Rohini Jayaram and Subhash v. State of Kerala

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V TUESDAY, THE 27[TH] DAY OF JUNE 2023 / 6TH ASHADHA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 6320 OF 2019`** ## **`AGAINST ST NO.1429/2018 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS, KODUNGALLUR`** ## **`PETITIONERS/ACCUSED :`** ``` 1ROHINIJAYARAM AGED63YEARS D/O.LATECCPUNNI,PANICKASSERYHOUSE, KODUNGALLURDESOM,LOKAMALESWARAM,KODUNGALLUR, THRISSUR-680664. ``` ``` 2SUBHASH AGED54YEARS CHERUVILHOUSE,VADAKKUMMURIDESOM, PERINGOTTUKARA.P.O.,THRISSUR-680565. BYADVS. P.RAMAKRISHNAN SMT.PREETHIRAMAKRISHNAN SRI.T.C.KRISHNA SRI.C.ANILKUMAR SMT.ASHAK.SHENOY SRI.PRATAPABRAHAMVARGHESE ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/STATE :`** ``` 1STATEOFKERALA, REPRESENTEDBYTHEPUBLICPROSECUTOR, HIGHCOURTOFKERALA,ERNAKULAM-682031. ADDITIONALRESPONDENTS2TO4IMPLEADED 2VIDYA.M AGED45YEARS W.O.RAJMOHAN,AMBATHOUSE,PERINJANAMDESOM, THRISSUR-680686 ``` ``` 2 ``` ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 3LOVELY AGED49YEARS W.O.DINESH,KOTTUKKALHOUSE, CHENDRAPPINNIDESOM,THRISSUR-680687 ``` ``` 4HITHA.C.S AGED49YEARS W.O.VIGI,CHENDRAHOUSE,P.OALAPAD, THRISSUR-680641 ADDITIONALRESPONDENTS2TO4AREIMPLEADEDASPER ORDERDATEDINCRL.M.A.NO.1OF2023 ``` ``` BYADVK.DEEPA(PAYYANUR) ``` ``` SRI.MPPRASHANTH,PP ``` ``` THISCRIMINALMISC.CASEHAVINGCOMEUPFORADMISSIONON 27.06.2023,THECOURTONTHESAMEDAYPASSEDTHEFOLLOWING: ``` ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 3 ``` ## **ORDER** This petition is filed invoking the powers of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“the Code” for the sake of brevity). 2. The petitioners herein are accused in ST No.1429/2018 on the files of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kodungallur. In the aforesaid case, they are accused of having committed the offences punishable under Sections 341, 294(b), and 506(i) read with Section 34 of the IPC. 3. The prosecution allegation is that on 5.6.2018, the petitioners herein, in furtherance of their common intention, invited the teachers of the S.N. Vidya Bhavan Senior Secondary School to the administrative office and thereafter, hurled abuses and assaulted them, causing injuries. 4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that this Court had directed the parties to undergo mediation, and pursuant to the same, a memorandum of agreement has been executed, ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 4 ``` as per which the entire dispute has been resolved. In terms of the mediation agreement entered into between the parties, separate affidavits have been filed by the party respondents asserting that they have no further grievances. According to the learned counsel, if the proceedings are terminated, recording the amicable settlement, the parties can embark upon their future paths in an atmosphere of tranquility and mutual respect. 5. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, has expressed reservations about quashing the proceedings solely on the basis of the settlement. He argues that the facts and circumstances may not warrant the exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, it is fairly submitted that there have been no other crimes of serious nature registered against the petitioners to date. It is further submitted that the statements of the party respondents have been recorded, and they have unequivocally stated that they do not have any lasting grievances. 6. I have considered the submissions and have gone through the records. ``` 5 ``` ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` 7. In **State of M.P. v. Laxmi Narayan,[1]** , a three-judge bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court has summarized the law as laid down in **Gian Singh v. State of Punjab[2]** , **Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab[3]** and in subsequent cases. It was laid down as under: 15. Considering the law on the point and the other decisions of this Court on the point referred to hereinabove, it is observed and held as under: - 15.1. That the power conferred under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings for the non-compoundable offences under Section 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; - 15.2. 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; - 15.3. Similarly, such power is not to be exercised for the offences under the special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act - 1 [(2019) 5 SCC 688] 2 (2012) 10 SCC 303 3 2014 (6) SCC 466 ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 6 ``` 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; 15.4. Offences under Section 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 Section 307 IPC and/or the Arms Act, etc. which have a serious impact on the society cannot be quashed in exercise of powers under Section 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 Section 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 Section 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 Section 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/delicate 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 paras 29.6 and 29.7 of ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 7 ``` the decision of this Court in Narinder Singh [Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466 : (2014) 3 SCC (Cri) 54] should be read harmoniously and to be read as a whole and in the circumstances stated hereinabove; 15.5. While exercising the power under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings in respect of non-compoundable offenses, which are private in nature and do not have a serious impact 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. Having carefully analyzed the prayer sought for in the light of the principles laid down as above and also the nature of the allegations, the gravity of the offense, the severity of injuries inflicted, antecedents of the accused, and the amicable relationship that now exists between the parties, I am of the considered opinion that quashing the proceedings on the basis of the settlement will not have any adverse impact on society. In fact, it would only serve to bring about peace and secure the ends of justice. Additionally, persisting with the prosecution ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 8 ``` would be a waste of time, as the prospects of conviction are bleak. In light of all of the relevant circumstances, I am of the considered view that this Court would be well justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Section 482 of the Code to quash the proceedings Resultantly, this petition will stand allowed. Annexure-8 Final Report in FIR No.492/2018 of Mathilakam Police Station and all further proceedings as S.T. No.1429/2018 pending before on the file of the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, Kodungallur, are quashed. Sd/- **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V., JUDGE** NS ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 9 ``` ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6320/2019`** ``` PETITIONERANNEXURES: ``` |`ANNEXURE `|`1`|`TRUE COPY OF INTERIM ORDER DATED 3.10.2017 IN`| |---|---|---| |||`WP(C) NO. 31449/2017`| |`ANNEXURE `|`2`|`TRUE COPY OF JUDGMENT DATED 19.3.2018 IN WP(C)`| |||`NO. 31449/2017`| |`ANNEXURE `|`3`|`TRUE COPY OF COMPLAINT DATED 5.6.2018 ALONG`| |||`WITH THE RECEIPT.`| |`ANNEXURE `|`4`|`TRUE COPY OF COMPLAINT DATED 6.6.2018 ALONG`| |||`WITH THE RECEIPT.`| |`ANNEXURE `|`5`|`TRUE COPY OF COMPLAINT DATED 7.6.2018 ALONG`| |||`WITH THE RECEIPT.`| |`ANNEXURE `|`6`|`TRUE COPY OF INTERIM ORDER DATED 10.07.2018 IN`| |||`W.P.(C) NO. 22830/2018.`| |`ANNEXURE `|`7`|`CERTIFIED COPY OF THE SAID FIRST INFORMATION`| |||`REPORT DATED 12.7.2018 FIR NO. 492/2018`| |`ANNEXURE `|`8`|`TRUE COPY OF CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL`| |||`REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE ADDITIONAL SUB`| |||`INSPECTOR OF POLICE, MATHILAKAM BEFORE THE`| |||`JFCM, KODUNGALLUR, FIN NO.492/2018`| |`ANNEXURE `|`9`|`TRUE COPY OF COMMON JUDGMENT DATED 22.10.2018`| |||`IN WPC NO. 22830/2018`| |`ANNEXURE `|`10`|`TRUE COPY OF THE FLIGHT TICKET ISSUED IN THE`| |||`NAME OF THE 2ND PETITIONER BY AIR INDIA.`| ``` RESPONDENTANNEXURES: ``` |`Annexure `|`R2(a)`|`TRUE COPY OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE OF CW2`| |---|---|---| |||`MALINI.`| |`Annexure `|`R2(b)`|`AFFIDAVIT FILED BY THE ADDL.2ND`| |||`RESPONDENT/CW1/DE-FACTO COMPLAINANT REGARDING`| |||`SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES.`| ``` CRL.MCNO.6320OF2019 ``` ``` 10 ``` ``` AnnexureR2(c) ``` ``` AnnexureR2(d) ``` ``` AFFIDAVITFILEDBYTHEADDL.3RDRESPONDENT/CW3 REGARDINGSETTLEMENTOFDISPUTES. ``` ``` AFFIDAVITFILEDBYTHEADDL.4THRESPONDENT/CW4 REGARDINGSETTLEMENTOFDISPUTES. ```