High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeQuashed

SIMITHIYAS.A., SIDDIQUE.Y, and FASID M alias FASI v. The State of Kerala through the Station House Officer, Bekal Police Station, Kasaragod District, and Chandradas.P, a minor, through his father and guardian Chandran

Case / Petition Number:Crl.MC.No.7542 of 2016

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Raja Vijayaraghavan V.
Judgment Date
2016-12-08
Court Decision / Holding
Petition allowed; quashed the entire proceedings against the petitioners in CP 167/2015 under Section 482 CrPC; the final report and related proceedings are quashed.
Final Disposition
Quashed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Simithiyas A.S.
  • Siddique Y.
  • Fasid M alias Fasi

Respondents

  • The State of Kerala through the Station House Officer, Bekal Police Station, Kasaragod District (represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala)
  • Chandradas P., a minor represented by his father and guardian Chandran

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri. T. Madhu
  • • Sri. Shahid Azeez

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri. G. Sangeetha R.
  • • Public Prosecutor

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Kerala High Court criminal misc application under section 482 CrPC filed by three accused seeking to quash CP 167/2015 before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class II, Hosdurg. The petitioners, accused Nos. 1–3, faced charges under sections 341 and 323 read with section 34 IPC. The incident occurred on 13 August 2015 near Thanchangad Government High School, where the petitioners allegedly restrained and assaulted the minor complainant (second respondent) in furtherance of their common intention. The petition contends that the disputes have been amicably resolved with the father of the second respondent, supported by an affidavit (Annexure A3). The Public Prosecutor was directed to record the victim’s and family’s statements, and he confirmed that the victim and family acknowledge the settlement. Relying on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab (2012) 10 SCC 303 and Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab (2014) 6 SCC 466, the court notes that amicable settlements can justify quashing if it serves ends of justice and avoids abuse of process. The court concludes that the offences are not grave, continuation of prosecution would be a waste of time, and the ends of justice are better served by quashing the proceedings. The petition is allowed, and all proceedings against the petitioners in CP 167/2015 are quashed.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 482 of the Code of Criminal ProcedureSection 341 IPCSection 323 read with Section 34 IPC

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Ends of justice
  • Abuse of process of law
  • Settlement/compromise between the victim and the wrongdoer as a ground to quash criminal proceedings

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contend that the disputes with the minor’s father have been amicably settled as verified by Annexure A3 and acknowledged by the victim and his family, making continuation of the prosecution unjust and an abuse of process. They rely on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab to urge quashing under Section 482 CrPC to secure ends of justice and maintain peace.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents acknowledge the amicable settlement but emphasize the need to protect the minor’s rights and ensure proceedings are not casually quashed where the offence involves a minor. The Public Prosecutor confirms statements recorded from the victim and family, and notes the settlement status, aligning with the principle that the court may quash if it serves ends of justice and does not undermine public interest.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Gian Singh v. State of Punjab(2012) 10 SCC 303PositiveCited to support the principle that High Courts may quash proceedings in appropriate cases where there is an amicable settlement between the victim and the accused to secure ends of justice and avoid abuse of process.
Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab(2014) 6 SCC 466PositiveReiterates the ends of justice/abuse of process considerations and endorses quashing where settlement between parties justifies ending proceedings.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT:** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V** ## **THURSDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2016/17TH AGRAHAYANA, 1938** ## **Crl.MC.No. 7542 of 2016 ()** ## **---------------------------** ## **AGAINST CP 167/2015 of J.M.F.C.-II,HOSDRUG CRIME NO. 568/2015 OF BEKAL POLICE STATION , KASARGOD** ## **PETITIONERS/ACCUSED NO. 1- 3:** **------------------------------** ## **1. SIMITHIYAS.A.,** - **S/O.C.M.ABBAS AGED 23 YEARS, SINAN MANZIL, NEAR ANEZ MOSQUE, KARUVAKODE, MOUVVAL, PALLIKKARA VILLAGE, KASARAGOD DISTRICT.** ## **2. SIDDIQUE. Y** - **S/O.YOUSUF K.A., AGED 22 YEARS, RESIDING AT K.A.HOUSE, BEKAL KUNNIL, PALLIKKARA VILLAGE, KASARAGOD DISTRICT.** **3. FASID M @ FASI** - **S/O.MUHAMMED KUNHI, AGED 20 YEARS, RESIDING AT SHAFEENA MANZIL, NEAR THACHANGAD HIGH SCHOOL, PANAYAL VILLAGE, HOSDURG TALUK, KASARAGOD DISTRICT.** ## **BY ADVS.SRI.T.MADHU SRI.SHAHID AZEEZ** **RESPONDENT(S):** ## **--------------** **1. THE STATE OF KERALA THROUGH THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, BEKAL POLICE STATION, KASARAGOD DISTRICT,** ## **REPRESETNED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM 682 031.** **2. CHANDRADAS.P AGED 14 YEARS, S/O.CHANDRAN, RESIDING AT KUNDOOCHI HOUSE, PANAYAL VILLAG,E HOSDURG TALUK, KASARAGOD DISTRICT, MINOR, REPRESETNED BY HIS FATHER AND GUARDIAN CHANDRAN, S/O.KURUVAN, AGED 56 YEARS, RESIDING AT 'KUNDOOCHI HOUSE', PANAYAL VILLAGE, HOSDURG TALUK, KASARAGOD DISTRICT.** **R2 BY ADV. SMT.G.SANGEETHA R BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR** **THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 0812-2016, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:** ## **Crl.MC.No. 7542 of 2016 ()** **---------------------------** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS** **----------------------ANNEXURE A1 THE TRUE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FIR IN CRIME NO. 568/2015 OF BEKAL POLICE STATION** **ANNEXURE A2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT IN CRIME NO. 568/2015 OF BEKAL POLICE STATION** **ANNEXURE A3 THE AFFIDAVIT DATED 31.10.2016 SWORN IN BY THE FATHER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT** **ANNEXURE A4 THE TRUE COPY OF THE MEMO OF EVIDENCE IN CRIME NO. 568/2015 OF BEKAL POLICE STATION** **RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS** **-----------------------** **//TRUE COPY//** **PA TO JUDGE** ## **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN.V, J ---------------------------------------Crl.M.C. No.7542 of 2016 ---------------------------------------Dated this the 8[th] day of December, 2016** ## **O R D E R** ## **~~~~~~~** - 1.This petition is filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') with a prayer to invoke the extraordinary inherent powers and to quash the pending criminal proceedings. - 2.The petitioners herein are the accused Nos.1 to 3 in C.P. 167 of 2015 on the files of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class-II, Hosdurg. In the aforesaid case, the petitioners face indictment under Sections 341 and 323 read with Section 34 of the IPC. The 2[nd] respondent herein is the de facto complaint, who is a minor. - 3.The prosecution allegation is that, on 13.8.2015 at about **Crl.M.C.7542/2016** **2** 4.15 p.m., the petitioners herein in furtherance of their common intention wrongfully restrained the 2[nd] respondent near to the Thanchangad Government High School and assaulted him with their hands. - 4.Heard the submissions advanced. - 5.It is submitted by the learned counsel that pursuant to the registration of the crime, the disputes have been amicably resolved between the petitioners and the father of the 2[nd] respondent. The father of the 2[nd] respondent has sworn to an affidavit, which is produced as AnnexureA3, wherein he has stated that the entire disputes have been settled. - 6.The learned Public Prosecutor was directed to obtain specific instructions and to record the statement of the victim as well as his parents. Learned Public Prosecutor on instructions submits that the statement of the victim **Crl.M.C.7542/2016** **3** and his family members have been recorded and the assertion that the matter has been resolved is true and genuine. 7.In **Gian singh v. State of Punjab** [(2012) 10 SCC 303] Apex Court has laid down that in appropriate cases, the High Court can take note of the amicable resolution of disputes between the victim and the wrongdoer to put an end to the criminal proceedings. It was observed as follows : _“61. In other words, the High Court must consider whether it would be unfair or contrary to the interest of justice to continue with the criminal proceedings or continuation of criminal proceedings would tantamount to abuse of process of law despite settlement and compromise between the victim and the wrongdoer and whether to secure the ends of justice, it is appropriate that criminal case is put to an end and if the answer to the above question(s) is in the affirmative, the High Court shall be well within its jurisdiction to quash the criminal proceedings.”_ **Crl.M.C.7542/2016** **4** 8.The aforesaid dictum stands reiterated by the Apex Court in **Narinder singh v. State of Punjab.** [(2014) 6 SCC 466], the pertinent observations which are as under: _XXXXXXXXXXXX_ _29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding factor in such cases would be to secure:_ ## _(i) ends of justice, or_ _(ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on either of the aforesaid two objectives._ ## _xxxxxxx_ 9.The offence committed by the petitioners cannot be said to be grave and serious having ingredients of extreme mental depravity. It also does not appear that the offence in this case will have a serious impact on the society. It is **Crl.M.C.7542/2016** **5** felt that quashing of proceedings on account of compromise would bring about peace and secure the ends of justice. Even otherwise, persisting with the prosecution would be nothing but a waste of time as the prospects of conviction would be bleak. 10.Having considered all the relevant circumstances, I am of the considered view that this Court will be well justified in invoking its extra ordinary powers under Section 482 of the Code to quash the proceedings. In the result, this petition will stand allowed. Annexure-A2 final report and all proceedings pursuant thereto against the petitioners now pending as C.P.No.167 of 2015 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate of First ClassII, Hosdurg are quashed. Sd/- **RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN.V. JUDGE** ps/9/12/2016