Delhi High Court - Orders
Ashish And Anr vs State Govt Of Nct Of Delhi And Anr on 20 March, 2026
Author: Prateek Jalan
Bench: Prateek Jalan
$~91
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ CRL.M.C. 2084/2026
ASHISH AND ANR .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Surendra, Ms. Monika Tyagi,
Ms. Anchal Dubey, Mr. Kapil
Sharma, Ms. Raksha Sharma, Mr.
Manoj Kumar, Advocates
alongwith Petitioners in person.
versus
STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ANR .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Hitesh Vali, APP for State
with ASI Vikram Singh, PS
Karawal Nagar.
Mr. Jitender Kumar, Advocate for
R2 with R2 in person.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN
ORDER
% 20.03.2026
1. The petitioners have filed this petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 ["BNSS"] (corresponding to Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ["CrPC"]) seeking quashing of FIR No. 69/2023 dated 09.02.2023, registered at Police Station Karawal Nagar, District North-East, New Delhi, under Sections 498A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ["IPC"], read with Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 ["the DP Act"], alongwith all proceedings emanating therefrom, on the ground of settlement.
2. Issue notice. Mr. Hitesh Vali, learned Additional Public CRL.M.C. 2084/2026 Page 1 of 6 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/03/2026 at 20:59:32 Prosecutor, accepts notice on behalf of the State. Mr. Jitender Kumar, learned counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent No. 2 - complainant.
3. The marriage between petitioner No. 1 and respondent No. 2 was solemnized on 06.03.2016. One child was born from the wedlock on 02.01.2018. However, due to matrimonial discord and temperamental differences between the parties, they started living separately since January 2021.
4. Subsequently, respondent No. 2 lodged a formal complaint with the Crime against Women Cell, which culminated into the impugned FIR, against two accused persons, being her husband and mother-in-law [petitioners herein]. Upon completion of investigation, a chargesheet was filed.
5. The parties have since settled their disputes, as recorded in a Mediation Settlement dated 11.08.2025, under the aegis of the Delhi Mediation Centre, Tis Hazari Courts, New Delhi. Accordingly, they seek quashing of the impugned FIR.
6. The petitioners are present in Court, and have been identified by their learned counsel, as well as by the Investigating Officer. Respondent No. 2 is also present in Court, and is identified by her learned counsel and the Investigating Officer.
7. Pursuant to the settlement, the marriage between petitioner No. 1 and respondent No. 2 has been dissolved by a decree of divorce by mutual consent, passed by the Family Court on 27.01.2026.
8. The settlement contemplates payment of a sum of Rs. 5,00,000/- to respondent No. 2 by petitioner No. 1 towards full and final settlement. I CRL.M.C. 2084/2026 Page 2 of 6 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/03/2026 at 20:59:32 am informed that an amount of Rs. 4,00,000/- has already been paid in terms of the settlement. The balance amount of Rs. 1,00,000/- has been handed over to respondent No. 2 in Court.
9. Learned counsel for the parties confirm that the settlement has been entered into voluntarily and without any coercion or undue pressure.
10. Although the offences under Section 498A of the IPC and Section 4 of the DP Act are non-compoundable, the Supreme Court has clearly held that, in certain circumstances, the High Courts, in exercise of their powers under Section 482 of the CrPC [corresponding to Section 528 of the BNSS], can quash criminal proceedings, even with respect to non- compoundable offences, on the ground that there is a compromise between the accused and the complainant, especially when no overarching public interest is adversely affected.
11. The Supreme Court, in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Anr. [(2012) 10 SCC 303], held as follows:
"58. Where the High Court quashes a criminal proceeding having regard to the fact that the dispute between the offender and the victim has been settled although the offences are not compoundable, it does so as in its opinion, continuation of criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility and justice in the case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to an end and peace is restored; securing the ends of justice being the ultimate guiding factor. No doubt, crimes are acts which have harmful effect on the public and consist in wrongdoing that seriously endangers and threatens the well-being of the society and it is not safe to leave the crime-doer only because he and the victim have settled the dispute amicably or that the victim has been paid compensation, yet certain crimes have been made compoundable in law, with or without the permission of the court. In respect of serious offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc., or other offences of mental depravity under IPC or offences of moral turpitude under special statutes, like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, the settlement between the offender and the victim can have no legal CRL.M.C. 2084/2026 Page 3 of 6 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/03/2026 at 20:59:32 sanction at all. However, certain offences which overwhelmingly and predominantly bear civil flavour having arisen out of civil, mercantile, commercial, financial, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony, particularly relating to dowry, etc. or the family dispute, where the wrong is basically to the victim and the offender and the victim have settled all disputes between them amicably, irrespective of the fact that such offences have not been made compoundable, the High Court may within the framework of its inherent power, quash the criminal proceeding or criminal complaint or FIR if it is satisfied that on the face of such settlement, there is hardly any likelihood of the offender being convicted and by not quashing the criminal proceedings, justice shall be casualty and ends of justice shall be defeated. The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Each case will depend on its own facts and no hard-and- fast category can be prescribed."
[Emphasis supplied.] Further, in Narinder Singh and Ors. v. State of Punjab and Anr. [(2014) 6 SCC 466], the Supreme Court has also laid down guidelines for High Courts while accepting settlement deeds between parties and quashing the proceedings. The relevant observations in the said decision read 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
(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 CRL.M.C. 2084/2026 Page 4 of 6 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/03/2026 at 20:59:32 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."
[Emphasis supplied.]
12. In the present case, the proceedings between the parties arise out of a matrimonial relationship, which has already culminated in a decree of divorce. Applying the tests laid down by the Supreme Court, it may be observed that respondent No. 2 has also categorically affirmed the voluntary nature of the settlement before the Court. In these circumstances, the criminal proceedings are unlikely to result in conviction, and its continuation would be an empty formality, adding to the burden of the justice system and consuming public resources unnecessarily.
13. As noted above, the settlement amount of Rs. 5,00,000/- has been received by respondent No. 2. There is, therefore, no impediment to the grant of the relief sought.
14. Having regard to the above discussion, the petition is allowed, and FIR No. 69/2023 dated 09.02.2023, registered at Police Station Karawal Nagar, District North-East, New Delhi, under Sections 498A/406/34 of CRL.M.C. 2084/2026 Page 5 of 6 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/03/2026 at 20:59:32 the IPC, read with Section 4 of the DP Act, alongwith all consequential proceedings arising therefrom, is hereby quashed.
15. The parties will remain bound by the terms of the settlement.
16. The petition stands disposed of.
17. It is made clear that the settlement as well as the present order does not affect the rights of the minor child, who remains in the custody of respondent No. 2.
PRATEEK JALAN, J MARCH 20, 2026 'pv/KA'/ CRL.M.C. 2084/2026 Page 6 of 6 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/03/2026 at 20:59:32