CRM-M-140-2025 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 242 CRM-M-140-2025 Decided on : 25.04.2025 Sukhbir Singh and others ......Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and another ......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH Present: Mr. Ritesh Pandey, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Jasdeep Singh, DAG, Punjab. Mr. Azam Khan, Advocate for respondent No.2. SANJAY VASHISTH, J. 1. Instant petition has been filed under Section 528 of BNSS, seeking quashing of the below detailed First Information Report (FIR), and all the consequential proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of the compromise dated 14.12.2024(Annexure P-2), effected between the parties. DETAILS OF CRIMINAL CASE:- FIR No. Date Section(s) Police Station District 166 20.10.2020 324, 323, 148, 149 IPC Rangar Nangal Batala 2. Vide order dated 08.01.2025, the affected parties were directed to appear before the learned Trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate, for getting their respective statements recorded with regard to the compromise. The Trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate was to submit a report in this regard giving certain details as enumerated in the said order. 3. Pursuant to the aforementioned order, the parties appeared before the Court of learned Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum- Judicial Magistrate First Class, Batala, and as per report dated 01.04.2025, submitted to this Court, both the parties have got recorded their RASHMI 2025.04.25 19:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-140-2025 2 respective statements in Court. From the report received from the learned Court below, the following is discernible:- Sr. No. Description 1. Total number of persons arrayed as accused in the case Seven accused 2. Whether all the accused and complainant/victim are party to compromise Yes 3. Whether any accused has been declared as a proclaimed offender/person or any such proceedings have been initiated or pending decision No 4. State of trial/proceedings Challan in the present case has been presented in the Court and the case is at the stage of prosecution evidence. However, application for amending the charge has been filed on behalf of the complainant 5. Whether the compromise is genuine, voluntary and without any coercion or undue influence Compromise effected between the parties is genuine, voluntary and without any coercion or undue influence 4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that in view of the report received from the learned Court Below, it is evident that the matter has been resolved and private parties have effected a compromise, and there remains no dispute amongst them requiring any adjudication. Further submits that in view of the compromise so effected between the private parties, pendency of the FIR and consequential proceedings emanating therefrom would be sheer abuse of the process of law, and the same may be quashed. 5. Learned State counsel as also learned counsel for private respondent, after going through the statements and the report received from learned Court below, very fairly admit that respondent No.2 has resolved the dispute and effected a compromise and he has no objection RASHMI 2025.04.25 19:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-140-2025 3 if the FIR (supra) and all the consequential proceedings are quashed on the basis of the compromise. 7. Through catena of judgments, Hon’ble the Apex Court and High Courts (including Punjab and Haryana High Court), have culled out various principles of law concerning quashing of proceedings emanating after lodging of FIR, and some of them are as under:- Power under Section 482 Cr.P.C./Section 528 BNSS can be exercised to enhance social amity, and to reduce friction. 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 Cr.P.C./Section 528 BNSS in the event of a compromise, but this is not to say that the power is limited to such cases. There can never be any hard and fast category which can be prescribed to enable the Court to exercise its power under Section 482 Cr.P.C./Section 528 BNSS "to prevent abuse of the process of any Court" or "to secure the ends of justice”. No embargo, be in the shape of Section 320(9) Cr.P.C./Section 359 BNSS, or any other such curtailment, can whittle down the power under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C./Section 528 of the BNSS. The compromise, in a modern society, is the sine qua non of harmony and orderly behaviour. High Court has the wide power to quash the proceedings even in non-compoundable offences notwithstanding the bar under Section 320 Cr.P.C./Section 359 BNSS, in order to prevent the abuse of law and to secure the ends of justice. Power under Section 482 Cr.P.C./Section 528 BNSS is to be exercised Ex-Debitia Justitia to prevent an abuse of process of Court. Such power has no limits. However, the High Court will exercise it sparingly and with utmost care and caution. The exercise of power has to be with circumspection and restraint. The Court is a vital and an extra-ordinary effective instrument to maintain and control social order. RASHMI 2025.04.25 19:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-140-2025 4 The Courts play role of paramount importance in achieving peace, harmony and ever-lasting congeniality in society. Resolution of a dispute by way of a compromise between two warring groups, therefore, should attract the immediate and prompt attention of a Court which should endeavour to give full effect to the same unless such compromise is abhorrent to lawful composition of the society or would promote savagery. Matters which can be categorized as personal in nature or where nature of injuries do not exhibit mental depravity or involves commission of an offence of such a serious nature that quashing of FIR would override the public interest, the Court can quash the FIR in view of the settlement arrived at amongst the parties. In this regard, judgments cited are: 1. Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, (2012) 10 SCC 303 (SC); 2. Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others v. State of Gujarat and another, (2017) 9 SCC 641 (SC); 3. Ramgopal and another v. State of Madhya Pradesh, 2021 SCC Online SC 834 (SC); and 4. Kulwinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab and another, 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052 [P&H FB] 8. After hearing learned counsel for the parties and going through the material available on record, this Court finds that there appears to be substance in the submission of learned counsel for the petitioners that pendency of the present criminal litigation would be abuse of process of law since the chances of conviction of the petitioners are bleak in view of the compromise, so effected between the private party. 9. The report alongwith statements of the affected parties received from learned Court below reveals that the complainant/victim has genuinely effected a compromise with the petitioners and he has no objection, if the impugned FIR and consequential proceedings are quashed. 10. Keeping in view the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the report received by this Court and also, taking into consideration the aforementioned settled principles of law, this RASHMI 2025.04.25 19:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-140-2025 5 petition is accepted and FIR (as detailed in para No. 1 above) and all the consequential proceedings arising therefrom are hereby quashed qua the petitioners, in view of compromise dated 14.12.2024(Annexure P-2). 11. Petition stands disposed of. 25.04.2025 (SANJAY VASHISTH) rashmi JUDGE Whether Speaking/Reasoned: YES/NO Whether Reportable: YES/NO RASHMI 2025.04.25 19:35 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document