HARMANMOHAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONERS have filed this petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 seeking quashing of the FIR No.27 dated 23.01.2011 under Sections 406 and 498 -A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC' for short) registered at Police Station Tripari Town, Patiala, District Patiala and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom in view of the compromise arrived at between the parties. Vide order dated 19.11.2013, the trial court was directed to record the statements of the parties and send its report qua genuineness of the compromise.

(2.) IN pursuance to the said order, the trial court after recording the statements of the parties has reported that the compromise effected between the parties was without any pressure or coercion. As per the Full Bench judgment of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab, 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, High Court has power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to allow the compounding of non -compoundable offence and quash the prosecution where the High Court felt that the same was required to prevent the abuse of the process of any Court or to otherwise secure the ends of justice. This power of quashing is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone.

(3.) SINCE the parties have arrived at a compromise and have decided to live in peace, no useful purpose would be served in allowing the criminal proceedings to continue.