Himachal Pradesh High Court
Attar Singh vs State Of H.P. And Others on 1 April, 2019
Author: Tarlok Singh Chauhan
Bench: Tarlok Singh Chauhan
IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA .
Cr. MMO No. 152 of 2019.
Date of decision: 01.04.2019.
Attar Singh .....Petitioner
Versus
State of H.P. and others ..... Respondents.
Coram
The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Judge.
Whether approved for reporting?1 No
For the Petitioner : Mr. Dinender Panwar, Advocate.
For the Respondents: Mr.Vinod Thakur, Additional
Advocate General with Mr.
Bhupinder Thakur and Ms.
Svaneel Jaswal, Dy.A.Gs and Mr.
Ram Lal Thakur, Asstt. A.G. for
respondent No.1.
Mr. B.R.Sharma, Advocate, for
respondents No.2 and 3.
Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Judge (Oral).
This petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short 'Code') has been preferred by the petitioner for quashing of FIR No.138 of 2018, dated 27.7.2018, registered at Police Station, Dhalli, District Shimla, under Section 279 of IPC and Sections 181, 185 and 187 of the 1 Whether the reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the Judgment?Yes ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 2 Motor Vehicles Act and all consequent proceedings arising therefrom.
.
2. Brief facts of the case are that on 27.7.2018 at about 7.15 P.M. the bus bearing registration No. HP-51A-7506 was being driven by the petitioner which hit the vehicles bearing registration No. HP-52A-9637 ) and HP-10-0107 (Santro) belong to respondents No.2 and 3, which were standing in the side of the road at Bhattakuffer, Shimla. On this, the aforesaid FIR was registered by respondent No.2 against the petitioner.
3. Today, when the case was taken up, it is stated by learned counsel for the petitioner that the matter has amicably been settled between the parties as per compromise deed dated 7.3.2019, annexed as Annexure P-1 on the file. This statement of learned counsel for the petitioner is not disputed by learned counsel for respondents No.2 and 3., who in turn stated that he has instructions from his clients to compound the matter as the matter has amicably been compromised between the parties and the complainant/respondents do not want to pursue the case any further against the petitioner.
4. Though the State has expressed its slight reservation regarding compounding of the offences, but I find that this is not such wherein the offences for which the petitioner has been ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 3 charged can be stricto sensu held to be the offences against the State. Even otherwise, once the complainant/respondents No.2 .
and 3 have compromised the matter, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and the continuation of the criminal case against the petitioner would put him to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case.
5. In Narinder Singh & Ors. v. State of Punjab & Anr. JT 2014 (4) SC 573 the Hon'ble Supreme Court after summing up the legal position has laid down the following guidelines for the High Court in giving adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising its powers 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, which reads thus:-
"(I) 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, ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 4 this power is to be exercised sparingly and with caution.
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(II) 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. (III)Such a power is not 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 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. (IV)On the other, those criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominantly 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.
(V)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 ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 5 would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to .
him by not quashing the criminal cases.
(VI)Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore is 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/delegate 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 later case it would be permissible for the High Court to accept the plea compounding the offence based on complete settlement between the parties. At this stage, the Court can also be swayed by the fact that the settlement between the parties ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 6 is going to result in harmony between them which may improve their future relationship.
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(VII) 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 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 ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 7 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."
6. It would be seen that prior to Narinder Singh's case (supra), a three Hon'ble Judges Bench had considered the relevant scope of Sections 482 and 320 Cr.P.C. in Gian Singh versus State of Punjab and another (2012) 10 SCC 303 wherein it was 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 for compounding offences under Section 320 Cr.P.C. 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. It warned the High Court for quashing proceedings in heinous and serious offences of mental depravity, murder, rape, dacoity etc. which principles have been reported and reaffirmed in Narinder Singh's case (supra).
7. The principles in Narinder Singh's case (supra) were thereafter reiterated and reaffirmed in Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai and others versus State of ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 8 Gujarat and another, (2017) 9 SCC 641, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court laid down the following broad .
principles for exercising inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing of FIR/criminal complaint, which read thus:-
"(i) Section 482 preserves the inherent powers of the High Court to prevent an abuse of the process of any court or to secure the ends of justice. The provision does not confer new powers. It only recognises and preserves powers which inhere in the High Court;
(ii) The invocation of the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a First Information Report or a criminal proceeding on the ground that a settlement has been arrived at between the offender and the victim is not the same as the invocation of jurisdiction for the purpose of compounding an offence. While compounding an offence, the power of the court is governed by the provisions of Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power to quash under Section 482 is attracted even if the offence is non-compoundable.
(iii) In forming an opinion whether a criminal proceeding or complaint should be quashed in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482, the High Court must evaluate whether the ends of justice would justify the exercise of the inherent power;::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 9
(iv) While the inherent power of the High Court has a wide ambit and plenitude it has to be exercised; (i) to .
secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court;
(v) The decision as to whether a complaint or First Information Report should be quashed on the ground that the offender and victim have settled the dispute, revolves ultimately on the facts and circumstances of each case and no exhaustive elaboration of principles can be formulated;
(vi) In the exercise of the power under Section 482 and while dealing with a plea that the dispute has been settled, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the offence. Heinous and serious offences involving mental depravity or offences such as murder, rape and dacoity cannot appropriately be quashed though the victim or the family of the victim have settled the dispute. Such offences are, truly speaking, not private in nature but have a serious impact upon society. The decision to continue with the trial in such cases is founded on the overriding element of public interest in punishing persons for serious offences;
(vii) As distinguished from serious offences, there may be criminal cases which have an overwhelming or predominant element of a civil dispute. They stand on a distinct footing in so far as the exercise of the inherent power to quash is concerned;
::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 10(viii) Criminal cases involving offences which arise from commercial, financial, mercantile, partnership or similar .
transactions with an essentially civil flavour may in appropriate situations fall for quashing where parties have settled the dispute;
(ix) In such a case, the High Court may quash the criminal proceeding if in view of the compromise between the disputants, the possibility of a conviction is remote and the continuation of a criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice; and
(x) There is yet an exception to the principle set out in propositions (viii) and (ix) above. Economic offences involving the financial and economic well-being of the state have implications which lie beyond the domain of a mere dispute between private disputants. The High Court would be justified in declining to quash where the offender is involved in an activity akin to a financial or economic fraud or misdemeanour. The consequences of the act complained of upon the financial or economic system will weigh in the balance."
8. Now, the further question remains, whether this Court can quash proceedings where the petitioner has been charged under Section 279 of IPC and Sections 181, 185 and 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act. This question need not detain this Court any longer in view of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Dimpey Gujral, W/o Vivek Gujral and ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 11 others versus Union Territory through Administrator, UT, Chandigarh and others (2013) 11 SCC 497 where the .
Hon'ble Supreme Court in a case seeking quashment of FIR and its consequential proceedings involving Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 307, 452 and 506 IPC after relying upon the judgment of Gian Singh's case (supra) held as follows:-
"7. In certain decisions of this court in view of the settlement arrived at by the parties, this court quashed the FIRs though some of the offences were non-
compoundable. A two Judges' Bench of this court doubted the correctness of those decisions. Learned Judges felt that in those decisions, this court had permitted compounding of non-compoundable offences. The said issue was, therefore, referred to a larger bench.
The larger Bench in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab (2012) 10 SCC 303 considered the relevant provisions of the Code and the judgments of this court and concluded as under: (SCC pp.342-43, para 61) "61. The position that emerges from the above discussion can be summarised thus: the power of the High Court in quashing a criminal proceeding or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is distinct and different from the power given to a criminal court for compounding the offences under Section 320 of the Code. Inherent power is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation but it has to be exercised in accord with the guideline engrafted in such power viz; (i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any Court. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 12 complaint or F.I.R may be exercised where the offender and victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case .
and no category can be prescribed. However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime. Heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victim's family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity etc; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil flavour r stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute. In this category of cases, the High Court may quash criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of criminal case would put accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceeding or continuation of the criminal proceeding would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and compromise between the victim and wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceeding."
(emphasis supplied)
8. In the light of the above observations of this court in Gian Singh, we feel that this is a case where the ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 13 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. They are offences of a personal nature and burying them would bring about peace and amity between the two sides. In the circumstances of the case, FIR No.163 dated 26/10/2006 registered under Section 147, 148,149, 323, 307, 452 and 506 of the IPC at Police Station Sector 3,Chandigarh and all consequential proceedings arising there from including the final report presented under Section 173 of the Code and charges framed by the trial court are hereby quashed."
9. Keeping in view the aforesaid guidelines, it is not disputed that the parties have reached a settlement and on that basis have preferred the present proceedings seeking quashment of the FIR. Once the complainant/respondents No.2 and 3 do not want to hold the petitioner responsible, the quashing of such FIR would definitely be to secure the ends of justice and to prevent abuse of process of the Court.
10. The facts of this case otherwise do not in any manner fall within the exceptions laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court where compromise cannot be entered into or the proceedings cannot be quashed.
::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP 1411. Thus, taking holistic view of the matter and looking into all attending facts and circumstances, I find this to be a fit .
case to exercise powers under Section 482 of the Code and accordingly, FIR No.138 of 2018, dated 27.7.2018, registered at Police Station, Dhalli, District Shimla, under Section 279 of IPC and Sections 181, 185 and 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act and all consequent proceedings arising therefrom i.e. case No.529 of 2018 pending in the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate 1 st Class, Court No.5, Shimla, against the petitioner, are quashed.
12. The petition stands allowed in the aforesaid terms.
Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of.
1st April, 2019. (Tarlok Singh Chauhan) (GR) Judge ::: Downloaded on - 02/04/2019 22:00:28 :::HCHP