2026:HHC:22815 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MMO No.580 of 2026 Date of Decision17.06.2026 _______________________________________________________ Sewak Singh …….Petitioner Versus State of H.P. & others … Respondents _______________________________________________________ Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? 1 For the Petitioner: Mr. Mohar Singh, Advocate. For the Respondents: Mr. Rajan Kahol & Mr. Vishal Panwar, Additional Advocate Generals with Mr. Ravi Chauhan & Mr. Anish Banshtu, Deputy Advocates General, for the respondents- State. Ms. Shine Sehgal, Advocate, for respondents No.2 to 4. SI Sunil Dutt, has come present alongwith the record. _______________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, Judge(oral): By way of instant petition filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,2023, prayer has been made on behalf of the petitioner for quashing of FIR No.27 of 2020, dated 27.03.2020, under Sections 279, 337, 304-A IPC and Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, registered at Police Station, Jhakri, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh as well as consequent proceedings, if any, pending adjudication in the competent Court of law, on the basis of 1Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 2026:HHC:22815 the compromise arrived inter se parties, whereby both the parties have resolved to settle their dispute amicably interse them. 2. Precisely, the facts of the case, as emerge from the pleadings as well as other documents adduced on record by the respective parties, are that FIR, sought to be quashed in the instant proceedings, came to be lodged at the behest of respondent No.2, Sh. Jia Lal (hereinafter referred to as the complainant), who is the brother of the deceased Sh. Layak Ram. He alleged that on 27.03.2020, while he, alongwith his deceased brother Sh. Layak Ram, nephew Jitender Singh and sister-in-law Smt. Gayalsa Mandi, was travelling from Tapri towards Khaneri Hospital in vehicle bearing registration No. HP-26-A-1408, driven by him, and had reached near Pashada Khud, one army truck coming from opposite side in high speed, hit his vehicle, as a result of which, he as well as other occupants of the car suffered multiple injuries. One of the occupants of the car Sh. Layak Ram succumbed to the injuries suffered by him, whereas other persons have recovered from the injuries after treatment. On the basis of aforesaid complaint, FIR came to be lodged against the petitioner. Though, after completion of the investigation, police has already presented the challan in the competent Court of law, but before same could be taken to its logical end, parties have entered into compromise, whereby they resolved to settle the dispute amicably interse them. In the aforesaid background, 3 2026:HHC:22815 petitioner has approached this Court in the instant proceedings for quashing of the FIR as well as consequent proceedings pending in the competent Court of law. 3. Pursuant to order dated 05.06.2026, respondent-State has filed status report under the signatures of SHO, Police Station, Jhakri, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, which is completely silent about the compromise arrived interse parties. However, respondent/complainant Jia Lal alongwith legal representative of deceased Sh. Layak Ram, namely Smt. Gayalsa Mani and Jitender Kumar have come present and are being represented by Ms. Shine Sehgal, Advocate. 4. Respondent/complainant, namely Sh. Jia Lal, states on oath before this Court that he of his own volition and without there being any external pressure has entered into the compromise with the petitioner, whereby they have resolved to settle their dispute amicably interse them. He states that FIR, sought to be quashed in the instant proceedings, is result of misunderstanding, coupled with the fact that wife and son of deceased Sh. Layak Ram have entered into the compromise with the petitioner and as such, he shall have no objection in case FIR as well as consequent proceedings pending adjudication in the competent Court of law, are quashed and petitioner-accused is acquitted of the charges framed against him. While admitting the contents of the compromise placed on record to 4 2026:HHC:22815 be correct, he also admits his signature upon the same. His statement is taken on record. 5. Smt. Gayalsa Mani and Jitender Singh, legal representatives of the deceased Sh. Layak Ram, also state that on oath before this Court that they of their own volition and without there being any external pressure have entered into the compromise with the petitioner, whereby they have resolved to settle their dispute amicably interse them. They state that FIR, sought to be quashed in the instant proceedings, is result of misunderstanding, because accident did not occur on account of rash and negligent driving of the petitioner, rather on account of error of judgment. They state that road at the spot of accident was very narrow and driver of the Army truck, while taking pass, hit the vehicle being driven by Sh. Jia Lal. They state that since after the death of Sh. Layak Ram, they were duly taken care by the petitioner and has paid adequate compensation qua the damage caused to their vehicle, they do not wish to prosecute the case further and shall have no objection in case the prayer made in the petition is allowed and petitioner-accused is acquitted of the offences alleged in the FIR. While admitting the contents of the compromise placed on record to be correct, they also admit their signatures upon the same. Their statements are taken on record. 6. Mr. Rajan Kahol, learned Additional Advocate General after having heard the aforesaid statements made by respondent 5 2026:HHC:22815 No.2/complainant and the respondents No.3 and 4, fairly states that no fruitful purpose would be served in case FIR as well as consequent proceedings, sought to be quashed, are allowed to sustain. He further states that otherwise also, chances of conviction of petitioner-accused are very remote and bleak in view of the statements made by respondent Nos. 2 to 4 and as such, respondent-State shall have no objection in case the prayer made in the petition is allowed. 7. 8. The question which now needs consideration is whether FIR’s in question can be ordered to be quashed when Hon'ble Apex Court in Narinder Singh and others versus State of Punjab and another (2014)6 SCC 466 has specifically held that power under S. 482 CrPC is not to be exercised in the cases which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., since such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. 9. At this stage, it would be relevant to take note of the judgment passed by Hon'ble Apex Court in Narinder Singh (supra), whereby the Hon’ble Apex Court has formulated guidelines for accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings. Perusal of judgment referred to above clearly depicts that in para 29.1, Hon’ble Apex Court has returned the findings that power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished 6 2026:HHC:22815 from the power which lies in the Court to compound the offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable and where the parties have settled the matter between themselves, however, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with great caution. In para Nos. 29 to 29.7 of the judgment Hon'ble Apex Court has laid down certain parameters to be followed, while compounding offences. 10. Careful perusal of para 29.3 of the judgment suggests that such a power is not to be exercised in the cases which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Apart from this, offences committed under special statute like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by Public Servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes may be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves. Aforesaid view 7 2026:HHC:22815 taken by Hon'ble Apex Court has been further reiterated in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and anr. (2012) 10 SCC 303. 11. The Hon’ble Apex Court in case Gian Singh supra has held that power of the High Court in quashing of the criminal proceedings or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent power is distinct and different from the power of a Criminal Court to compound the offences under Section 320 Cr.P.C. Even in the judgment passed in Narinder Singh’s case, the Hon’ble Apex Court has held that while exercising inherent power of quashment under Section 482 Cr.P.C the Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime and its social impact and it cautioned the Courts not to exercise the power for quashing proceedings in heinous and serious offences of mental depravity, murder, rape, dacoity etc. However subsequently, the Hon’ble Apex Court in Dimpey Gujral and Ors. vs. Union Territory through Administrator, UT, Chandigarh and Ors. (2013( 11 SCC 497 has further reiterated that continuation of criminal proceedings would tantamount to abuse of process of law because the alleged offences are not heinous offences showing extreme depravity nor are they against the society. Hon'ble Apex Court further observed that when offences of a personal nature, burying them would bring about peace and amity between the two sides. 12. Hon’ble Apex Court in its judgment dated 4th October, 2017, titled as Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai 8 2026:HHC:22815 Karmur and others versus State of Gujarat and Another, passed in Criminal Appeal No.1723 of 2017 arising out of SLP(Crl) No.9549 of 2016, reiterated the principles/ parameters laid down in Narinder Singh’s case supra for accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings. 13. In the case at hand also, offences alleged to have been committed by petitioner do not involve offences of moral turpitude or any grave/heinous crime, rather same are petty offences, as such, this Court deems it appropriate to quash the FIR as well as consequential proceedings thereto, especially keeping in view the fact that the petitioner and respondents No. 2 to 4 have compromised the matter interse them, in which case, possibility of conviction is remote and no fruitful purpose would be served in continuing with the criminal proceedings. 14. Consequently, in view of the aforesaid discussion as well as law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court (supra), FIR No. 27 of 2020, dated 27.03.2020, under Sections 279, 337, 304-A IPC and Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, registered at Police Station, Jhakri, District Shimla as well as consequent proceedings, if any, pending adjudication in the competent Court of law, are quashed and set aside. Accused is acquitted of the charges framed against him. 15. Needless to say, any observation made in the instant order shall not have bearing on the claim petition, if any, filed by the 9 2026:HHC:22815 parties to the lis, rather same shall be decided on the basis of the pleadings as well as evidence led on record by the parties in those proceedings. 16. The petition stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms, alongwith all pending applications. 17. (Sandeep Sharma), Judge June 17,2026 (shankar)