CRL.M.C. Nos. 6648 & 6764 of 2023 (Senvin @ Selvin Skharia; Sajin Skharia v. State of Kerala & Sub Inspector of Police, Aluva West PS; Jacob v. State of Kerala & Sub Inspector of Police, Aluva West PS)

# **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** # **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN WEDNESDAY, THE 20[TH] DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 29TH BHADRA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 6648 OF 2023 ``` ``` AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT CC 942/2017 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS -II, ALUVA ``` ## **`PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NOS.1 & 2:`** ``` 1SENVIN @ SELVIN SKHARIA AGED 35 YEARS SON OF M.V. SKHARIA, MANAVALAN HOUSE, M.T. LINK ROAD, MALIKAM PEEDIKA, ALANGAD P.O. ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683511 ``` - `2 SAJIN SKHARIA AGED 33 YEARS SON OF M.V. SKHARIA, MANAVALAN HOUSE, M.T. LINK ROAD, MALIKAM PEEDIKA, ALANGAD P.O. ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683511` ``` BY ADVS. JAISON JOSEPH M.N.SANJITH JIMMY JOSEPH ARCHANA RAMANAN VEENA VALLIKANTHAN ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS/STATE AND COMPLAINANT:`** ``` 1STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031 ``` - `2 SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE ALUVA WEST POLICE STATION, PIN - 683511` 2 ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` ``` 3JACOB AGED 62 YEARS SON OF PAULOSE, KALAPARAMBATH HOUSE, AMBADI VILLA, WEST KADUNGALLOOR KARA, ALANGAD VILLAGE, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683511 ``` ## **`PRESENT:`** ``` SRI. RENJITH T.R., PP ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20.09.2023, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.6764/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` 3 ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN WEDNESDAY, THE 20[TH] DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 29TH BHADRA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 6764 OF 2023 ``` ``` AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN CC 425/2017 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS -II, ALUVA ``` ## **`PETITIONERS/ACCUSED:`** ``` JACOB AGED 62 YEARS S/O. PAULOSE, KALAPARAMBATH HOUSE, AMBADI VILLA, WEST KADUNGALLOOR KARA, ALANGAD VILLAGE, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN – 683511. ``` ``` BY ADV AKHIL S.VISHNU ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS/STATE AND COMPLAINANT:`** ``` 1STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM., PIN - 682031 2SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE ALUVA WEST POLICE STATION., PIN - 683511 3SENVIN @ SELVIN SKHARIA AGED 35 YEARS S/O. M.V. SKHARIA, MANAVALAN HOUSE, ``` ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` **==> picture [7 x 8] intentionally omitted <==** ``` M.T. LINK ROAD, MALIKAM PEEDIKA, ALANGAD P.O. ERNAKULAM DISTRICT., PIN - 683511 4SAJIN SKHARIA AGED 33 YEARS S/O. M.V. SKHARIA, MANAVALAN HOUSE, M.T. LINK ROAD, MALIKAM PEEDIKA, ALANGAD P.O. ERNAKULAM DISTRICT., PIN - 683511 ``` ## **`PRESENT:`** ``` SRI. RENJITH T.R., PP ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20.09.2023, ALONG WITH Crl.MC.6648/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` 5 ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J. -------------------------------Crl.M.C. Nos. 6648 & 6764 of 2023 ---------------------------------------------Dated this the 20[th] day of September, 2023 O R D E R** These Criminal Miscellaneous Cases are filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“the Code” for the sake of brevity). 2. The petitioners in these cases are accused in C.C. No. 942/2017 and C.C. No. 425/2017 on the files of Judicial Magistrate of First Class Court - II, Aluva. This is admittedly case and counter case. It is submitted that the parties are settled the matter. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the parties have settled their dispute and do not wish to pursue the prosecution proceedings. The counsel relies on the affidavit filed 6 ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` by the victims in support of his contention. The counsel appearing for the victims also submitted that the matter is settled and the victims have no objection in quashing the prosecution. 4. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, has expressed reservations about quashing the proceedings solely on the basis of the settlement. But the Public Prosecutor conceded that the matter is settled between the parties. 5. This Court has considered the submission of the petitioners, victims and the Public Prosecutor and has also gone through the records including the affidavit filed by the victims. 6. In State of **Madhya Pradesh v Laxmi Narayan and Others (2019 (5) SCC 688),** three judge bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court has summarized the situation in which non compoundable offences can be quashed invoking the powers under 7 ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` Section 482 of the Code. The apex court in Laxmi Narayan's case (supra) also relied on the law laid down in **Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another (2012 (10) SCC 303)** and **Narinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab and another (2014 (6) SCC 466).** The apex court in paragraph 13 of the Laxmi Narayan's case discussed the law in detail and the same is extracted hereunder: “13. Considering the law on the point and the other decisions of this Court on the point, referred to herein above, it is observed and held as under: i) that the power conferred under S.482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings for the non - compoundable offences under S.320 of the Code can be exercised having overwhelmingly and predominantly the civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes and when the parties have resolved the entire dispute amongst themselves; ii) such power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involved heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society; iii) similarly, such power is not to be exercised for ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` 8 the offences under the special statutes like Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender; iv) offences under S.307 IPC and the Arms Act etc. would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be treated as crime against the society and not against the individual alone, and therefore, the criminal proceedings for the offence under S.307 IPC and / or the Arms Act etc. which have a serious impact on the society cannot be quashed in exercise of powers under S.482 of the Code, on the ground that the parties have resolved their entire dispute amongst themselves. However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because there is a mention of S.307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as to whether incorporation of S.307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to framing the charge under S.307 IPC. For this purpose, it would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained, whether such injury is inflicted on the vital / delegate parts of the body, nature of weapons used etc. However, such an exercise by the High Court would be permissible only after the evidence is collected after investigation and the charge sheet is filed / charge is framed and / or during the trial. Such exercise is not permissible when the matter is still under investigation. Therefore, the ultimate conclusion in paragraphs ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` 9 29.6 and 29.7 of the decision of this Court in the case of **Narinder Singh** (supra) should be read harmoniously and to be read as a whole and in the circumstances stated herein above; v) while exercising the power under S.482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings in respect of non- compoundable offences, which are private in nature and do not have a serious impart on society, on the ground that there is a settlement / compromise between the victim and the offender, the High Court is required to consider the antecedents of the accused; the conduct of the accused, namely, whether the accused was absconding and why he was absconding, how he had managed with the complainant to enter into a compromise etc.” 7. Keeping in mind the above dictum laid down by the apex court, this court perused the facts in these cases and also perused the documents produced by the parties. After going through the entire facts and circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that the dispute is private in nature and the settlement can be accepted. Therefore, these Criminal Miscellaneous Cases are allowed. ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` **==> picture [13 x 10] intentionally omitted <==** Crl. M.C. No. 6648/2023 is allowed by quashing the proceedings in C.C. No. 942/2017 on the files of Judicial Magistrate of First Class Court- II, Aluva arising from Crime No.349/2017 of Aluva West Police Station. Crl. M.C. No. 6764/2023 is allowed by quashing the proceedings in C.C. No.425/2017 on the files of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - II, Aluva, arising from Crime No.285/2017 of Aluva West Police Station. Sd/- nvj ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` 11 ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6764/2023`** ## `PETITIONER ANNEXURES` |`ANNEXURE A1`|`THE CERTIFIED COPY OF F.I.R. ALONG`| |---|---| ||`WITH FI STATEMENT IN CRIME NO. 285`| ||`OF 2017 OF ALUVA WEST POLICE`| ||`STATION.`| |`ANNEXURE A2`|`THE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL`| ||`REPORT/CHARGE SHEET IN C.C. NO.425`| ||`OF 2017 ON THE FILE OF JUDICIAL`| ||`FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT - II,`| ||`ALUVA.`| |`ANNEXURE A3`|`THE AFFIDAVIT FILED BY RESPONDENT`| ||`NO.3`| |`ANNEXURE A4`|`THE AFFIDAVIT FILED BY RESPONDENT`| ||`NO.4`| 12 ``` CRL. M.C. NOS.6648 & 6764 OF 2023 ``` ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6648/2023`** ``` PETITIONER ANNEXURES ``` ``` ANNEXURE1THE CERTIFIED COPY OF F.I.R. ALONG WITH FI STATEMENT IN CRIME NO. 349 OF 2017 OF OF ALUVA WEST POLICE STATION ANNEXURE2THE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT/CHARGE SHEET IN C.C. NO.942 OF 2017 ON THE FILE OF JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE COURT - II, ALUVA ANNEXURE3THE AFFIDAVIT FILED BY RESPONDENT NO.3 ``` RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS :NIL //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE