CRL. M.C. NOS.9903 & 9927 OF 2023
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- P. V. Kunhikrishnan
- Judgment Date
- 2023-11-27
- Court Decision / Holding
- 1) Crl.M.C. No.9903 of 2023 is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.857/2023 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court‑I, Manjeri arising from Crime No.280/2023 are quashed. 2) Crl.M.C. No.9927 of 2023 is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioners in C.C.846/2023 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court‑I, Manjeri arising from Crime No.282/2023 are quashed.
- Final Disposition
- Quashed
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- SAINUL ABID
- GOKUL
- ABDUL VAHID
- ASLAM SAJJAD
- SHIHAB C.K
- KUNHU MUHAMMED
- MUSTHAFA PAZHERI
- ABDUL NAZER
- PAZHERI FAYIS
Respondents
- STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031
- PAZHERI FAYIS AGED 25 YEARS, S/O. MUHAMMED MUSTHAFA, PAZHERI HOUSE, KARUVANKALLU, MELANGADI, KARIPPUR P.O., MALAPPURAM, PIN - 673638
- MUFEED S/O. KUNJI, PAZHERI HOUSE, KARUVANKALLU, PERUVALLUR P.O., MALAPPURAM., PIN - 673638
- STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM., PIN - 682031
- SAINUL ABID AGED 34 YEARS, S/O. IBRAIM, PATTAYIL HOUSE, MATHAMKULAM, KARIPPUR P.O., MALAPPURAM., PIN - 673638
- GOKUL AGED 24 YEARS, S/O. UNNIKRISHNAN, UMMALATH THOTTIYIL HOUSE, MATHAMKULAM, KARIPPUR P.O., MALAPPURAM., PIN - 673638
- ABDUL VAHID AGED 27 YEARS, S/O. MUHAMMED, NARANGATTU HOUSE, PALLIKKAL, KARIPPUR P.O., MALAPPURAM., PIN - 673638
- ASLAM SAJAD AGED 33 YEARS, S/O. AHAMMED KABEER, MANNARAKKAL HOUSE, KUMMINIPARAMBU, MATHAMKULAM, KARIPPUR P.O., MALAPPURAM., PIN - 673638
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • K.K. DHEERENDRAKRISHNAN
- • N P ASHA ABDUSSAMAD K.K.
- • ADV. SHAJIN S.HAMEED
Counsels for Respondents
- • Smt. SREEJA V, PP
- • SRI. SHAJIN S HAMEED
Case Synopsis & Summary
These connected Criminal Miscellaneous Cases arise from two separate Crime Nos. 280/2023 and 282/2023 registered at Karipur Police Station, Malappuram, pending in the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Manjeri as CC 857/2023 and CC 846/2023 respectively. The petitioners in CRL.M.C. No.9903/2023 (five accused) seek quashing under Section 482 CrPC, asserting that the disputes have been settled and victims have no objections, with affidavits supporting the settlement. The petitioners in CRL.M.C. No.9927/2023 (four accused) are similarly situated. The Respondents include the State represented by the Public Prosecutor and the private victims. The High Court, noting the mutual settlement and the lack of grievance, examined the law on quashing non‑compoundable offences under S.482 CrPC, drawing guidance from Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan and Others (2019) 5 SCC 688, and the earlier decisions Gian Singh v. State of Punjab (2012) 10 SCC 303 and Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab (2014) 6 SCC 466. The court held that quashing is permissible where the dispute is private, civil in character, and the settlement resolves the matter; however, it should not apply to heinous offences or offences under special statutes. On these facts, the dispute is private and settled; therefore, both Crl.M.Cs are allowed and further proceedings in CC No.857/2023 and CC No.846/2023 are quashed.
Provisions of Law Cited
Legal Doctrines & Maxims
- Private nature of offences / civil character of disputes
- Settlement/compromise as a basis for quashing non‑compoundable offences under S.482 CrPC
- Exceptions to quashing for heinous offences and for offences under special statutes (e.g., Prevention of Corruption Act)
- Laxmi Narayan principle (para 13 of the judgment) guiding when quashing is permissible in private disputes
- Narinder Singh, Gian Singh jurisprudence supporting the approach to quashing after settlement
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The petitioners submit that the disputes during Crime Nos. 280/2023 and 282/2023 at Karipur Police Station have been amicably settled with no further grievance by the victims. affidavits from the victims support the settlements. They contend that under S.482 CrPC, quashing is permissible where the offence is private in nature and the parties have resolved the dispute; the offences involved are non‑compoundable but private in character, and the consequences on society are limited given the non‑serious nature of the injuries. The petitioners argue that public interest is not offended and that the victims’ consent and absence of ongoing grievance justify quashing, citing the Laxmi Narayan line of authority for guidance on the scope of powers under S.482 CrPC.
Contentions of Respondents
The respondents acknowledge the settlement but urge caution: quashing under S.482 cannot be based solely on a private settlement, especially where non‑compoundable offences or offences of a serious or public nature may be involved. The Public Prosecutor initially expressed reservations though ultimately conceded that the matter is settled. They urge the Court to consider the antecedents of the accused, their conduct, and whether the offences fall under ‘private’ classification and the degree of society’s interest, before exercising the extraordinary power of quashing. The respondents highlight the need to assess whether any charges under Section 307 IPC or similar serious components have evidentiary basis and emphasize the need for careful application of the Laxmi Narayan framework.
Cited Precedents (3)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan and Others | 2019 (5) SCC 688 | Positive | Used as the leading framework governing when S.482 CrPC power can quash non‑compoundable offences in private disputes. |
| Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another | 2012 (10) SCC 303 | Positive | Cited as confirming that non‑compoundable offences may be quashed under private settlement subject to the conditions laid down in Laxmi Narayan. |
| Narinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab and another | 2014 (6) SCC 466 | Positive | Cited in conjunction with Laxmi Narayan and Gian Singh to discuss the boundaries of quashing under Section 482 when the offence may implicate public interest or serious offences. |
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