High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeCrl.M.C allowed; Annexure-A Final Report and al...

CRL.M.C. No. 1667 of 2024 (Robin et al. v. State of Kerala)

Case / Petition Number:CRL.M.C. No. 1667 of 2024

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • C. S. Dias
Judgment Date
2024-03-20
Court Decision / Holding
The petition is allowed; Annexure-A Final Report and all further proceedings in CC No.1276/2015 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Attingal, are quashed as against the petitioners.
Final Disposition
Crl.M.C allowed; Annexure-A Final Report and all further proceedings in CC 1276/2015 quashed against petitioners.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Robin
  • Roshan
  • Shibin
  • Anasu

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by the Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam
  • Jijo aged 33 years S/O. Sunilkumar, Puthukari Muppakudi House, Sarkara Village, Chirayin keezhu Desom, Thiruvananthapuram District
  • Sindhu aged 52 years W/O. Sunilkumhar, Puthukari Muppakudi House, Sarkara Village, Chirayin keezhu Desom, Thiruvananthapuram District

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri. Shajin S. Hameed

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri. Sonay John
  • • Smt. Neema T.V., Senior Public Prosecutor

Case Synopsis & Summary

This Criminal Misc. Case under Section 482 CrPC challenges the Annexure-A Final Report and all further proceedings in CC No. 1276/2015 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Attingal, arising from Crime No. 1218/2014 of Chirayinkeezhu Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram. Petitioners/accused 1–4 (Robin, Roshan, Shibin, and Anasu) are accused of offences under IPC sections 341, 294(b), 323, 427 and 354 read with 34. The core contention is that the dispute between petitioners and respondents 2 and 3 has been amicably settled, with affidavits (Annexures B and C) swearing no subsisting grievance and no objection to quashing further proceedings; the Investigating Officer corroborates the settlement. The Respondents acknowledge the settlement. Relying on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Prabhatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others v. State of Gujarat, the court reiterates that in cases where the offence is not serious, public interest is not involved, and settlement is genuine, the High Court may exercise its inherent power to quash to secure ends of justice. On such facts, the court allows the petition, quashing the final report and all further proceedings against the petitioners, thereby promoting societal harmony.

Provisions of Law Cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, Section 482Indian Penal Code, Sections 341, 294(b), 323, 427, 354, r/w Section 34

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Ends of justice
  • Inherent power of the High Court under Section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings
  • Amicable settlement as a basis to quash proceedings when offences are not serious

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners' counsel submitted that the dispute between the petitioners and respondents 2 and 3 has been amicably settled. Annexures B and C affidavits sworn by respondents 2 and 3 affirm no subsisting grievance and no objection to quashing further proceedings. The petition contends quashing would conserve resources and serve ends of justice given the non-serious nature of the offences.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents corroborated the settlement; Investigating Officer verified that Annexures B and C are genuine and bona fide, and that respondents 2 and 3 have no remaining grievance against the petitioners.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Gian Singh v. State of Punjab2012 (10) SCC 303PositiveCited to support quashing criminal proceedings where amicable settlement exists and the offence is not serious, to secure the ends of justice.
Prabhatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others v. State of Gujarat and another2017 (9) SCC 641PositiveCited to reinforce that where amicable settlement exists and the offences are not serious, quashing may be appropriate.

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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 C.S.DIAS ``` ``` WEDNESDAY, THE 20[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 30TH PHALGUNA, 1945 ``` ``` CRL.MC NO. 1667 OF 2024 ``` ``` CRIME NO.1218/2014 OF CHIRAYINKEEZHU POLICE STATION, ``` ## **`THIRUVANANTHAPURAM`** ``` AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN CC NO.1276 OF 2015 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS -I,ATTINGAL PETITIONERS/ACCUSED 1 TO 4: ``` - **`1 ROBIN AGED 37 YEARS S/O. RAJAN JOHNI, HAPPY HOME, CHIRAYINKEEZHU DESOM, SARKARA VILLAGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 695304`** - **`2 ROSHAN AGED 35 YEARS`** - **`S/O. RAJAN JOHNI, HAPPY HOME, CHIRAYINKEEZHU DESOM, SARKARA VILLAGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 695304`** - **`3 SHIBIN AGED 32 YEARS`** - **`S/O. YESUDHAS, ST. MARYS HOME, THEKKE AYARURUTHI, CHIRAYINKEEZHU DESOM, SARKARA VILLAGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 695304`** - **`4 ANASU AGED 32 YEARS`** - **`S/O. SHERLI, THEKKE AYARURUTHI PUTHUVAL HOUSE, SARKARA VILLAGE, CHIRAYINKEEZHU DESOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 695304 BY ADV SHAJIN S.HAMEED`** ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM., PIN - 682031`** - **`2 JIJO AGED 33 YEARS S/O. SUNILKUMAR, PUTHUKARI MUPPAKUDI HOUSE, SARKARA VILLAGE, CHIRAYINKEEZHU DESOM,`** Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:2:-_ - **`THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 695304`** - **`3 SINDHU AGED 52 YEARS`** ``` W/O. SUNILKUMAR, PUTHUKARI MUPPAKUDI HOUSE, SARKARA VILLAGE, CHIRAYINKEEZHU DESOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT., PIN – 695304 ``` ``` R2 BY SRI. SONAY JOHN ``` ``` SR.PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT. NEEMA T.V. ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ``` ``` ON 20.03.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:3:-_ Dated this the 20[th] day of March, 2024 ## **O R D E R** The petition is filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973, to quash Annexure-A Final Report and all further proceedings in C.C. No.1276/2015 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court -I, Attingal. 2. The petitioners are the accused 1 to 4 in Crime No. 1218/2014 of the Chirayinkeezhu Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram, registered against them at the instance of the second respondent, for allegedly committing the offences punishable under Sections 341, 294(b), 323, 427 and 354 r/w Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. 3. The crux of the prosecution allegation is that: Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:4:-_ on 17.10.2014, at around 21 hours, while CW1 was in front of his house, the first accused caught hold of his shirt and the second accused fisted on his left ear and the accused 3 and 4 kicked and fisted him. Thus, the accused have committed the above offences. 4. Heard; Sri.Shajin S. Hameed, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Smt.Neema T.V., the learned Senior Public Prosecutor appearing for the first respondent and Sri. Sonay John, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents 2 and 3. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the subject matter in dispute between the petitioners and the respondents 2 and 3 has been amicably settled and the respondents 2 and 3 have voluntarily executed AnnexuresB and C affidavits, stating that they have no subsisting as grievance against the petitioners and have no Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:5:-_ objection in all further proceedings in the above crime being quashed. Hence, the petition may be allowed. 6. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, submitted that the Investigating Officer has ascertained and reported that the subject matter in dispute between the petitioners and the respondents 2 and 3 has been amicably settled and the respondents 2 and 3 have voluntarily executed Annexures B and C affidavits. 7. The learned counsel for the respondents 2 and 3 have also submitted that the dispute between the parties has been settled and the respondents 2 and 3 have no subsisting grievance as against the petitioners. The said submission is recorded. 8. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in **Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab** [2012 (10) SCC 303] and **Prabatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and** Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:6:-_ **others vs. State of Gujarat and another** [(2017) 9 SCC 641] has held that in the facts and circumstances of the case and to secure the ends of justice, where the High Court is satisfied that an amicable settlement has been arrived at between the parties and the offence is not serious in nature involving mental depravity, criminal proceedings may be quashed. 9. On a consideration of the facts, the rival submissions made across the Bar, and the materials on record, especially after going through Annexures B and C affidavits sworn in by the respondents 2 and 3, which has been found to be genuine and bona fide by the Investigating Officer, I am convinced and satisfied that this is a fit case to exercise the inherent power of this Court, particularly since the alleged offences are not serious in nature, no public interest is involved, the chances of conviction is remote, the continuation of Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:7:-_ the proceeding would only be wastage of judicial time and the settlement would augur harmony in society. Hence, I am inclined to allow the petition. In the result, the Crl.M.C is allowed by quashing Annexure-A Final Report and all further proceedings in C.C. No.1276/2015 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court -I, Attingal, as against the petitioners. The Crl.M.C is ordered accordingly. SD/- **C.S.DIAS,JUDGE** rmm/20/3/2024 Crl.M.C.No.1667 of 2024 _-:8:-_ ## **`A PPENDIX OF CRL.MC 1667/2024`** |**`PETITIONER`**|**`ANNEXURES`**|||| |---|---|---|---|---| |**`Annexure-A`**|**`CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL`**||**`REPORT`**|**`IN`**| ||**`CRIME NO.1218/2014 OF CHIRAYINKEEZHU`**|||| ||**`POLICE STATION.`**|||| |**`Annexure-B`**|**`AFFIDAVIT`**<br>**`EXECUTED`**|**`BY`**|**`THE`**|**`2ND`**| ||**`RESPONDENT/CW1.`**|||| |**`Annexure-C`**|**`AFFIDAVIT`**<br>**`EXECUTED`**|**`BY`**|**`THE`**|**`3RD`**| ||**`RESPONDENT/CW2.`**||||