Anjan Lakra @ A Lakra vs State Of Jharkhand

Anil Kumar Choudhary, J

Heard the parties.

This criminal miscellaneous petition has been filed invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 528 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 with the prayer to quash the entire criminal proceeding as also the FIR, including the cognizance order dated 11.03.2025 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate-XIII, Ranchi in connection with Argora P.S. Case No. 19 of 2024, corresponding to G.R. No.599 of 2025 whereby and where under, the learned Judicial Magistrate-XIII, Ranchi has taken cognizance for the offences punishable under Sections 27 (i) and 30 of the Arms Act.

Learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the informant jointly submits that a settlement has been arrived at between the parties and in this respect, learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the informant draws the attention of this Court to the joint compromise application filed on behalf of the parties in the court of Judicial Magistrate, Ranchi in connection with Argora P.S. Case No. 19 of 2024, corresponding to G.R. No.599 of 2025 wherein, it has been contended that due to intervention of family members, the disputes has been resolved between the parties and normalcy is prevailing between the parties. It is next submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the FIR was instituted also for the offence punishable under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code but police after investigation of the case, found only the offence punishable under Sections 27 and 30 of the Arms Act having been committed. It is further submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that no injury has been sustained by anybody in the alleged occurrence and the petitioner is the own paternal uncle of the informant. It is further jointly submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel for the informant that no public policy is involved in this case and as compromise has been entered into between the parties, the chances of conviction of the petitioner is remote and bleak. Hence, it is submitted that the prayer as made in this criminal miscellaneous petition be allowed.

Learned Spl. P.P. submits that the State has no objection to the prayer as made in this criminal miscellaneous petition, in view of the compromise between the parties.

Having heard the submissions made at the Bar and after going through the materials in the record, it is pertinent to mention here that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and Others vs. State of Gujarat and Another reported in (2017) 9 SCC 641 has the occasion to consider the jurisdiction of the High Court under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure inter alia on the basis of compromise between the parties and has held in paragraph no.11 as under :-

Section 482 is prefaced with an overriding provision. The statute saves the inherent power of the High Court, as a superior court, to make such orders as are necessary (i) to prevent an abuse of the process of any court; or (ii) otherwise to secure the ends of justice. In Gian Singh [Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303 : (2012) 4 SCC (Civ) 1188 : (2013) 1 SCC (Cri) 160 : (2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 988] a Bench of three learned Judges of this Court adverted to the body of precedent on the subject and laid down guiding principles which the High Court should consider in determining as to whether to quash an FIR or complaint in the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction. The considerations which must weigh with the High Court are : (SCC pp. 342-43, para 61)

“61. … the power of the High Court in quashing a criminal proceeding or FIR or complaint in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction is distinct and different from the power given to a criminal court for compounding the offences under Section 320 of the Code. Inherent power is of wide plenitude with no statutory limitation but it has to be exercised in accord with the guideline engrafted in such power viz. : (i) to secure the ends of justice, or (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court. In what cases power to quash the criminal proceeding or complaint or FIR may be exercised where the offender and the victim have settled their dispute would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case and no category can be prescribed. However, before exercise of such power, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the crime. Heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. cannot be fittingly quashed even though the victim or victim's family and the offender have settled the dispute. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, any compromise between the victim and the offender in relation to the offences under special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity, etc.; cannot provide for any basis for quashing criminal proceedings involving such offences. But the criminal cases having overwhelmingly and predominatingly civil flavour stand on a different footing for the purposes of quashing, particularly the offences arising from commercial, financial, mercantile, civil, partnership or such like transactions or the offences arising out of matrimony relating to dowry, etc. or the family disputes where the wrong is basically private or personal in nature and the parties have resolved their entire dispute. In this category of cases, the High Court may quash the criminal proceedings if in its view, because of the compromise between the offender and the victim, the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and continuation of the criminal case would put the accused to great oppression and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not quashing the criminal case despite full and complete settlement and compromise with the victim. 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 proceeding or continuation of the criminal proceeding 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 the 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 proceeding.” (Emphasis supplied)

Perusal of the record reveals that the offences involved in this case are neither heinous offence nor is there any serious offence of mental depravity involved in this case. The institution of the criminal case is the result of some misunderstanding between the parties which has been amicably settled between the parties. In view of the final settlement between the parties; the continuation of this criminal proceeding will cause hardship to the petitioner.

Considering the aforesaid facts, this Court is of the considered view that this is a fit case where the entire criminal proceeding as also the FIR including the cognizance order dated 11.03.2025 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate-XIII, Ranchi in connection with Argora P.S. Case No. 19 of 2024, corresponding to G.R. No.599 of 2025 be quashed and set aside against the petitioner.

Accordingly, the entire criminal proceeding as also the FIR including the cognizance order dated 11.03.2025 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate-XIII, Ranchi in connection with Argora P.S. Case No. 19 of 2024, corresponding to G.R. No.599 of 2025 is quashed and set aside against the petitioner.

In the result, this criminal miscellaneous petition is allowed.