Renjith v. State of Kerala and Athulya

Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM ``` ``` PRESENT ``` ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C. JAYACHANDRAN ``` ``` THURSDAY, THE 13[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 22ND PHALGUNA, 1946 ``` ``` CRL.MC NO. 988 OF 2025 ``` ``` CRIME NO.67/2021 OF MARARIKULAM POLICE STATION, ALAPPUZHA AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT DATED IN SC NO.505 OF 2022 OF DISTRICT & SESSIONS COURT, ALAPPUZHA ``` ## **`PETITIONER/SOLE ACCUSED:`** ``` RENJITH AGED 34 YEARS S/O REGHUVARAN CHELLATTUVELI, MARARIKKULAM NORTH P/W 05, KANICHUKULANGARA PO, ALAPPUZHA, KERALA INDIA, PIN - 688582 ``` ``` BY ADVS. BHANU THILAK S.R.PRASANTH FATHIMA RINSHA T.P. ATHIRA K. SASI S.SAJILA ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS/STATE & DEFACTO COMPLAINANT:`** ``` 1STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031 ``` Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 2 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` - **`2 STATION HOUSE OFFICER KANJIKUZHY, S.L.PURAM, MARARIKULAM, KERALA, PIN - 688523`** ``` 3ATHULYA AGED 26 YEARS CHELLATTUVELI VEETIL, MARARIKKULAM NORTH P/W 05, KANICHUKULANGARA PO ALAPPUZHA, KERALA, INDIA, PIN - 688582 ``` ``` BY ADVS. VISHNU.R E.C. BINEESH, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13.03.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 3 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` ## **O R D E R** A five Judges Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in _**Kulwinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab and Another**_ [(2007) 4 CTC 769], framed broad guidelines as regards quashment of the criminal proceedings under Section 482 of the Code in respect of offences which are not compoundable in terms of Section 320 of the Code. One among the guidelines was that the offences against human body, other than murder and culpable homicide, may be permitted to be compounded, when the Court is in a position to record a finding that the settlement between the parties is voluntary and fair. These guidelines were quoted with approval by a three Judges Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in _**Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another**_ [(2012) 10 SCC 303]. Similarly in _**Narinder Singh and Others v. State of Punjab**_ [(2014) 6 SCC 466], the Hon'ble Supreme Court has gone to the extent of sanctioning invocation of the inherent power under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code to quash Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 4 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` the F.I.R in a crime alleging offence under Section 307, which is a henious and serious offence. A practical approach is seen adopted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in _**Madan Mohan Abbot v. State of Punjab**_ [(2008) 4 SCC 582] as regards quashment in respect of offences like 379, 406, 409, 418, etc., the relevant findings of which are extracted here below: _“6. We need to emphasise that it is perhaps advisable that in disputes where the question involved is of a purely personal nature, the court should ordinarily accept the terms of the compromise even in criminal proceedings as keeping the matter alive with no possibility of a result in favour of the prosecution is a luxury which the courts, grossly overburdened as they are, cannot afford and that the time so saved can be utilised in deciding more effective and meaningful litigation. This is a common sense approach to the matter based on ground of realities and bereft of the technicalities of the law.”_ **2.** In the facts at hand, petitioner is the sole accused in Crime No.67 of 2021 of Mararikulam Police Station, Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 5 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` Alappuzha, now pending as S.C.No.505/2022 before the District & Sessions Court, Alappuzha. As per the Final Report, the offences alleged are under Sections 294(b), 323, 324 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3(1)(c) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The petitioner seeks quashment of entire proceedings in the above Sessions Case, on the strength of the settlement arrived at by and between the parties. **3.** Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner; learned counsel for the defacto complainant/3[rd] respondent and the learned Public Prosecutor. Perused the records. **4.** When this Crl.M.C was moved, this Court directed to record the statement of the defacto complainant. The said direction was complied and the statement of the defacto complainant/3[rd] respondent was handed over. On perusal of the same, it is clear that the issues between the petitioner and Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 6 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` the defacto complainant are settled and that the defacto complainant is disinterested to proceed with the prosecution case against the petitioner. The instant Crl.M.C was filed with the consent of the defacto complainant, wherefore, she has no objection in quashing the criminal proceedings against the petitioner. That apart, it is noticed that, along with this Crl.M.C, an affidavit has been sworn to by the defacto complainant as Annexure-A3, wherein she would unequivocally state that the disputes have been settled amicably and that the defacto complainant does not want to proceed with the case against the petitioner any more. The defacto complainant would also swear that she has no subsisting grievance against the petitioner and has no objection in quashing the criminal proceedings against the petitioner. The affidavit is sworn to on her own volition, without any compulsion, whatsoever. Moreover, learned counsel for the defacto complainant/R3 would submit that the quashment sought for can be allowed in view of the Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 7 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` settlement arrived at. This Court is therefore convinced that the settlement arrived at is genuine and bonafide. **5.** In the light of the above referred facts, this Court is of the opinion that the necessary parameters, as culled out in _**Narinder Singh**_ (supra), _**Madan Mohan Abbot**_ (supra) and _**Gian Singh**_ (supra), are fully satisfied. This court is convinced that further proceedings against the petitioner will be a futile exercise, inasmuch as the disputes have already been settled. There is little possibility of any conviction in the crime. _Dehors_ the settlement arrived at by and between the parties, if they are compelled to face the criminal proceedings, the same, in the estimation of this Court, will amount to abuse of process of Court. The quashment sought for would secure the ends of justice. This Court also notice that offence under Section 323 is compoundable, which is all the more a reason to accept the compromise between the parties. Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 8 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` **6.** In the circumstances, this Crl.M.C. is allowed. Annexure-A1 F.I.R, Annexure-A2 Final Report, and all further proceedings in S.C.No.505/2022 of the District & Sessions Court, Alappuzha, are hereby quashed. Sd/- **C.JAYACHANDRAN, JUDGE** ww Crl.M.C.No.988 of 2025 -: 9 :- **==> picture [57 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25093 ``` ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 988/2025`** ## **`PETITIONER ANNEXURES`** ``` ANNEXURE A1CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO.0067/2021 OF THE MARARIKULAM POLICE STATION ALAPPUZHA DATED 14.01.2021 ``` ``` ANNEXURE A2CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO.0067/2021 OF THE MARARIKULAM POLICE STATION ALAPPUZHA WHICH NOW PENDING AS SC NO.505/22 OF SESSIONS COURT, ALAPPUZHA ``` ``` ANNEXURE A3TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT SWORN BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT/DEFACTO COMPLAINANT DATED 28.01.2025 ```