Rajesh Kumar Yadav & Ors v. State ( Government of NCT of Delhi) & Anr

O R D E R %

06.11.2024 CRL.M.A. 33257/2024 Exemption granted, subject to just exceptions. The application stands disposed-of. CRL. M.C. 8701/2024 By way of the present petition filed under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 ('Cr.P.C.'), the petitioners, who are the former husband and in-laws of the complainant/respondent No. 2, seek quashing of case FIR No. 301/2024 dated 30.05.2024 registered under sections 498-A/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ('IPC') at P.S.: Farsh Bazar, Delhi.

¶2Though the present petition has been filed under the provisions of the Cr.P.C., in the opinion of this court, on a plain but meaningful reading The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. of section 531(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 ('BNSS'), proceedings are to be "disposed of, continued, held or made" in accordance with the Cr.P.C. only in cases where such proceedings, viz. "any appeal, application, trial, inquiry or investigation", were already pending immediately before the date on which the BNSS came into force, i.e. 01.07.2024. It appears therefore, that while inserting the repeal and savings provision in section 531 of the BNSS, the intention of Parliament was to not disrupt on-going proceedings; and to therefore not change the governing law during the pendency of such proceedings.

¶3Since the present petition is a fresh proceeding and has been filed after 01.07.2024, in the opinion of this court, the present petition ought to have been filed under the BNSS. Be that as it may, in order to obviate any unnecessary delay, the present petition is treated as one under section 528 of the BNSS.

¶4The petition is premised on Deed of Settlement dated 03.08.2024; and Divorce Decree dated 01.10.2024, which is the culmination of petitions under sections 13B(1) and 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955, whereby the parties had sought dissolution of their marriage by mutual consent.

¶5The petition is supported by affidavits of the petitioners, as also of respondent No. 2, alongwith proof of their IDs.

¶6Though petitioners Nos. 1 to 4 as well as respondent No. 2 are present in court, petitioner No.5 has joined via video-conferencing. Their credentials have been verified and they have also been identified by their respective counsel. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶7The parties have confirmed that no child was born from the wedlock.

¶8No appeal is stated to have been filed from the divorce decree.

¶9The court has queried respondent No. 2, who confirms that she has taken divorce by mutual consent; and that a settlement deed has been entered into between the parties; and that in full-and-final settlement of all her claims including towards maintenance (past, present and future), stridhan, dowry articles, jewellery, permanent alimony, etc., she was to receive a sum of Rs.10,50,000/- from petitioner No. 1; out of which Rs.8,00,000/- was paid earlier and Rs.2,50,000/- has been paid in court today, in compliance of the terms of the settlement deed. Respondent No. 2 confirms that all aspects of the settlement have now been performed.

¶10Ms. Shubhi Gupta, learned APP confirms that the State has no objection to the subject FIR being quashed.

¶11In the circumstances, in line with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Gian Singh vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported as (2012) 10 SCC 303 as also in Narinder Singh & Ors. vs. State of Punjab & Anr. reported as (2014) 6 SCC 466, this court sees no reason why the subject FIR and all proceedings emanating therefrom should not be quashed. This court is of the view that in light of the settlement between the contesting parties, continuing with the subject FIR and all subsequent proceedings would be an exercise in futility and would not be conducive to peace and harmony between the parties.

¶12Accordingly, FIR No. 301/2024 dated 30.05.2024 registered under sections 498-A/406/34 IPC at P.S.: Farsh Bazar, Delhi is quashed. All proceedings arising therefrom also stand closed. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

¶13Petition stands disposed-of.

¶14Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed-of. ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI, J NOVEMBER 6, 2024 ds The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + RAJESH KUMAR YADAV & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Dheeraj Vats, Advocate with petitioners in court. versus STATE (GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Shubhi Gupta, APP for the State with SI Harshvardhan, P.S.: Farsh Bazar. Mr. Chetan Kaushik, Advocate for R2 with R2 in court. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI