High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeThe Criminal Misc. Case is allowed; FIR and fin...

Abdul Sathar and Others v. State of Kerala and Muhammed Shine Shan M.K.

Case / Petition Number:Crl.MC.No.2652 of 2013

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • V.K. Mohanan
Judgment Date
2013-06-28
Court Decision / Holding
Crl.M.C. allowed; quashing Annexure A1 FIR and final report and all further proceedings pending against the petitioners in C.C.No.517/10 of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Kasaragod, in Crime No.373/2010 of Kasaragod Police Station.
Final Disposition
The Criminal Misc. Case is allowed; FIR and final report and all further proceedings are quashed against the petitioners.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Abdul Sathar
  • Noushad
  • Kaisal
  • Niyas
  • Aboobacker
  • Sameer N.M

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by the Sub-Inspector of Kasaragod Police Station, represented through Public Prosecutor
  • Muhammed Shine Shan M.K.

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri. Salim V.S.

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Public Prosecutor
  • • Sri. H. Nujumudeen

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Kerala High Court criminal miscellaneous case (Crl.M.C. No. 2652 of 2013) under section 482 Cr.P.C. arising from a police report in Crime No. 373/2010 at Kasaragod for offences under IPC sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 324 read with 149. The petitioners, accused Nos. 1 to 6, seek to quash Annexure A1 FIR, the final report, and all further proceedings against them in C.C.No.517/10 of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Kasaragod, on the ground that the matter has been settled amicably out of court. The de facto complainant (2nd respondent) states he has no grievance and does not intend to proceed against the petitioners; the Public Prosecutor has no objection. The court notes the offences are mainly personal with no public interest involved, and that the parties settled the dispute, reducing the likelihood of conviction. It relies on the Supreme Court’s Gian Singh v. State of Punjab decision, which clarifies the High Court’s inherent power to quash in cases where ends of justice require and where settlements render continued proceedings unjust or oppressive. In light of these facts and the settled position, the court allows the Crl.M.C., quashing the FIR, final report, and all further proceedings against the petitioners.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 482, Cr.P.C.Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 324 r/w 149, IPC

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Inherent power of the High Court to quash criminal proceedings under Cr.P.C. 482; ends of justice; prevent abuse of process of court.
  • Gian Singh v. State of Punjab (Supreme Court) — broad guidance on when quashing may be appropriate in settled disputes and personal offences; that quashing should promote settlement and prevent abuse of process.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contend that the case should be quashed because the dispute has been amicably settled, continuing proceedings would constitute abuse of process, and the offences involved are personal with no public interest. They rely on the settled out-of-court arrangement and the need to promote settlement, citing Gian Singh to illustrate the court's power to quash where ends of justice require and where prosecution would be oppressive given the settlement.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents submit that the de facto complainant does not intend to pursue the matter and has no grievance, and thus the continuation of proceedings would be unnecessary and oppressive. The Public Prosecutor has no objection. They also cite Gian Singh as authority for considering quashing in light of the settlement, but emphasize prudence given the private nature of the dispute.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Gian Singh v. State of Punjab2012(4) KLT 108(SC)PositiveCited as controlling authority on the High Court’s inherent power to quash criminal proceedings in settled disputes, emphasizing ends of justice and preventing abuse of process.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** **PRESENT:** **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.K.MOHANAN** # **FRIDAY, THE 28TH DAY OF JUNE 2013/7TH ASHADHA, 193** **Crl.MC.No. 2652 of 2013 ()** **--------------------------CC.NO. 517/2010 OF CHIEF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE COURT ,KASARAGOD CRIME NO. 373/2010 OF KASARAGOD POLICE STATION , KASARGOD** **------------------------------------------** ## **PETITIONER(S)/ACCUSED NO.1 TO 6 :** **-------------------------------------------------------** **1. ABDUL SATHAR, S/O.MUHAMMED KUNJI,AGED 22 YEARS, KOLLAMPADI HOUSE, KASABA VILLAGE, ANANGOOR, P.O. VIDYANAGAR, KASARAGOD- 671 123.** **2. NOUSHAD,S/O.ABUBACKER,AGED 21 YEARS, FAIZAL MANZIL, NEAR T.V STATION, ANANGOOR, P.O VIDYANAGAR, KASARAGOD- 671 123.** **3. KAISAL, S/O.MEHAMOOD,AGED 23 YEARS, PALLIKKAL HOUSE, ANANGOOR,TIPPUNAGAR, P.O VIDYANAGAR, KASARAGOD-671 123.** **4. NIYAS,S/O.ABUBACKER, AGED 22 YEARS, T.V.STATION ROAD, ANANGOOR, P.O VIDYANAGAR, KASARAGOD -671 123.** **5. ABOOBACKER,S/O.MUHAMMED, AGED 55 YEARS, T.V.STATION ROAD, ANANGOOR, P.O VIDYANAGAR, KASARAGOD- 671 123.** **6. SAMEER N.M,S/O.MOIDU, AGED 23 YEARS, RIYAS MANZIL, MEHABOOB ROAD,ANANKOOR, KASABA VILLAGE, KASARAGOD DISTRICT-671 123.** **BY ADV. SRI.SALIM V.S.** ## **RESPONDENTS/COMPLAINANT :** **---------------------------------------------------** **1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KASARAGOD POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED THROUGH PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM.** **2. MUHAMMED SHINE SHAN M.K,AGED 23 YEARS, S/O.S.M.ABDUL KAREEM, SAPNA RESIDENCE, ARAFA ROAD, ANANKOOR, KASARAGOD DISTRICT, PIN- 671 121.** **R1 BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR R2 BY ADV. SRI.H.NUJUMUDEEN** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 28-06-2013, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** **sts** **Crl.MC.No. 2652 of 2013 () -------------------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** **PETITIONER(S)' ANNEXURES: -------------------------------------------ANNEX A1. CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FIR & FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO.373/2010. ANNEX A2. AFFIDAVIT DULY SIGNED BY THE DEFACTO COMPLAINT ATTESTED BY A NOTARY PUBLIC. RESPONDENT(S)' ANNEXURES: NIL** ## **/TRUE COPY/** **P.A.TO.JUDGE** **sts** ## **V.K.MOHANAN, J.** **------------------------------Crl.M.C.No.2652 of 2013 ------------------------------Dated this the 28[th] day of June, 2013.** ## **O R D E R** The above petition is filed under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code (for short 'Cr.P.C.') at the instance of the petitioners, who are accused Nos. 1 to 6 in C.C.No.517/10 of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Kasaragod, which is a case instituted upon the police report [in Crime No. 373/2010 of Kasaragod Police Station] for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 324 r/w 149 of I.P.C., with a prayer to quash Annexure A1 FIR and final report and all further proceedings against the petitioners in the above calendar case, as the matter is settled out of court. 2. The allegation in the above case is that out of a verbal altercation occurred between the accused and de facto complainant, that taken place on 13.4.2010 on the 2 ## **Crl.M.C.No.2652 of 2013** way to the Church, and the accused formed themselves into an unlawful assembly and with deadly weapon had attacked the de facto complainant after restraining him and beaten him with stick, and the 2[nd] accused beat him when he fallen down and thereby the accused committed the offence punishable under sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 324 r/w 149 of I.P.C. Now, the case of the petitioners is that the matter is settled out of court, as evident from Annexure A2 affidavit dated 22.6.2013. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners as well as the 2[nd] respondent. I have also heard the learned Public Prosecutor. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that during the pendency of the above case, the matter is settled amicably between the parties to the dispute which is the subject matter of the above case. Therefore, the continuation of the proceedings in the above case is abuse of process of law and proceedings. 5. The learned counsel for the 2[nd] respondent who on the basis of specific instruction received from the 3 ## **Crl.M.C.No.2652 of 2013** respondent submitted that the above respondent, who is the de facto complainant does not intend to proceed any further against the petitioners and he has no grievance against them. 6. I have carefully considered the above submissions of the respective counsel. I have verified the documents and materials produced along with the above petition. In the given facts and circumstances of the case and especially in the light of the settlement arrived between the parties to the dispute, the learned Public Prosecutor has also no objection in allowing the above petition. 7. Having regard to the facts and circumstances involved in the case, it can be seen that the offences involved in the above case are only under sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 324 r/w 149 of I.P.C. which are more or less personal in nature and no public interest is involved. It is pertinent to note that though such offences are involved, the real parties to the dispute approached this Court after having amicably settled the matter. 4 ## **Crl.M.C.No.2652 of 2013** From the submission made by the counsel for the 2[nd] respondent, it appears to me that the de facto complainant has no further grievance against the petitioners/accused in the light of the settlement arrived by them. In this juncture, it is relevant to note the decision of the Honourable Apex Court reported in **Gian Singh** v. **State of Punjab** [2012(4) KLT 108(SC)]. In Gian Singh's case, the Supreme Court has held as follows:- “57. 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 S.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 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.” ## It is further held as follows:- “......... But the criminal cases having 5 **Crl.M.C.No.2652 of 2013** overwhelmingly and pre-dominatingly civil flavour stand on different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercandile, 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, 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........” According to me, in the light of the facts and circumstances involved in the present case and particularly in view of the settlement arrived in the present case, the dictum laid in the above decision is applicable in the present case. According to me, as the parties to the dispute settled the issues amicably, it is the duty of this Court to promote and encourage such settlement, instead of compelling the parties to go on with the dispute. It is pertinent to note that since the matter is settled out of court, in the event of proceeding with the trial, there would not have any fruitful 6 ## **Crl.M.C.No.2652 of 2013** prosecution resulting the conviction of the accused, rather the net result would be sheer waste of judicial time and abuse of process of the court and proceedings. Thus, according to me, following the decisions cited supra, this Criminal M.C. can be allowed granting the relief as sought for. In the result, this Crl.M.C. is allowed, quashing Annexure - A1 FIR and final report and all further proceedings pending against the petitioners in C.C.No.517/10 of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Kasaragod, in Crime No.373/2010 of Kasaragod Police Station. Sd/- **V.K.MOHANAN, Judge** ami/ //True copy// P.A. to Judge