Neethu Anna Jacob v. State of Kerala and others

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT:** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.K.MOHANAN** **FRIDAY, THE 1ST DAY OF AUGUST 2014/10TH SRAVANA, 1936** ## **Crl.MC.No. 3830 of 2014** **--------------------------CMP NO. 9170/2013 OF JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAAGISTRATE COURT, THIRUVALLA CRIME NO. 941/2013 OF KOIPURAM POLICE STATION , PATHANAMTHITTA** **.......** ## **PETITIONER/DEFACTO COMPLAINANT:** **----------------------------------------------------------** **NEETHU ANNA JACOB, AGED 31 YEARS, D/O. ROYCE JACOB, MUNJANATTU, PUTHENPARAMBIL HOUSE, PARUMALA P.O., THIRUVALLA TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT, KERALA STATE.** **BY ADVS.SRI.P.HARIDAS SMT.SIKKY RAVISHANKAR** ## **RESPONDENTS/STATE, COMPLAINANT & ACCUSED 1 TO 6:** **--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------** ## **1. STATE OF KERALA,** **REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM-682 031.** ## **2. SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE,** **KOIPRAM, PATHANAMTHITTA-689 645.** ## **3. SANTHOSH BABY, AGED 34 YEARS,** **S/O. ABRAHAM T.A., PUTHENPARAMBIL THEKKETHIL HOUSE, VENNIKKULAM P.O., NOW RESIDING AT I.B.M INDIA PVT. LIMITED, NO.12, SUBRAMANYA ARCADE, BENNERGHATTA ROAD, BANGALORE-560 029.** **4. ABRAHAM T.A., AGED 66 YEARS, PUTHENPARAMBIL THEKKETHIL HOUSE, VENNIKKULAM P.O., MALLAPPALLY TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-689 645.** **..2/-** **Kss** **..2.....** ## **Crl.M.C.No.3830/2014** **5. ANNAMMA ABRAHAM, AGED 61 YEARS, W/O. EBRAHAM T.A., PUTHENPARAMBIL THEKKETHIL HOUSE, VENNIKKULAM P.O., MALLAPPALLY TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-689 645.** **6. SANGHEETHA, AGED 30 YEARS, W/O. MATHEW CHERIYAN, PUTHENPARAMBIL THEKKETHIL HOUSE, VENNIKKULAM P.O., MALLAPPALLY TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-689 645.** **7. MATHEW CHERIYAN, AGED 32 YEARS, S/O. EBRAHAM T.A., PUTHENPARAMBIL THEKKETHIL HOUSE, VENNIKKULAM P.O., MALLAPPALLY TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-689 645.** **8. SANTHI SHIJO, AGED 35 YEARS, D/O. ABRAHAM T.A., PUTHENPARAMBIL THEKKETHIL HOUSE, VENNIKKULAM P.O., MALLAPPALLY TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT-689 645.** **R1 & R2 BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SMT.BINDU GOPINATH R3 & R8 BY ADV. SRI.P.C.SHIJIN** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 01-08-2014, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** **Kss** **Crl.MC.No. 3830 of 2014 -----------------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S)' ANNEXURES:** **---------------------------------------------** **ANNEXURE 1: TRUE COPY OF THE CMP NO.9170/2013 DATED 5.9.2013.** **ANNEXURE 2: TRUE COPY OF FIR NO.1912/2013 THIRUVALLA POLICE DATED 12.10.2013.** **ANNEXURE 3: TRUE COPY OF FIR NO.941/2013, KOIPURAM POLICE DATED 15.10.2013.** **ANNEXURE 4: TRUE COPY OF AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE IST PETITIONER DATED 30.6.2014.** **RESPONDENT(S)' ANNEXURES:** **----------------------------------------------N I L** **/TRUE COPY/** **P.A.TO JUDGE** **Kss** ## **V.K.MOHANAN, J =========================== Crl.M.C No.3830 of 2014 ============================ Dated this the 1[st] day of August, 2014** ## **ORDER** The above petition is filed under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code (for short 'Cr.P.C.') at the instance of the accused in Crime No. 941/2013 of Koipuram Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 498A of I.P.C., which is registered on the basis of the complaint, ie, C.M.P No.9170/2013, received from the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thiruvalla u/s 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure with a prayer to quash Annexure 1 private complaint, Annexure 2 F.I.R No.1912/2013 of Thiruvalla Police as transferred to Koipuram Police and re-registered as Annexure 3 F.I.R No.941/2013 in C.M.P No.9170/2013 pending before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thiruvalla as the matter is settled out of court. 2. The allegation in the above case is that the 3[rd] respondent married the petitioner/de facto complainant on 29.10.2012 and while they were residing in the house of 3[rd] respondent, as per the allegation, 2 **Crl.M.C No.3830/2014** demanding more dowry, respondents 3 to 5 harassed the petitioner both mentally and physically and they have committed the offence punishable u/s 498 A of the Indian Penal Code, and now, the case of the petitioner is that the matter is settled out of court. 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the counsel for respondents 3 to 8. I have also heard the learned Public Prosecutor. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that during the pendency of the above case, the matter is settled amicably between the parties to the dispute which is the subject matter of the above case. Therefore, the continuation of the proceedings in the above case is abuse of process of law and proceedings. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioner/de facto complainant, who on the basis of specific instruction received from the petitioner submitted that the petitioner does not intend to proceed any further against the respondents 3 to 8 and she has no grievance against them. 3 **Crl.M.C No.3830/2014** 6. I have carefully considered the above submissions of the respective counsel. I have verified the documents and materials produced along with the above petition. In the given facts and circumstances of the case and especially in the light of the settlement arrived between the parties to the dispute, the learned Public Prosecutor has also no objection in allowing the above petition. 7. Having regard to the facts and circumstances involved in the case, it can be seen that the offences involved in the above case is only u/s 498A which is more or less personal in nature and no public interest is involved. It is pertinent to note that though such offences are involved, the real parties to the dispute approached this Court after having amicably settled the matter. From the submission made by the counsel for the petitioner/de facto complainant, it appears to me that the de facto complainant has no further grievance against the respondents 3 to 8 in the light of the settlement arrived by them. In this juncture, it is relevant to note that the Honourable Apex Court, in the decision reported in **Jitendra Raghuvanshi and Others** v. **Babita** 4 **Crl.M.C No.3830/2014** ## **Raghuvanshi and another** [2013 (1) KLD 817(SC)], has held as follows:- “7 _. It is not in dispute that matrimonial disputes have been on considerable increase in recent times resulting in filing of complaints under Sections 498A and 406 of I.P.C. not only against the husband but also against the relatives of the husband. The question is when such matters are resolved either by the wife agreeing to rejoin the matrimonial home or by mutual settlement of other pending disputes for which both the sides approached the High Court and jointly prayed for quashing of the criminal proceedings or the FIR or complaint by the wife under Sections 498A and 406 of I.P.C., whether the prayer can be declined on the sole ground that since the offences are non-compoundable under Section 320 of the Code, it would be impermissible for the court to quash the criminal proceedings or FIR or complaint._ _8. It is not in dispute that in the case on hand subsequent to the filing of the criminal complaint under Sections 498A and 406 of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, with the help and intervention of family members, friends and well-wishers, the parties concerned have amicably settled their differences and executed a compromise/settlement. Pursuant thereto, the appellants filed the said compromise before the Trial Court with a request to place the same on record and to drop the criminal proceedings against the appellants herein. It is also not in dispute that in additional to the mutual settlement arrived at by the parties, respondent/-wife has also filed an affidavit stating that she did not wish to pursue the criminal proceedings against the appellants and fully supported the contents of the settlement deed. It is the grievance of the appellants that no only the Trial Court rejected such prayer of the parties but also the High Court failed toe exercise its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code only on the ground that the criminal proceedings relate to the offences punishable under Sections 498A and 406 of IPC which are non-compoundable in nature.”_ _“12. In our view, it is the duty of the Courts to encourage genuine settlements of matrimonial disputes, particularly, when the same are on considerable increase. Even if the offences are non-compoundable, if they relate to_ 5 **Crl.M.C No.3830/2014** _matrimonial disputes and the Court is satisfied that the parties have settled the same amicably and without any pressure, we hold that for the purpose of securing ends of justice, Section 320 of the Code would not be a bar to the exercise of power of quashing of FIR, complaint or the subsequent criminal proceedings._ _13. There has been an outburst of matrimonial disputes in recent times. The institution of marriage occupies an important place and it has an important role to play in the society. Therefore, every effort should be made in the interest of the individuals in order to enable them to settle down in life and live peacefully. If the parties ponder over their defaults and terminate their disputes amicably by mutual agreement instead of fighting it out in a Court of law, in order to do complete justice in the matrimonial matters, the Courts should be less hesitant in exercising its extraordinary jurisdiction. It is trite to state that the power under Section 482 should be exercised sparingly and with circumspection only when the Court is convinced, on the basis of material on record, that allowing the proceedings to continue would be an abuse of the process of the Court or that the ends of justice require that the proceedings ought to be quashed.”_ In the present case, the only offence involved is under Section 498A of I.P.C. The criminal proceedings for the said offence originated from the matrimonial issues, which are now settled. Consequently, the parties want a quietus to the criminal case as well. According to me, in the light of the facts and circumstances involved in the present case and particularly in view of the settlement arrived in the present case, the dictum laid in the above decision will be squarely applicable in the present case. According to me, as the parties 6 **Crl.M.C No.3830/2014** to the dispute settled the issues amicably, it is the duty of this Court to promote such settlement, instead of compelling the parties to go on with the dispute. It is pertinent to note that since the matter is settled out of court, in the event of proceeding with the trial, there would not have any fruitful prosecution resulting the conviction of the accused, rather the net result would be sheer waste of judicial time and abuse of process of the court and proceedings. Thus, according to me, following the decisions cited supra, this Crl.M.C. can be allowed granting the relief as sought for. In the result, this Crl.M.C. is allowed, quashing Annexure -1 private complaint, Annexure 2 F.I.R No.1912/2013 of Thiruvall Police Station as transferred to Koipuram Police Station and re-registered as Annexure 3 F.I.R No.941/2013 in C.M.P No.9170 of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thiruvalla. Sd/- ## **V.K.MOHANAN, JUDGE** vdv //True Copy// P.A to Judge