocriminaloproceedingsoforotheonon-compoundableooffencesounderoSectiono 320o ofo theo Codeo cano beo exercisedo havingo overwhelminglyo ando predominantlyo theo civilo character,o particularlyo thoseo arisingo outo ofo commercialo transactionso oro arisingo outo ofo matrimonialo relationshipo oro familyo disputeso ando wheno theo partieso haveo resolvedo theo entireo disputeo amongstothemselves;o o ii)osuchopoweroisonototoobeoexercisedoinothoseoprosecutionsowhicho involvedoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoofomentalodepravityoorooffencesolikeo murder,orape,odacoity,oetc.oSuchooffencesoareonotoprivateoinonatureoandohaveo aoseriousoimpactoonosociety;o o iii)osimilarly,osuchopoweroisonototoobeoexercisedoforotheooffencesoundero theo specialo statuteso likeoPreventiono ofo Corruptiono Actooro theo offenceso committedobyopublicoservantsowhileoworkingoinothatocapacityoareonototoobeo quashedomerelyoonotheobasisoofocompromiseobetweenotheovictimoandotheo offender;o o iv)ooffencesounderoSectiono307oIPCoandotheoArmsoActoetc.owouldofallo inotheocategoryoofoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoandothereforeoareotoobeo treatedoasocrimeoagainstotheosocietyoandonotoagainstotheoindividualoalone,o ando therefore,o theo criminalo proceedingso foro theo offenceo underoSectiono 307oIPCo and/oro theoArmso Actoetc.o whicho haveo ao seriouso impacto ono theo societyocannotobeoquashedoinoexerciseoofopowersounderoSectiono482oofotheo Code,oonotheogroundothatotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiroentireodisputeo amongstothemselves.oHowever,otheoHighoCourtowouldonotorestoitsodecisiono merelyobecauseothereoisoaomentionoofoSectiono307oIPCoinotheoFIRoorotheo chargeoisoframedounderothisoprovision.oItowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourto tooexamineoasotoowhetheroincorporationoofoSectiono307oIPCoisothereoforotheo sakeoofoitoorotheoprosecutionohasocollectedosufficientoevidence,owhichoifo proved,owouldoleadotooframingotheochargeounderoSectiono307oIPC.oForothiso purpose,oitowouldobeoopenotootheoHighoCourtotoogoobyotheonatureoofoinjuryo sustained,owhetherosuchoinjuryoisoinflictedoonotheovital/delegateopartsoofotheo body,onatureoofoweaponsousedoetc.oHowever,osuchoanoexerciseobyotheoHigho Courto wouldo beo permissibleo onlyo aftero theo evidenceo iso collectedo aftero investigationoandotheochargeosheetoisofiled/chargeoisoframedoand/oroduringo theotrial.oSuchoexerciseoisonotopermissibleowhenotheomatteroisostilloundero investigation.oTherefore,otheoultimateoconclusionoinoparagraphso29.6oando

29.7oofotheodecisionoofothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofoNarinderoSingho(supra)o shouldo beo reado harmoniouslyo ando too beo reado aso ao wholeo ando ino theo circumstancesostatedohereinabove;o o v)owhileoexercisingotheopowerounderoSectiono482oofotheoCodeotoo quashotheocriminaloproceedingsoinorespectoofonon-compoundableooffences,o whichoareoprivateoinonatureoandodoonotohaveoaoseriousoimpartoonosociety,oono theogroundothatothereoisoaosettlement/compromiseobetweenotheovictimoandotheo

o o 11o o offender,otheoHighoCourtoisorequiredotooconsiderotheoantecedentsoofotheo accused;otheoconductoofotheoaccused,onamely,owhetherotheoaccusedowaso abscondingoandowhyoheowasoabsconding,ohowoheohadomanagedowithotheo complainantotooenterointooaocompromiseoetc."o o II.o Re:oPowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofoCr.oP.C.otooquasho FIRounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPCoonotheobasisoofocompromiseo o o o InoaoDivisionoBenchojudgmentotitledoasoBaldevoSinghoversusoStateo ofo Punjabo &oanother,o decidedo ono 02.06.2016o ino CRM-M-40769-2014,o thiso Courtoheldoasounder:o "TheoquestionoformulatedoforoconsiderationoofoaolargeroBenchowaso whetherotheocrimeoregisteredounderoSectiono304-AoIPCocanobeoquashedoono theobasisoofocompromiseoarrivedoatobyotheolegaloheir/legalorepresentativeoofo theovictim/deceasedowithotheooffender.o o XXo o o XXo o o XXo o Whethero theo crimeo registeredo undero Sectiono 304-Ao IPCo cano beo quashedoonotheobasisoofocompromiseoarrivedoatobyotheolegaloheirs/legalo representativesoofotheovictimo(deceased)owithotheooffender.o o o XXo o o XXo o o XXo o Ino theo factso ando circumstanceso ofo theo caseo ito wouldo indeedo beo paradoxicaloandoincorrectotooholdothatotheooffenceounderoSectiono304-Aoiso privateo ino nature.o Itso seriouso impacto ono societyo iso noto subjecto too understatement.oWhenoaopersonooropersonsoloseotheirolife/livesodueotootheo rashoandonegligentoactoofotheoaccused,otheoquestionoofomensoreaoorointentiono inosuchoaosituationopalesointooinsignificance.oTheowrongocannotobeotermedo toobeoprivateooropersonaloinonatureolikeooffencesoarisingooutoofomatrimony,o relatingo too dowryo etc.,o familyo disputeso oro criminalo caseso havingo overwhelminglyo ando predominantlyo ao civilo flavouro likeo commercial,o financial,omercantile,ocivilooropartnershipomatters.o o XXo o o XXo o o XXo o o Referenceo iso thuso answeredo ino theo negativeo aso thereo cano beo noo quashingoofoanooffenceoregisteredounderoSectiono304-Aoandosubsequento proceedings,osolelyoonotheobasisoofoaocompromiseoarrivedoatobetweenotheo legaloheirs/representativesoofotheovictimo(deceased)oandotheoaccused."o o III.o Re:oPowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofoCr.oP.C.otooquasho FIRounderoSectiono306oofoIPCo o "(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoDaxabenovs.oStateoofoGujarato&o Ors.,2022oAIRoSupremeoCourto3530,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldo asounder:-o

o o 12o o o "25.o Theo onlyo questiono ino thiso appealo iso whethero theo Criminalo MiscellaneousoApplicationsofiledobyotheoaccusedounderoSectiono482oofotheo Cr.P.C.ocouldohaveobeenoallowedoandoanoFIRounderoSectiono306oofotheoIPCo foroabetmentotoocommitosuicide,oentailingopunishmentoofoimprisonmentoofo tenoyears,ocouldohaveobeenoquashedoonotheobasisoofoaosettlementobetweenotheo complainantoandotheoaccusedonamedoinotheoFIR.oTheoanswerotootheoaforesaido questionocannot,obutobeoinotheonegative.o o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o 37.oo OffenceounderoSectiono306oofotheoIPCoofoabetmentotoocommito suicideo iso ao grave,o non-compoundableo offence.o Ofo course,o theo inherento poweroofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofotheoCr.P.C.oisowideoandocano eveno beo exercisedo too quasho criminalo proceedingso relatingo too non-compoundableooffences,otoosecureotheoendsoofojusticeoorotoopreventoabuseoofo theoprocessoofoCourt.oWhereotheovictimoandooffenderohaveocompromisedo disputeso essentiallyo civilo ando personalo ino nature,o theo Higho Courto cano exerciseoitsopowerounderoSectiono482oofotheoCrPCotooquashotheocriminalo proceedings.oInowhatocasesopowerotooquashoanoFIRooroaocriminalocomplainto orocriminaloproceedingsouponocompromiseocanobeoexercised,owouldodependo onotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase.o o 38.oo However,obeforeoexercisingoitsopowerounderoSectiono482oofo theo Cr.P.C.o too quasho ano FIR,o criminalo complainto and/oro criminalo proceedings,otheoHighoCourt,oasoobservedoabove,ohasotoobeocircumspectoando haveodueoregardotootheonatureoandogravityoofotheooffence.oHeinousooroseriouso crimes,owhichoareonotoprivateoinonatureoandohaveoaoseriousoimpactoonosocietyo cannotobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofoaocompromiseobetweenotheooffenderoando theocomplainantoand/orotheovictim.oCrimesolikeomurder,orape,oburglary,o dacoityoandoevenoabetmentotoocommitosuicideoareoneitheroprivateonorocivilo inonature.oSuchocrimesoareoagainstotheosociety.oInonoocircumstancesocano prosecutionobeoquashedoonocompromise,owhenotheooffenceoisoseriousoando graveoandofallsowithinotheoambitoofocrimeoagainstosociety.o o 39.o OrdersoquashingoFIRsoand/orocomplaintsorelatingotoograveo andoseriousooffencesoonlyoonobasisoofoanoagreementowithotheocomplainant,o wouldosetoaodangerousoprecedent,owhereocomplaintsowouldobeolodgedoforo obliqueo reasons,o witho ao viewo too extracto moneyo fromo theo accused.o Furthermore,ofinanciallyostrongooffendersowouldogooscotofree,oevenoinocaseso ofograveoandoseriousooffencesosuchoasomurder,orape,obride-oburning,oetc.obyo buyingo offo informants/complainantso ando settlingo witho them.o Thiso wouldo rendero otioseo provisionso sucho asoSectionso 306,o 498-o A,o 304-Bo etc.o incorporatedoinotheoIPCoasoaodeterrent,owithoaospecificosocialopurpose.o o 40.oo InoCriminaloJurisprudence,otheopositionoofotheocomplainanto isoonlyothatoofotheoinformant.oOnceoanoFIRoand/orocriminalocomplaintoiso lodgedoandoaocriminalocaseoisostartedobyotheoState,oitobecomesoaomattero betweenotheoStateoandotheoaccused.oTheoStateohasoaodutyotooensureothatolawo andoorderoisomaintainedoinosociety.oItoisoforotheostateotooprosecuteooffenders.o Inocaseoofograveoandoseriousonon-ocompoundableooffencesowhichoimpacto society,otheoinformantoand/orocomplainantoonlyohasotheorightoofohearing,otoo theoextentoofoensuringothatojusticeoisodoneobyoconvictionoandopunishmentoofo theooffender.oAnoinformantohasonoorightoinolawotoowithdrawotheocomplaintoofo aonon-ocompoundableooffenceoofoaograve,oseriousoand/oroheinousonature,o whichoimpactsosociety.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o

o o 13o o o 50.oo Inoouroconsideredoopinion,otheoCriminaloProceedingocannoto beonippedoinotheobudobyoexerciseoofojurisdictionounderoSectiono482oofotheoCr.o P.C.oonlyobecauseothereoisoaosettlement,oinothisocaseoaomonetaryosettlement,o betweeno theo accusedo ando theo complainanto ando othero relativeso ofo theo deceasedotootheoexclusionoofotheohaplessowidowoofotheodeceased.oAsoheldobyo theo three-Judgeo Bencho ofo thiso Courto inoLaxmioNarayano &o Ors.o(supra),oSectiono307oofotheoIPCofallsoinotheocategoryoofoheinousoando seriousooffencesoandoareotoobeotreatedoasocrimeoagainstosocietyoandonoto againsto theo individualo alone.o Ono ao parityo ofo reasoning,o offenceo underosectiono306oofotheoIPCowouldofalloinotheosameocategory.oAnoFIRo underoSectiono306oofotheoIPCocannotoevenobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofoanyo financialosettlementowithotheoinformant,osurvivingospouse,oparents,ochildren,o guardians,o care-giverso oro anyoneo else.o Ito iso clarifiedo thato ito waso noto necessaryoforothisoCourtotooexamineotheoquestionowhetherotheoFIRoinothiso caseodisclosesoanyooffenceounderoSectiono306oofotheoIPC,osinceotheoHigho Court,o ino exerciseo ofo itso powero underoSectiono 482oCrPC,o quashedo theo proceedingsoonotheosoleogroundothatotheodisputesobetweenotheoaccusedoando theoinformantohadobeenocompromised."o o Analysiso(reolaw)oo o

10.o o Theoconventionaloview,opremisedouponotheostatutoryoframework,o wasothatocriminalooffence(s)ocouldobeosettledoonlyobyowayoofocompounding,oaso perotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono320oofotheoCr.oP.C.,o1973o(nowoSectiono359oofo BNSS,o2023).oInoordinaryoparlance,o"compounding"oisoknownoaso"compromise"o oro"settlement".oThisoexpressionoisoordinarilyounderstoodoasocondoningoaofelonyo inoexchangeofororepatriationoreceivedobyotheovictim-complainantofromotheofelon.oo Inootherowords,onoocompounding/compromiseoofoaocriminalooffenceocouldobeo permittedobyotheoCourt,oexceptoforoanooffenceowhichometowithotheorigoursoofo Sectiono320oofoCr.P.C.oTherefore,otheoquestionoaroseowhetherotheoHighoCourt,obyo exercisingoitsoplenary/inherentojurisdiction,ounderoSectiono482oofoCr.P.C.,ocouldo quashoongoingoFIR/criminaloproceedings,oonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlemento havingobeenoarrivedoatobetweenotheorivaloparties,opertainingotootheooffencesowhicho doonotofallowithinotheoambitoofo'compoundable'.oo

10.1.o o Beforeoproceedingofurther,oitowouldobeogermaneotoodelveointootheo nature,oscopeoandoambitoofopowersoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono482oofoCr.o P.C.,o1973.oo

o o 14o o

10.2.o o InherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoareopowersowhichoareoincidentalo repleteopowers,owhichoifodidonotosooexist,otheoCourtowouldobeoobligedotoositostillo andohelplesslyoseeotheoprocessoofolawoandoCourtsobeingoabusedoforotheopurposeso ofoinjustice.oInootherowords,osuchopower(s)oisointrinsicotootheoHighoCourt,oasoitoiso itso veryo life-blood,o itso veryo essence,o itso immanento attribute.o Withouto sucho power(s),otheoHighoCourtowouldohaveoformobutolackotheosubstance.oTheseopowerso ofotheoHighoCourt,ohence,odeserveotoobeoconstruedowithotheowidestopossibleo amplitude.oTheseoinherentopowersoareoinoconsonanceowithotheonatureoofotheoHigho Courtowhichooughtotoobe,oandohasoinofactobeen,oinvestedowithopower(s)otoomaintaino itsoauthorityotoopreventotheoprocessoofolaw/Courtsobeingoobstructedooroabused.oIto isoaotriteopositoofojurisprudenceothatothougholawsoattemptotoodealowithoallocaseso thatomayoarise,otheoinfiniteovarietyoofocircumstancesowhichoshapeoeventsoandotheo imperfectionsoofolanguageomakeoitoimpossibleotoolayodownoprovisionsocapableoofo governingoeveryocase,owhich,oinofact,oarise.oTheoHighoCourtowhichoexistsoforotheo furtheranceo ofo justiceo ino ano indefatigableo manner,o shouldo therefore,o haveo unfetteredopower(s)otoodealowithosituationsowhich,othoughonotoexpresslyoprovidedo forobyotheolaw,oneedotoobeodealtowith,otoopreventoinjusticeoorotheoabuseoofotheo processoofolawoandoCourts.oTheomaxim,onamely,o"quandoolexoaliquidoalicuio concedit,oconcedereovideturoetoidosineoquooresoipsa,oesseononopotest"o(whenotheo lawogivesoanythingotooanyone,oitoalsoogivesoallothoseothingsowithoutowhichotheo thingoitselfocannotoexist)oalsoosignifiesothatotheoinherentopowersoofotheoHighoCourto areoallosuchopowersowhichoareonecessaryotoodootheorightoandotooundooaowrongoino theocourseoofoadministrationoofojustice.oFurther,otheomaximo"exodebitoojustitiae"o stipulatesothatosuchopowersoareogivenotoodoorealoandosubstantialojustice,oforowhicho purposeoalone,otheoHighoCourtoexists.oHence,otheopowersounderoSectiono482oofo

o o 15o o Cr.oP.C.,oareoaimedoatopreservingotheoinherentopowersoofoaoHighoCourtotooprevento abuseoofotheoprocessoofoanyoCourtoorotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.oTheojuridicalo basisoofotheseoplenaryopower(s)oisotheoauthority;oinofactotheoseminalodutyoando responsibilityoofotheoHighoCourt;otoouphold,otooprotectoandotoofulfilotheojudicialo functionoofoadministeringojustice,oinoaccordanceowithotheolaw,oinoaoregular,oorderlyo andoeffectiveomanner.oInootherowords;oSectiono482oofoCr.oP.C.oreflectsopeerlesso powers,owhichoaoHighoCourtomayodrawouponoasonecessary,owheneveroitoisojustoando equitableotoodooso;oinoparticular,otooensureotheoobservanceoofotheodueoprocessoofo law,o too prevento vexationo orooppression,o too doo justiceonayo substantialo justiceo betweenotheopartiesoandotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.oo

10.3o o Theoaboveoprinciple(s),oinocontextoofoprovisionsoofoSectiono482oofo Cr.oP.C,o1973,owouldoapplyowithocompleteovigour,otootheoprovisionsoofoSectiono 528oofoBNSSo2023oasowell,osinceothereoisonooalterationoinotheowordingoofotheseo twooprovisions.oo

11.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoGianoSingho(supra)ohaso enunciatedo thato theo powerso ofo theo Higho Courto foro quashingo ofo criminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo settlemento areo materiallyo differento fromo compoundingoofooffenceoinotermsoofoSectiono320oofoCr.oP.C.o(NowoSectiono359o ofoBNSS,o2023)oasoaoCourtowhileoexercisingopowerounderoSectiono320oofoCr.oP.C.o (NowoSectiono359oofoBNSS,o2023)oisocircumscribedobyotheostatutoryoprovisiono buto theo Higho Courto mayo proceedo too quasho ao criminalo offence/criminalo proceedingsoifotheoendsoofojusticeojustifyoexerciseoofosuchopower.oItowasothusoheldo thatotheocriminalocasesohavingooverwhelminglyoandopredominantlyociviloflavor;o offenceso arisingo outo ofo matrimonialo dispute;o offenceso arisingo outo ofo familyo disputeoasoalsoooffencesowhichoareobasicallyoprivateooropersonaloinonature,ocouldo

o o 16o o beoquashedobyotheoHighoCourtoinocaseotheopartiesohaveoresolvedotheiroentireo dispute(s).oFurther,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoNarinderoSingho (supra)o haso heldo thato theo possibilityo ofo convictiono beingo remoteo ando bleak,o whereasocontinuationoofotheocriminalocaseoputtingotheoaccusedotoooppressionoando prejudiceo&otheopartiesobeingoputotoogeneraloinconvenience,oasoalsooprejudiceo couldobeoconsideredoasofactorsobyotheoHighoCourt,owhileoexaminingoaopleaoforo quashingoofocriminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofosettlement/compromise.oTootheo sameoeffectoisotheodictaoofotheojudgmentoofothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoParbatbhaioAahirocaseo(supra).ooFurther,oaothreeo JudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentoofoLaxmioNarayano caseo(supra)oreiteratedotheoprinciplesolaid-downoinocasesoofoGianoSingho(supra),o NarinderoSingho(supra)oandoParbatbhaioAahiro(supra).oo

11.1.o o Itois,othus,ounequivocalothatotheoplenaryopowersovestedoinoaoHigho Court,obyovirtueoofoitsoveryoconstitution,oareotoobeoexercisedowithocircumspectiono ando ino ao mannero befittingo judicialo propriety.o o Theo invocationo ofo inherento jurisdictionomustoserveotheoendsoofojustice,onecessitatingoaoholisticoevaluationoofo allotheoattendantocircumstances.ooTheocriminalojusticeosystemoisonotomerelyoao forumofororesolvingointerpersonalodisputes;oitoembodiesotheosovereignoobligationo ofotheoStateotoosafeguardotheofundamentalorightsoofoitsocitizens,oincludingotheo protectiono ofo life,o liberty,o ando property.o Ino adjudicatingo petitionso seekingo quashingo ofo criminalo proceedingso ono theo basiso ofo ao purportedo compromiseo betweeno theo parties,o theo courto musto transcendo theo immediateo assertionso ofo harmony.ooWhileotheoabsenceoofocurrentogrievancesobetweenopartiesomayobeoao materialoconsideration,oitocannotobeotheodeterminativeocriterion.ooTheocourtoiso duty-boundotooscrutinizeotheogravityoofotheoallegations,otheonatureoofotheooffences,o

o o 17o o andotheiroramificationsoonotheopublicoorderoandosocietalowelfare.oThisojudicialo responsibilityoisoaccentuatedoinocasesoinvolvingoheinousooroegregiousooffences,o whereotheobroaderosocietalointerestooutweighsoprivateosettlements.oCompromisingo sucho caseso ono theo groundo ofo mutualo accordo riskso underminingo theo publico confidenceoinotheojusticeodeliveryosystemoandojeopardizingotheolargerointerestoofo lawoenforcement.oo

11.2.o o Theoaureateoenunciationoofolaw,obyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino aboveojudgments,oessentiallyopointsooutothatotheoprimeofactorsoforoconsiderationo ofoquashingoofoFIR/criminaloproceedingsoonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlemento isothatotheodispute/offenceoisoessentiallyoprivateoinonature;ocontinuationoofocriminalo 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,o whicho areo alreadyo strugglingo hardo too manageotheoeveroincreasingoandounmanageableodocketoand/orosuchoquashingo wouldoensureotheoendsoofojustice.oo

12.o o Theo basico ando essentialo edificeo ofo ao pleao seekingo quashingo ofo FIR/criminaloproceedings,oonotheobasisoofocompromise,oisotheoconsentoofotheo victim.o Ino othero words,o theo consento ono theo parto ofo theo victimo foro compromise/settlementoofoFIR/criminaloproceedingsoisosine-qua-nonoforosucho petitionotoosucceed.oo

12.1.o o Foroanoextendedoperiodoofotime,ocriminalojurisprudenceowas,obyoando large,oacquisitive,oplacingotheocrimeoandocriminaloactoatoitsoepicenter.oTheojuristso haveo preoccupiedo themselveso witho theo rightso ando safeguardso concerningo theo accused,oconcomitantly,otheovictim,oi.e.otheodeofactooandorealosuffererowhoseoveryo miseryoputotheocriminalolawointoomotion,oremainedoaoforgottenofigure.oConsciouso

o o 18o o ofothisocriticalolacunaeoinotheocriminalojusticeoadministrationosystem,oJ.oKrishnao Iyer,orenderedotheofollowingoseminaloobservation:o "Itoisoaoweaknessoofoourojurisprudenceothatotheovictimsoofocrime,oando theodistressoofotheodependentsoofotheoprisoner,odoonotoattractotheo attentionoofotheolaw.oIndeed,ovictimoreparationoisostillotheovanishingo pointoofoourocriminalolaw.oThisoisoaodeficiency,owhichomustobeo rectifiedobyotheolegislature."o -(J.oKrishnaoIyer;oo Video(parao9)oRattanoSinghoVs.oStateoofoPunjab,o(1980)oAIRooSupremeoCourto 84)o o o Untilo recently,o ao victimo waso renderedo almosto entirelyo passive,o relegatedo too theo peripheryo ofo judicialo processo ando compelledo too remaino ano outsider,omuteospectator,owithovirtuallyonoosubstantiveoroleoinotheoprosecutionoofo criminalotrial.oWithotheodevelopmentoofo'victimology'oasoaodistinctoandovitalo domainoofojurisprudence,oaotransformativeoshiftohasooccurred.oUnfoldingowithotheo coinageo ofo theo termo 'victimology'o byo Benjamino Mendelsohno ino 1947,o thiso evolutiono reflectso ao belatedo acknowledgmento ofo ao victim'so inherento righto too participateoandohaveoaomeaningfulovoiceoinotheoprosecutionoofoaocriminalotrial.oIno recognitionoofothisoevolvingojurisprudence,oseminaloamendmentsowereointroducedo too theo Cr.P.C.,o 1973,o video Cr.P.C.o (Amendment)o Act,o 2008,o resultingo intoo insertionoofoSectiono2(wa)owhichodefinesoaovictim'oandovariousootheroprovisionso (suchoasoSectiono24(8)oandoprovisootooSectiono372,oetc.),othereby,ogivingostatutoryo recognitionotootheorightsoevolvedoinofavouroofoaovictim.oo o o Pertinently,oaovictimocanonoolongerobeorelegatedotootheoperipheryooro renderedoaoforgottenoentityoonceotheomachineryoofocriminalolawohasobeenosetointoo motion.oTheoterminusoofocriminalojusticeosystemomustotranscendobeyondotheomereo safeguardingooforightsoofoanoaccusedoandomustoencompassotheopreservationoando effectiveovindicationoofotheorightsoofoaovictim.oTheolawomustoadoptoanoequipoiseo

o o 19o o approach,oharmoniouslyobalancingotheocompetingointerestsoofotheoaccusedoandotheo victim.oItoisoaoboundenodutyoofotheocourtsoofolawotooensureothatojusticeoembraceso theo injuredo ando afflicted.o o Jurisprudentially,o theo guaranteeo undero Articleo 21o embracesobothotheolifeoandolibertyoofotheoaccusedoasowelloasointerestoofotheovictim,o hisonearoandodearoonesoasowelloasoofotheocommunityoatolargeoandothereforeocannoto beoalienatedofromoeachootherowitholevity.oAsoanoage-oldoadage,owhichohasometo withoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oreadsothus:o "Weocannotoremainoobliviousotootheosubstantialosufferingoofotheo victims.oItostandsoasoaofactothatocriminalojusticeoreformoandocivilorightso movementoinoIndiaohasohistoricallyoonlyopaidoconsiderableoattentionotootheo rightsoofotheoaccusedoandoneglectedotooaddressotootheosameoextentotheo impactoofocrimeoonotheovictims.oItoisonotoonlyotheovictimsoofocrimeoonlyothato requireosoothingobalm,obutoalsootheoincidentalovictimsolikeotheofamily,otheo co-sufferersoandotooaorelativelyolargeroextentotheosocietyotoo.oTheojudiciaryo hasoaoparamountodutyotoosafeguardotheorightsoofotheovictimsoasodiligentlyo asothoseoofotheoperpetrators."o o o o o o Withoimpunity,oaofurtheroreferenceoinothisoregardocanobeomadeotooano observationomadeobyoJ.oF.M.oIbrahimoKalifulla,oinoaoFiveojudgeoBenchodictaoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,owhichoreadsoasounder:o o o "….Whileo consideringo theo problemo ofo penologyo weo shouldo noto overlookotheoplightoofovictimologyoandotheosufferingsoofotheopeopleowhoodie,osuffero oroareomaimedoatotheohandsoofocriminals."o o -(J.oF.M.oIbrahimoKalifulla;oo Video(parao72)oUnionoofoIndiaoVs.V.oSriharano@oMurugano&Ors.,o(2016)o7oSCCo1)o o o o o o o o o

13.o o Conceptually;oFIR-complainant/informantoisodifferentofromovictim,o though,oinoaogivenocase,otheyomayobeosameoperson.oInoaocaseopertainingotooano offence,oasoaoresultowhereofoaodeathohasooccurred,oitoisotheodeceasedowhooisotheo

o o 20o o realo victim.o Ino sucho ao case,o theo survivingo familyo memberso ofo theo deceasedo includingo theo spouse/parents/children/guardian/care-givero etc.o nayo theo FIR-complainant/informantocannotoadornotheomantleoofoprimaryovictimoforopurposeoofo settlement/compromise.oTheojurisprudentialofoundationoforoquashingocriminalo proceedingsoonotheobasisoofoaocompromise,orestsouponotheoabsenceoofogrievanceo byo theo victim,o againsto theo accused.o o InooffenceounderoSectiono304-Ao ofo theo IPC/Sectiono106oofoBNSoinvolvingodeathodueotoorashoandonegligentoact/odriving,o theoprimaryovictimoisotheodeceased,owhoseodemiseoisodirectlyoattributableotootheo accused'so allegedo rasho ando negligento act/o driving.o Theo deceased,o beingo theo primaryoaggrievedopartyo(i.e.otheorealovictim),oisonoolongerocapableoofoexpressingo consento oro grievance,o renderingo anyo compromiseo witho theo informanto oro complainantoincongruousowithothisofoundationaloprinciple.oAosettlementobetweeno theoaccusedoandotheocomplainant,owhoomerelyoinitiatedotheocriminaloprocess,ofailso toosatisfyotheounderlyingorationaleoforosuchoaoquashingotoosucceed.oItodisregardso theoirreversibleoharmoinflictedouponotheodeceasedoandotheobroaderosocietalointeresto implicatedo ino crime(s)o ofo thiso gravity.o Thus,o permittingo quashingo ino sucho instancesounderminesotheoruleoofolawoandotrivializesotheoseriousonatureoofotheo offence,owarrantingojudicialocircumspectionoandorestraint.oo

13.2.o o Ao pertinento issueo whicho craveso attentiono ofo thiso Courto iso theo probableoerosionoofojudicialointegrityowhenocriminaloproceedings,oparticularlyo involvingograveoandoseriousooffenceso(suchoasoSectiono304-AoIPC/Sectiono106o BNS),oareoquashedosolelyoonotheobasisoofoaocompromise/settlemento,ohavingobeeno arrivedoatobetweenorivaloparties.oThisopracticeoofoenteringointoocompromise,omoreo ofteno thano not,o involveso pecuniaryo consideration;o proferredo aso reparationo oro compensationotootheovictim'sofamily;ocreatesodeeplyodeleteriousoimpactoonotheo

o o 21o o societalopsycheothatotheocriminalojusticeosystemoisoavailableoforocommodification.o Suchoaoscenarioosuggestsothatopenaloabsolutionoisoaopurchasableocommodity,o thereby,oimplyingothatoseriousopublicowrongs,oinowhichosocietyoasoaowholeohaso stakes,ocanobeoputotoonaughtoobyotheoaccusedoperson'sofinancialocapacity.oSuchoano outcomeoisoantitheticalotootheoRuleoofoLaw,owhichodemandsothatotheoseverityoofoao crimeoandopenaloconsequencesomustoremainoinsulatedofromotheoprivateofinancialo arrangementso ofo theo parties,o thereby,o maintainingo publico confidenceo ino theo impartialityoandodeterrentoefficacyoofotheojusticeodeliveryosystem.oTheolaw,obeingo aoguarantoroofoequityoandofairness,ocannotoaffordotoobeosubjugatedotootheoinfluenceo ofowealth,olestoitocompromiseoitsosacrosanctoessenceoandoinstitutionalointegrity.o TheoinherentopowersoofothisoCourt,ooughtonotobeoemployedoforoprivatizationoofo criminaloliability.oAnooldoageoadageoreadsothus:o "Whyoinohistoryohasoeveryoneoalwaysofocusedoonotheoguyowithotheo bigostick,otheohero,otheoactivist,otootheoneglectoofotheopooroslobowhooisoatotheo endoofotheostick,otheovictim,otheopassivisto–ooromaybe,otheopooroslobo(ino bondages)oisn'toallothatomuchoofoaopassivistovictimo–omaybeoheoaskedoforoit?"o o

14.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoDaxabeno(supra)ohaso heldothatoanoFIR/criminaloproceedingsoquaoanooffenceounderoSectiono306oofotheo IPCocannotobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofocompromise/settlementosinceosuchoano offenceofallsoinotheocategoryoofoheinousoandoseriousooffencesoandoisotoobeotreatedo asocrimeoagainstotheoSocietyoandonotoagainstoanoindividual(s).oTootheosameoeffecto isotheodictaoofotheoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinoBaldevoSingh'socaseo(supra)o wherein;odealingowithoaoFIRounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC;othisoCourtohasoheldo thatothereocanobeonooquashingoofoanooffenceoregisteredounderoSectiono304-Aoofo theoIPCoandosubsequentoproceedingsoemanatingotherefrom,osolelyoonotheobasisoofo

o o 22o o aocompromiseoarrivedoatobetweenotheolegaloheirs/representativesoofotheovictimo (deceased)oandotheoaccused.oThisoCourtomustosoundoaowordoofocautionoherein,oviz.,o aopleaoforoquashingoanoFIRounderoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPC/oSectiono106oofotheo BNS,ofiledosolelyoonotheobasisoofomeritsothereofoisoveryomuchomaintainableoando oughtotoobeoconsideredoandoratiocinatedouponomeritsothereof.oo

15.o o Asoaoresultoofoabove-saidorumination,oitoisoclearonayocrystaloclearo thatoanoFIRo(asoalsooproceedingsoemanatingotherefrom)ounderoSectiono304-Aoofo theoIPC/Sectiono106oofotheoBNSocannotobeoquashedoonotheobasisoofoaocompromise/o settlemento arrivedo ato betweeno theo accusedo ono oneo hando ando FIR-complainant/informant/survivingo familyo ofo theo victimo (includingo spouse/parents/children/guardian/care-giveroetc.)oonotheootherohand.ooEvenoifo credenceoisosoughtotoobeolendotoosuchoaocompromise/settlement,obyowayooforaisingo plea(s)oonomerits,oincludingotheopleaothatotheooffenceoofoSectiono304-AoofotheoIPCo /Sectiono106oofotheoBNSoisonotomadeooutoinotheofacts/circumstancesoofoaogiveno case,ostillosuchopetitionooughtotoobeorejected.oo Analysiso(reofactsoofotheopresentocase)oo o

16.o o TheopetitionoinohandohasobeenofiledoforoquashingoofoFIRoNo.48odatedo

09.06.2022,oregisteredounderoSectionso304-Ao&o279oofotheoIPC,oatoPoliceoStationo Ajitwal,oDistrictoMoga,oasoalsootheoproceedingsosubsequentothereto,oincludingotheo judgmento ofo convictiono datedo 04.04.2024o (Annexureo P-2)o passedo ino caseo No.CHI/282/2022otitledo"StateoversusoSatnamoSingh"obyotheolearnedoJMIC,oono theobasisoofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo07.04.2024owhich,oinoessenceopertainsotoo deathoofooneoGurjitoSingh.ooLearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedothato onceotheoentireomatterohasobeenosettled,othereowouldobeonoofruitfulopurposeoservedo byoallowingotheoproceedingsotoocontinue.ooItohasobeenoarguedothatotheocompromiseo

o o 23o o inoquestionoisoforobettermentoofoallotheoconcernedoandohenceoitowouldometotheoendso ofojusticeoifotheoimpugnedoFIRoetc.oareoquashed.ooIndubitably,otheoimpugnedoFIRo pertainsotootheodeathoofooneoGurjitoSingh,owho,oof-course,ocannotopossiblyobeoao partyotootheocompromise.ooInoviewoofotheodiscussionoinolawoandofactsohereinabove,o petitionoinohandooughtonototoobeoentertainedoandodeservesorejection.oo Decisionoo o

17.o o Itoisothus,odirectedoasofollows:o

(i)o Theo petitiono ino hand;o seekingo quashingo ofo FIRo No.48o datedo

09.06.2022,oregisteredounderoSectionso304-Ao&o279oofotheoIPC,oato Policeo Stationo Ajitwal,o Districto Moga,o aso alsoo theo proceedingso subsequento thereto,o includingo theo judgmento ofo convictiono datedo

04.04.2024o(AnnexureoP-2)opassedoinocaseoNo.CHI/282/2022otitledo aso"StateoversusoSatnamoSingh"obyotheolearnedoJMIC,oonotheobasiso ofoaocompromiseodeedodatedo07.04.2024;oisodismissed;o

(ii)o Anyo observationso madeo and/oro submissionso notedo hereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheoappellateo Courtoshalloproceedofurther,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,owithoutobeingo influencedowithotheosame;o

(iii)o Noodepositionoasotoocosts;oo

(iv)o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo Novembero20,o2025oo Mahavir/naveenooo o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo

o