Muhammed M.T., Kunhi Muhammed K.N., and Sharafudheen v. State of Kerala and Others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN MONDAY, THE 9[TH] DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 17TH ASWINA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 7641 OF 2023 ``` ``` AGAINST THE ORDER IN SC 346/2018 OF ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT & SESSIONS COURT - III, MANJERI / III ADDITIONAL MACT, MANJERI ``` ## **`PETITIONERS/ACCUSED:`** - `1 MUHAMMED M.T AGED 39 YEARS, S/O BEERAN MUSLIYAR, MANNIL THODI HOUSE, ARURU, OLAVATTUR P.O., KONDOTY, PIN 673638` - `2 KUNHI MUHAMMED. K.N AGED 41 YEARS, S/O MUHAMMED, NADIKUYI HOUSE, ARURU, OLAVATTUR P.O., KONDOTY, PIN 673 638` - `3 SHARAFUDHEEN AGED 35 YEARS, S/O. ASSAINAR, CHENDAM PILAKKAL HOUSE, ARURU, OLAVATTUR P.O, KONDOTY, PIN 673 638` ``` BY ADV P.C.MUHAMMED NOUSHIQ ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** ``` 1STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN – 682 031 2STATION HOUSE OFFICER KONDOTY POLICE STATION, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN – 673 638 3BIJU AGED 46 YEARS, S/O. KANDAN KUTTY, PERMANENTLY RESIDING AT KUNNUMAL HOUSE, ANAKUYIKKARA, MAVOOR, PUVATTUPARAMBA POST, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, PIN – 673 008 ``` ``` BY ADV SRI.HRITCWICK CS – PP SRI.ABDUL HADI.M.P ``` ``` THISCRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..2.. ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J.** **-------------------------------Crl.M.C. No.7641 of 2023 ---------------------------------------------Dated this the 9[th] day of October, 2023** ## **O R D E R** This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“the Code” for the sake of brevity). 2. Petitioners are the accused in S.C. No.346/2018 on the file of the Additional Sessions and District Court-III, Manjeri arising from Crime No.312/2017 of the Kondotty Police Station, Malappuram. The above case is chargesheeted against the petitioners alleging commission of offences punishable under Sections 341, 323 and 308 r/w Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. 3. The prosecution case is that on 22.08.2017, at about 3.00 am, when the 3[rd] respondent was bringing Machinery to crusher in a lorry bearing registration No.Kl10 V-245, petitioners herein wrongfully restrained the 3[rd] Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..3.. respondent/ defacto complainat due to the vengeance of opening crusher unit, and the 1[st] petitioner herein beaten with an iron rod and the 3[rd] respondent stopped with his hand, if it could not be stopped with the hand, then a blow to the head was likely to lead to death of the 3[rd] respondent. Thus the petitioners had committed the aforesaid offences. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submit that the parties have settled their dispute and do not wish to pursue the prosecution proceedings. The counsel relies on the affidavit filed by the victim/3[rd] respondent in support of his contention. The counsel appearing for the victim/3[rd] respondent also submitted that the matter is settled and the victim/3[rd] respondent has no objection in quashing the prosecution. 5. 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 Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..4.. between the parties. 6. This Court has considered the submission of the petitioners, victim and the Public Prosecutor and has also gone through the records including the affidavit filed by the victim. 7. 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 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:_ Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..5.. _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 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_ Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..6.. _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 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.”_ 8. Keeping in mind the above dictum laid down by the apex court, this court perused the facts in this case 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. Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..7.. Therefore, this Criminal Miscellaneous case is allowed. All further proceedings in S.C. No.346/2018 on the file of the Additional Sessions and District Court-III, Manjeri arising from Crime No.312/2017 of the Kondotty Police Station, Malappuram are quashed. Sd/- **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** ded Crl.M.C No.7641/2023 ..8.. ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 7641/2023`** ``` PETITIONER ANNEXURES ``` ``` Annexure A1CERTIFIED COPY OF THE CHARGE SHEET ALONG WITH MEMORANDUM OF EVIDENCE IN CRIME NO. 312 OF 2017 OF KONDOTY POLICE STATION, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT Annexure A2AFFIDAVIT DATED 12.09.2023 SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENT NO.3 ```