[2026:JHHC:11629] 1 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Cr.M.P. No.1028 of 2026 ------ 1. Santosh Yadav @ Bholu, Aged about 23 years, S/O- Kailu Yadav, 2. Chandan Yadav, Aged about 23 years, S/O- Kamli Yadav, Both are R/O- Phularitand, P.O. + P.S.- Madhuban, District- Dhanbad. … Petitioners Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand 2. Sahdeo Handi @ Sahdev Hadi, S/O- Late Gokul Handi, R/O- Fularitand, Das Tola, P.O. + P.S. – Madhuban, District- Dhanbad … Opposite Parties ------ For the Petitioners : Mr. Pratiush Lala, Advocate For the State : Mr. Vineet Kr. Vashistha, Spl.P.P. For the O.P. No.2 : Mr. Deepak Sahu, Advocate ------ P R E S E N T HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY By the Court:- Heard the parties. 2. This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition has been filed invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 with the prayer to quash the entire criminal proceeding including the First Information Report in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case no. 53 of 2023 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 323, 307, 354, 427, 448, 509 of the Indian Penal Code [2026:JHHC:11629] 2 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989, of the court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Dhanbad. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned counsel for the opposite party No.2- informant jointly draw the attention of this Court towards Interlocutory Application No.4932 of 2026 which is supported by the separate affidavits of the petitioners as well as the opposite party No.2- informant and submit that therein, it has categorically been mentioned that the petitioners and the opposite party No.2 have settled their dispute outside of the court due to intervention of common friends and well- wishers. It is next submitted that there is no allegation against the petitioners of assaulting with any sharp cutting weapons or fire arm upon the victim, hence, otherwise also the offence punishable under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code is not made out and to make a case serious one, some exaggeration was made, at the time of intuition of the FIR. It is then submitted that in view of the settlement, the informant - opposite party No.2 does not want to proceed with the case against the petitioners. It is then jointly submitted that the investigation of the case is still going on. Learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned counsel for the opposite party No.2- informant further jointly submit that the dispute between [2026:JHHC:11629] 3 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 the parties is primarily a private dispute of civil nature and no public policy is involved in this case. It is further submitted that in view of the compromise between the parties, the continuation of this criminal proceeding will amount to abuse of process of law as in view of the compromise, the chances of conviction of the petitioners is remote and bleak. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioners relies upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Narinder Singh & Others vs. State of Punjab & Another reported in (2014) 6 SCC 466. Learned counsel for the petitioners next relies upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Ramawatar vs. State of Madhya Pradesh reported in (2022) 13 SCC 635, para-17 of which reads as under:- “17. On the other hand, where it appears to the Court that the offence in question, although covered under the SC/ST Act, is primarily private or civil in nature, or where the alleged offence has not been committed on account of the caste of the victim, or where the continuation of the legal proceedings would be an abuse of the process of law, the Court can exercise its powers to quash the proceedings. On similar lines, when considering a prayer for quashing on the basis of a compromise/settlement, if the Court is satisfied that the underlying objective of the Act would not be contravened or diminished even if the felony in question goes unpunished, the mere fact that the offence is covered under a “special statute” would not refrain this Court or the High Court, from exercising their respective powers under Article 142 of the Constitution or Section 482 CrPC.” 5. Hence, it is jointly submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned counsel for the opposite party No.2 that the entire criminal proceeding including the First [2026:JHHC:11629] 4 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 Information Report in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case no. 53 of 2023, be quashed and set aside. 6. Learned Spl.P.P. appearing for the State submits that in view of the compromise between the parties, the State has no objection for quashing the entire criminal proceeding including the First Information Report in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case no. 53 of 2023. 7. Having heard the rival submissions made at the Bar and after carefully going through the materials available in the record, it is pertinent to mention here that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Narinder Singh and Others vs. State of Punjab & Another reported in (2014) 6 SCC 466 paragraph-29 of which reads as under: “29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with direction to continue with the criminal proceedings: 29.1. Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be distinguished 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 the criminal proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution. 29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure: (i) ends of justice, or [2026:JHHC:11629] 5 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives. 29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions 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. Similarly, for the offences alleged to have been 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. 29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have resolved their entire disputes among themselves. 29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal cases. 29.6. Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be generally treated as crime against the society and not against the individual alone. However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because there is a mention of Section 307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as to whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to proving the charge under Section 307 IPC. For this purpose, it would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained, whether such injury is inflicted on the vital/delicate parts of the body, nature of weapons used, etc. Medical report in respect of injuries suffered by the victim can generally be the guiding factor. On the basis of this prima facie analysis, the High Court can examine as to whether there is a strong possibility of conviction or the chances of conviction are remote and bleak. In the former case it can refuse to accept the settlement and quash the criminal proceedings whereas in the latter case it would be permissible for the High Court to accept the plea compounding the offence based on complete settlement [2026:JHHC:11629] 6 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 between the parties. At this stage, the Court can also be swayed by the fact that the settlement between the parties is going to result in harmony between them which may improve their future relationship. 29.7. While deciding whether to exercise its power under Section 482 of the Code or not, timings of settlement play a crucial role. Those cases where the settlement is arrived at immediately after the alleged commission of offence and the matter is still under investigation, the High Court may be liberal in accepting the settlement to quash the criminal proceedings/investigation. It is because of the reason that at this stage the investigation is still on and even the charge-sheet has not been filed. Likewise, those cases where the charge is framed but the evidence is yet to start or the evidence is still at infancy stage, the High Court can show benevolence in exercising its powers favourably, but after prima facie assessment of the circumstances/material mentioned above. On the other hand, where the prosecution evidence is almost complete or after the conclusion of the evidence the matter is at the stage of argument, normally the High Court should refrain from exercising its power under Section 482 of the Code, as in such cases the trial court would be in a position to decide the case finally on merits and to come to a conclusion as to whether the offence under Section 307 IPC is committed or not. Similarly, in those cases where the conviction is already recorded by the trial court and the matter is at the appellate stage before the High Court, mere compromise between the parties would not be a ground to accept the same resulting in acquittal of the offender who has already been convicted by the trial court. Here charge is proved under Section 307 IPC and conviction is already recorded of a heinous crime and, therefore, there is no question of sparing a convict found guilty of such a crime.” (Emphasis supplied) had the occasion to consider the scope and ambit of section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (which corresponds to Section 528 of the B.N.S.S., 2023) vis-à-vis exercise of the said power for quashing the criminal cases, inter alia involving the offences punishable under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. [2026:JHHC:11629] 7 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 8. Perusal of the record reveals that the offences involved in this case are not heinous offences nor is there any serious offence of mental depravity involved in this case, rather the same relates to private dispute between the parties in which no public policy is involved. 9. Because of the complete settlement between the alleged offender and the victim, the possibility of conviction of the petitioners is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal proceeding would put the petitioners to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to them by not quashing the criminal proceeding despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. 10. Hence, this Court is of the considered view that this is a fit case where the entire criminal proceeding including the First Information Report in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case no. 53 of 2023 which is now pending in the court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Dhanbad, be quashed and set aside against the petitioners named above. 11. Accordingly, the entire criminal proceeding including the First Information Report in connection with Madhuban P.S. Case no. 53 of 2023 which is now pending in the court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge-I-cum-Special Judge, SC/ST Act, [2026:JHHC:11629] 8 Cr. M.P. No.1028 of 2026 Dhanbad, is quashed and set aside against the petitioners named above. 12. In the result, this Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is allowed. 13. In view of disposal of this Criminal Miscellaneous Petition, I.A. No. 4932 of 2026 is disposed of accordingly. (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi Dated the 21st of April, 2026 AFR/ Saroj Uploaded on 23/04/2026