High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeProsecution quashed; proceedings in SC No.1039/...

CRL.MC No.487 of 2023 and Crl.M.C.509 of 2023

Case / Petition Number:CRL.MC 487/2023; Crl.M.C.509/2023; SC 1039/2022; Crime No.1191/2012

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Bechu Kurian Thomas
Judgment Date
2023-03-27
Court Decision / Holding
All proceedings against accused Nos. 4, 1–3, 5–8 and 10–12 in SC No. 1039/2022 and the 9th accused in LP 54/2021 are quashed. The criminal miscellaneous petitions are allowed.
Final Disposition
Prosecution quashed; proceedings in SC No.1039/2022 and LP 54/2021 quashed in full.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Vishnu
  • Liju
  • Anu Mohanan
  • Padma Gireesan @ Kannan
  • Sudheesh
  • Shinu @ Omanakuttan
  • Ratheesh @ Thambi
  • Athul @ Chikku
  • Shaju
  • Suresh Kumar
  • Ajeesh @ Kochumon

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala
  • Shajahhan
  • Mohammed Rafi
  • Mohammed Ashbinsha

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • S. Rajeev
  • • V. Vinay
  • • M. S. Aneer
  • • Sarath K.P.
  • • Prerith Philip Joseph
  • • Anil Kumar C.R.

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Adv. Anand Kalyanakrishnan
  • • Adv. Noushad K.A., Public Prosecutor

Case Synopsis & Summary

These are two criminal miscellaneous petitions under Section 482 Cr.P.C, heard together since both relate to the same Crime No. 1191 of 2012 at Pathanapuram Police Station and SC No. 1039 of 2022 before the Sessions Court, Kollam. The petitioners, accused nos. 4, 1–3, 5–8 and 10–12 (and the 9th accused in LP No.54/2021) seek quashing of all proceedings, contending that the matter has been amicably settled with the defacto complainant and witnesses, and that continuing the prosecution would serve no public interest given the offences involved (Sections 143, 147, 323, 332, 294(b) r/w 149 IPC) and the absence of grievous injury. The Court cites Supreme Court guidance in Gian Singh, Narinder Singh and Yogendra Yadav that amicable settlements can justify quashing in appropriate cases where no public interest is involved. Upon perusal of affidavits (Annexures III–V) and verification by the Public Prosecutor, the Court is satisfied that the settlement is genuine and no public interest justifies continuation. It notes that the wound certificate shows no grievous injury and that a public servant has retired. Consequently, the Court quashes all proceedings against the stated accused in SC No. 1039/2022 and LP No. 54/2021. The order is pronounced by Bechu Kurian Thomas, J.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 482 Cr.P.CSection 333 IPCSections 143, 147, 323, 332 and 294(b) read with Section 149 IPCSection 149 IPC

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Amicable settlement between victim and offender can terminate criminal proceedings (Gian Singh v. State of Punjab)
  • No public interest in continuing criminal proceedings where disputes are amicably settled (Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab; Yogendra Yadav v. State of Jharkhand)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners submitted that the dispute has been amicably settled with the defacto complainant and witnesses; continuing the criminal proceedings would serve no public interest given the offences alleged (Sections 143, 147, 323, 332, 294(b) r/w 149 IPC). They argued that there is no grievous injury and that the public servant involved has retired; the affidavits verifying settlement are genuine. They urged quashing under Sec. 482 Cr.P.C., citing the governing Supreme Court decisions permitting quashing in such settled disputes.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents, through the Public Prosecutor, supported verification of affidavits and the genuineness of the settlement; they indicated that the affidavits stand by their contents and that there is no public interest in continuing the proceedings given the settlement.

Cited Precedents (3)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Another(2012) 10 SCC 303PositiveCited to support that amicable settlement can justify quashing criminal proceedings in appropriate cases.
Narinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab and Another(2014) 6 SCC 466PositiveReiterates the principle that no public interest justifies continuation of proceedings when a settlement exists.
Yogendra Yadav and Others v. State of Jharkhand and Another(2014) 9 SCC 653PositiveAffirms the amicable settlement approach and public-interest test in quashing cases.

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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 BECHU KURIAN THOMAS** **MONDAY, THE 27[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2023 / 6TH CHAITHRA, 1945** ## **CRL.MC NO. 487 OF 2023** **SC 1039/2022 OF THE SESSIONS COURT, KOLLAM** **CRIME NO.1191 OF 2012 OF PATHANAPURAM POLICE STATION, KOLLAM PETITIONERS/ ACCUSED NO.4, 1 TO 3, 5 TO 8, AND 10 TO 12 :** - **1 VISHNU AGED 34 YEARS,** **S/O SIVARAJAN, VISHNU BHAVAN, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMKODE, PIN – 695 102** - **2 LIJU, AGED 35 YEARS,** **S/O LAMBODHARAN, LIJU BHAVAN, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOORR MURIYIL, ADAMKODE, PIN – 695 102** - **3 ANU MOHANAN, AGED 32 YEARS,** - **S/O MOHANAN, MANU BHAVAN, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMKODE, PIN – 695 102** - **4 PADMA GIREESAN @ KANNAN, AGED 31 YEARS,** **S/O SIVADASAN, THONNIKUZHI KIZHAKKEKARA VEEDU, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** - **5 SUDHEESH, AGED 34 YEARS,** **S/O THULASEEDHARAN ACHARI, CHATTARUTHOTTATHIL VEEDU, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** - **6 SHINU @ OMANAKUTTAN, AGED 41 YEARS,** **S/O VIJAYAN, CHATTARUTHOTTATHIL MELETHIL VEEDU, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 2 - **7 RATHEESH @ THAMPI, AGED 39 YEARS,** **S/O THANKAPPAN, MUKULAMPURATH VEETIL, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** - **8 ATHUL @ CHIKKU, AGED 28 YEARS, S/O MANGALAN, ANCHAL BHAVAN, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** **9 SHAIJU, AGED 32 YEARS, S/O SUGATHAN, SHINY BHAVAN, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** **10 SURESH KUMAR, AGED 44 YEARS, S/O SUBADRA, KUZHIVILA KIZHAKKETHIL VEEDU, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE – 695 102** **11 AJEESH @ KOCHUMON, AGED 30 YEARS, MELEMANNIL VEEDU, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE, PIN – 695 102** **BY ADVS. S.RAJEEV V.VINAY M.S.ANEER SARATH K.P. PRERITH PHILIP JOSEPH ANILKUMAR C.R.** ## **RESPONDENTS/ STATE/ DEFACTO COMPLAINANT :** **1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN – 682 031** **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 3 **2 SHAJAHAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O IBRAHIM RAWUTHER, SHAN MANZHIL, CHELLAKODE, MANCHALLOOR PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT – 689 695** **3 MOHAMMED RAFI, AGED 27 YEARS, S/O SALIM, RAFI MANZIL, KALLOORAKADAVU, MANCHILLOOR, PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT – 689 695** **4 MOHAMMED ASHBINSHA, AGED 28 YEARS, S/O SHAJAHAN, SHAN MANZIL, CHELLAKOD, MANCHALLOOR, PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT - 689 695** **BY ADV ANAND KALYANAKRISHNAN** **BY SRI.NOUSHAD K.A., PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 27.03.2023, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.509/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING :** **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 4 # **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS** **MONDAY, THE 27[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2023 / 6TH CHAITHRA, 1945** **CRL.MC NO. 509 OF 2023** **LP 54/2021 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS - I,** ## **PATHANAPURAM** ## **PETITIONER :** **SREERAJ, AGED 36 YEARS, S/O SIVARAJAN, SREERAJ BHAVAN, PATHANAPURAM VILLAGE, MANJANOOR MURIYIL, ADAMCODE – 695 102** **BY ADVS. S.RAJEEV V.VINAY M.S.ANEER SARATH K.P. PRERITH PHILIP JOSEPH ANILKUMAR C.R.** ## **RESPONDENTS/ STATE/ DEFACTO COMPLAINANT :** **1 STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN – 682 031 2 SHAJAHAN, AGED 58 YEARS, S/O IBRAHIM RAWUTHER, SHAN MANZHIL, CHELLAKODE, MANCHALLOOR, PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT – 689 695 3 MOHAMMED RAF, AGED 27 YEARS, S/O SALIM, RAFI MANZIL, KALLOORAKADAVU, MANCHILLOOR, PATHANAPURAM,** **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 5 ## **KOLLAM DISTRICT – 689 695** **4 MOHAMMED ASHBINSHA, AGED 28 YEARS, S/O SHAJAHAN, SHAN MANZIL, CHELLAKOD, MANCHALLOOR, PATHANAPURAM, KOLLAM DISTRICT - 689 695** **BY SMT.SEETHA S., PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** ## **BY ADV ANAND KALYANAKRISHNAN** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON** **27.03.2023, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.487/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 6 **BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J. -------------------------------Crl.M.C.No.487 of 2023 & Crl.M.C.No.509 of 2023 ---------------------------------** Dated this the 27[th] day of March, 2023 ## **ORDER** Petitioners have invoked the jurisdiction under Section 482 Cr.P.C to quash all proceedings against them. 2. Petitioners in Crl.M.C.No.487/2022 are accused Nos.4, 1 to 3, 5 to 8 and 10 to 12 in S.C.No.1039/2022 on the files of the Sessions Court, Kollam. The aforesaid case arose from Crime No.1191/2012 of Pathanapuram Police Station. Petitioner in Crl.M.C.No.509/2023 is the 9[th] accused in the above crime. However, since during the committal proceedings, petitioner in Crl.M.C.No.509/2023 had absconded, the case against him was transferred to the Long Pending Register as L.P.No.54/2021 on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court-I, Pathanapuram. Since petitioners in both these petitions are accused in the same Crime, the petitions are heard together. The offences alleged against the petitioners are under Sections 143, 147, 323, 332 and 294(b) r/w Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2[nd] respondent in both cases is the defacto complainant and respondents 3 and 4 are the injured witnesses. **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 7 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned counsel for the respondents, apart from the learned Public Prosecutor. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the matter has been settled and hence the proceedings against the petitioners ought to be quashed. It was also submitted that, considering the nature of offences alleged, no purpose would be served by continuing the proceedings. 5. In **Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Another** [(2012) 10 SCC 303], the Apex Court has held that in appropriate cases, the High Court can take note of the amicable resolution of disputes between the victim and the wrongdoer to put an end to the criminal proceedings. This view was reiterated in **Narinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab and Another** [(2014) 6 SCC 466] and **Yogendra Yadav and Others v. State of Jharkhand and Another** [(2014) 9 SCC 653]. 6. I have perused Annexure III to Annexure V affidavits filed by respondents 2 to 4. The learned Public Prosecutor has submitted that upon verification, it is understood that the affidavits are genuine, and the defacto complainant and the other deponents stand by the contents thereof. I am satisfied that the matter has been settled and no public interest is involved in this case.There is no impediment for granting the prayer for quashing. The continuance of the proceedings will only be an exercise in futility. On a perusal of the wound certificate as well as the nature of allegations, I am satisfied that despite Section 333 IPC having **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 8 been alleged against the petitioners, no grievous injury is inflicted. Further, the public servant has retired from service and has also filed the aforementioned affidavit. 7. Accordingly, all proceedings against accused Nos.4, 1 to 3, 5 to 8 and 10 to 12 in S.C.No.1039/2022 on the files of the Sessions Court, Kollam and 9[th] accused in L.P.No.54/2021 on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court-I, Pathanapuram are quashed. These criminal miscellaneous cases are allowed as above. Sd/- **BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, JUDGE** RKM **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 9 ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 487/2023** ## **PETITIONERS' ANNEXURES :** **Annexure I THE TRUE COPY OF THE FIR ALONG WITH FIS IN CRIME NO 1191/2012 OF PATHANAPURAM POLICE STATION** **Annexure II THE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO 1191/2012 OF PATHANAPURAM POLICE STATION NOW PENDING AS SC NO 1039/2022 ON THE FILES OF DISTRICT & SESSIONS COURT, KOLLAM** **Annexure III THE NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 03.01.2023** **Annexure IV THE NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 03.01.2023 Annexure V THE NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 03.01.2023** **Crl.MC No.487/2023 and Crl.M.C.509/2023** 10 ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 509/2023** ## **PETITIONER'S ANNEXURES :** **Annexure I THE TRUE COPY OF THE FIR ALONG WITH FIS IN CRIME NO 1191/2012 OF PATHANAPURAM POLICE STATION** **Annexure II THE TRUE COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO 1191/2012 OF PATHANAPURAM POLICE STATION NOW PENDING AS L.P NO 54/2021 ON THE FILES OF JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT PATHANAPURAM Annexure III THE NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 03.01.2023 Annexure IV THE NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 03.01.2023 Annexure V THE NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT DATED 03.01.2023**