Akash, Akhil, Akshay Rahul v. State of Kerala

# **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V** **MONDAY, THE 05TH DAY OF AUGUST 2019 / 14TH SRAVANA, 1941** ## **Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019** **CC 384/2019 of JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS -II, CHERTHALA CRIME NO.1268/2018 OF ARTHUNGAL POLICE STATION , ALAPPUZHA** ## **PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NO 1 TO 3:** **1 AKASH AGED 20 YEARS S/O. SANTHOSH, KUNTHELIVELLI HOUSE, WARD NO. V, CHERTHALA SOUTH PANCHYATH, KURUPPANKULANGARA P.O., 688 539, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT. 2 AKHIL AGED 20 YEARS S/O. RAMESHAN, KARUMATHILVELI HOUSE, WARD NO. V, CHERTHALA SOUTH PANCHYATH, KURUPPANKULANGARA P.O., 688 539, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT. 3 AKSHAY RAHUL, AGED 21 YEARS S/O. SISUPALAN, EDAPARRAMBIL HOUSE, WARD NO. V, CHERTHALA SOUTH PANCHYATH, KURUPPANKULANGARA P.O., 688 539, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT. BY ADVS. SRI.M.M.NIAS SMT.SANDHYA R.NAIR** ## **RESPONDENTS/STATE/COMPLAINANT/INJURED:** **1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, KALAMASSERRY POLICE STATION, THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA. 2 AUGUSTINE JOSEPH,** Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 2 **AGED 21 YEARS S/O. JOSEPH, CHAMPAKATTU HOUSE, CHERTHALA SOUTH PANCHYATH, WARD NO. XXI, ARTHUNGAL P.O., 688530.** **3 JERRIN JOSPH, AGED 24 YEARS S/O. JOSPH, CHAMPAKATTU HOUSE, CHERTHALA SOUTH PANCHYATH WARD NO. XXI, ARTHUNGAL-688530** **SMT.V.A.HARITHA** ## **SRI. RAMESH CHAND PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 05.08.2019, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 3 ## **ORDER** Invoking the powers of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (“the Code” for short), the petitioners have approached this Court and have sought to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against them by the 2[nd] respondent herein, which is now pending on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II, Cherthala as C.C. No.384 of 2019. In the above proceeding, the petitioners face indictment for offences punishable under Sections 341, 323, 324 r/w Section 34 of the IPC. 2. From the prosecution records, it is discernible that the allegation against the petitioners is that on 06.12.2018 at about 7 pm, the petitioners herein, in furtherance of their common intention, wrongfully restrained the party respondents and attacked them causing injuries. 3. Heard Sri.M.M.Nias, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Smt.V.A.Haritha, the learned counsel appearing for the party respondents and the learned Public Prosecutor. 4. Smt.V.A.Haritha, the learned counsel appearing for the party respondents, submitted that after much deliberations, the victims have resolved their disputes and differences with the petitioners and they have now decided that the continuance of criminal proceedings is an unwanted exercise. She refers to the affidavits filed by the victims before this Court and asserts that they have Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 4 no objection in bringing the prosecution proceedings to a premature termination. 5. Sri.M.M.Nias, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, urged that in view of the compromise arrived at between the victim and the offender, the possibility of conviction is bleak and the continuation of the criminal proceedings will only inure to put both the parties to oppression and prejudice. Both sides submit that the wrong is basically private in nature and no public interest is involved. 6. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, submitted that the investigating officer has reported that the petitioners are not involved in any other crimes. It is further submitted that the State has no serious objection in quashing the proceedings in view of the settlement arrived at between the parties. 7. I have considered the submissions advanced and have gone through the records. 8. The factors that are to be borne while exercising powers conferred on this Court by Section 482 of the Code in the context of considering a prayer for quashing criminal proceedings on the basis of resolution of disputes between the offender and the victim have been laid down by the Apex Court in **Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Anr** . [(2012) 10 SCC 303]; **Jitendra Raghuvanshi and Others v. Babita Raghuvanshi and Another** [(2013) 4 Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 5 SCC 58]; **Narinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab and Another** [(2014) 6 SCC 466]; **Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and Others v. State of Gujarat and Another** [(2017) 9 SCC 641] and **State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan and others** , [(2019) 4 SCALE 200]. It was held that the inherent jurisdiction vested in the High Court, as recognized and preserved by Section 482 of the Cr.P.C, is primarily to prevent abuse of the process of court or to secure the ends of justice. The guiding light behind the exercise of inherent power is to do real, complete and substantial justice. It was also held that while examining the prayer for quashing of a non compoundable offence, on the basis of settlement of the dispute between the wrongful doer and the victim, this Court must necessarily consider whether the possibility of conviction is remote and oblique and further as to whether the continuation of the criminal proceedings would lead to oppression and prejudice. The courts were reminded that the antecedents of the accused, possible lack of bona fides, his past conduct, including his earlier abscondance, and as to how he had managed to enter into a compromise with the victim are some of the factors which are to reckoned while exercising this extraordinary power. The Apex Court had also cautioned that this Court, when called upon to exercise the power under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C to bring the criminal case to an end on the basis of settlement, must steer clear of intervention in heinous or serious offences, including those involving mental depravity, as indeed economic offences Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 6 affecting the financial and economic well being of the State, such as murder, attempt to murder, extortion, forgery, rape, dacoity, financial or economic frauds, cases under Arms Act, etc. Those offences were held as having a tendency to have a serious impact upon the society and continuation of trial thereof is essential due to overriding element of public interest. It was also held that the mere fact that the police have incorporated a grave offence in the FIR or the final report would not be a deterrent if the records reveal that the ingredients of the offence are not made out 9. In the light of the above principles, I have perused the prosecution records. The injuries allegedly inflicted by the petitioners cannot be said to be grave and serious having ingredients of extreme mental depravity. I have also noted the submission of the learned Public Prosecutor that the statement of the victim has been recorded by the investigating officer and that he has asserted that it is not in his best interest that the prosecution proceedings continue. Having considered the case in hand on the tourchstone of the aforementioned parameters, I am of the view that quashing of proceedings on account of compromise would bring about peace. In a case such as the instant one, even if the prosecution is allowed to continue, it would not serve any purpose as the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak. It can only result in putting the victim and the accused to unwanted oppression and prejudice. Settlement will augur well for the interest of the community and will enable the parties to live in Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 7 peace and harmony. In the result, this petition is allowed. Annexure-A1 final report and all further proceedings pursuant thereto against the petitioners now pending as C.C. No.384 of 2019 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II, Cherthala, are quashed. **Sd/-** **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V** **JUDGE** IAP Crl.MC.No.3669 of 2019 8 ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:** **ANNEXURE A1 CERTIFIED COPY OF FINAL REPORT IN C C NO. 384 OF 2019 PENDING ON THE FILES OF HON'BLE JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT - 11, AT CHERTHALA ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO. 1268 OF 2018, ARTHUNGHAL POLICE STATION.** **ANNEXURE A2 CERTIFIED COPY OF FIRST INFORMATION REPORT IN CRIME NO. 1268 OF 2018 ARTHUNGHAL POLICE STATION.** **ANNEXURE A3 ORIGINAL AFFIDAVIT DATED 21.5.2019 SWORN BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.** **ANNEXURE A4 ORIGINAL AFFIDAVIT DATED 21.5.2019 SWORN BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT.** **RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS:** NIL