Som Nath v. State of Haryana and Another

o o o o 1o o o 191o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAToINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAT CHANDIGARHoCHANDIGARH o o SomoNathoo ….Petitionero versuso StateoofoHaryanaoandoanothero ….Respondentso o DateoofoDecision:oAprilo22,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oAprilo23,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:-o Ms.oDeifyoJindal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo o o o Ms.oAnjuoBansal,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.oo o *****o***** SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)ooSUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL) o o o Theosubstantiveoprayeromadeoinotheopetitionoinohandoreadsothus:o "i.o quashotheoimpugnedoFIRoNo.174odatedo18.04.2025,oAnnexureoP-2,o registeredoagainstotheopetitionerounderoSectiono174-AoIPCoatoPoliceoStationo CiviloLines,oKarnal,oandoalloconsequentialoproceedingsoarisingotherefrom,o inotheointerestoofojustice;oo ii.o quashotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo02.09.2019,oAnnexureoP-1,opassedo byotheoLd.oJudicialoMagistrate,oKarnal,oinocomplaintono.o6912/2018odatedo

26.11.2018owherebyotheopetitionerowasodeclaredoasoaoproclaimedoperson,o alongowithoalloproceedingsoinitiatedounderoSectionso82oando83oCr.P.C.;oo iii.o seto asideo allo furthero proceedings,o actionso ando consequenceso emanatingofromotheoaforesaidoFIRoandoproclamationoproceedings."oo o

2.o o TheogravamenoofotheoFIRoinoquestionoisothatopursuantotootheo orderodatedo02.11.2019opassedobyotheolearnedoJMIC,oKarnal,oFIRoinoquestiono hasobeenoregisteredoagainstotheopetitionerosinceoheohasobeenodeclaredoasoP.O.o videoorderodatedo02.09.2019opassedobyotheosaidoCourt.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso submittedo thato theo MAHAVIR SINGH impugnedo FIR,o haso itso genesis,o ino ao criminalo complainto filedo againsto theo o o o o 2o o petitionero(herein)ounderoSectiono138oofotheoNIoAct,oinoproceedingsowhereofo theopetitionerowasodeclaredoasoaoproclaimedopersono&ohenceotheoimpugnedo FIRocameotoobeogotoregisteredoagainstotheopetitioner.oLearnedocounseloforotheo petitionerohasoarguedothatoinotheosaidocaseounderoSectiono138oofotheoNIoAct,o dueo too non-appearanceo ofo theo petitioner,o heo waso declaredo aso proclaimedo person,ovideoorderodatedo02.09.2019o(AnnexureoP-1).oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroarguedothat,opursuantotootheosaidoorder,oFIRoinoquestionounderoSectiono 174-AoofoIPCohasobeenoregisteredoagainstotheopetitioner.oLearnedocounselohaso submittedothatotheoaforesaidocomplaintofiledobyorespondentoNo.2oagainstotheo petitionerohasobeenodisposedoof,ovideoorderodatedo17.11.2025o(AnnexureoP-4)o aso outo ofo agreedo amounto ofo Rs.2,00,000/-,o theo petitionero hado madeo parto paymentotootheotuneoofoRs.40,000/-otootheocomplainant,oandohadoundertakeno too payo theo balanceo amounto ofo Rs.1,60,000/-o too theo complainant.o Learnedo counselohasofurtherosubmittedothatonowopursuantotootheoaforesaidosettlement,o theo petitionero haso paido theo entireo amounto too theo complainant,o ando ao compromiseo deedo datedo 30.03.2026o (Annexureo P-5)o haso beeno effectedo betweenotheopetitioneroandotheocomplainant.oo

3.1.o o Itohaso beeno furthero iteratedothatosinceo theo criminalo complainto undero Sectiono 138o ofo NIo Act,o haso alreadyo beeno disposedo ofo aso theo rivalo partiesohadoenteredointooaosettlement,otherefore,onoousefulopurposeowouldobeo servedo byo continuationo ofo theo proceedingso quao theo impugnedo FIR.o Too buttressothisoaspectoofohisoargument,olearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohaso reliedo upono theo ordero datedo 17.11.2025o passedo byo theo Presidingo Officer,o DailyoLokoAdalat,oKarnal,owhichoreadsothus:o "Todayo theo caseo waso fixedo foro argumentso ono compromise.o However,o accusedo Somnatho aso wello aso complainanto Rishio Palo haveo appearedoandosubmittedothatotheyohaveoarrivedoatoaocompromiseoforoano amounto ofo Rs.o 2,00,000/-.o Accusedo Somnatho video separatelyo recordedo o o o o 3o o statementostatedothatoasoperotheocompromiseoheohasopaidoanoamountoofoRs.o 20,000/-ooutoofoRs.2,00,000/-oono14.10.2025oandoamountoofoRs.o20,000/-o hasobeenopaidotootheocomplainantotoday.oComplainantoRishipalohasosufferedo ao statemento too theo effecto thato heo haso reachedo ato compromiseo witho theo accusedoinotheomediationocentreoandoreceivedotheoamountoofoRs.o40,000/-o fromotheocomplainant.oAccusedoandocomplainantoalsoorequestedothatoasopero theocompromiseoawardomayobeopassedoforotheoremainingoamountoofoRs.o 1,60,000/-.oAccusedohasoacknowledgedohisoliabilityotoopayotheoaforesaido amountotootheocomplainant.oNowotheoaccusedoshallomakeotheopaymentoofo amountoofoRs.1,60,000/-otootheocomplainantoinoinstallmentsoofoRs.20,000/-o eachocommencingofromoNovembero2025otooJulyo2026oasoperotheosettlemento deed.oIfotheoaccusedofailsotoomakeosuchopayment,othenotheocomplainanto shallohaveotheorightotoorecoverotheosameothroughoexecutionopetition.oo

2.oo Keepingoinoviewotheorequestoofobothotheosidesoasowelloasoinotheolighto ofoobservationsomadeoinocaseolawotitledoasoK.N.oGovindanoKuttyoMenono Vs.oC.D.Shajio2012(1)oRCRo(Crl.)o102(SC),otheomatterohasobeenotakenoupo inoDailyoLokoAdalat.oConsideringotheostatementoofoaccusedothatoheohaso undertakenotoopayoanoamountoofoRs.1,60,000/-,oasowelloasotheostatementoofo theo complainant,o ito appearso thato complainanto iso concernedo witho hiso paymentoonlyoandowillobeosatisfiedoifotheosameoisomadeobyotheoaccusedoaso undertakeno byo himo video hiso statemento ando compromiseo deed.o Hence,o keepingoinoviewotheostatementsoofopartiesoandotheocompromiseodeed,oasotheo accusedohasoacknowledgedohisoliabilityotoopayoRs.1,60,000/-,otheocomplainto inohandoisoherebyodisposedoofowithoutoanyoorderoasotoocostsoasotheopresento settlementoarrivedoatobetweenotheopartiesoisolikelyotoocurbotheolitigationoando delay.oTheoAwardoisopassedotootheoeffectothatoaccusedoisodirectedotoomakeo theopaymentoasoperohisoevenodatedostatementoandocompromiseodeedoandoiso boundo byo hiso statemento ando theo termso ofo theo compromiseo deed.o Theo complainantoisoalsooboundobyohisostatement.oo

3.oo Beforeo partingo witho presento award,o ito iso madeo clearo thato ifo theo accusedofailsotoomakeotheopaymentoasoperotoday'socompromise/settlement,o thenoinoviewoofotheocaseolawocitedoasoK.N.oGovindanoKuttyoMennon'soCaseo (Supra),o theo complainanto willo beo ato libertyo too fileo theo execo utiono quao paymentoundertakenobyotheoaccusedotodayoinotheoCourtoi.e.oRs.1,60,000/-,o inotheocompetentoCourt.oItoisoalsoomadeoclearothatoinocaseotheopayment,oaso undertakenobyotheoaccused,oisonotomadeobyotheoaccusedowithinotheotimeo undertakeno byo himo ando ifo theo complainanto iso constrainedo too initiateo proceedingso againstotheoaccusedoinotheo executionoproceedings,othenotheo accusedoshallobeoliableotoopayotheochequeoamountotootheocomplainantoando ando10%oofotheochequeoamountowilloalsoobeorecoveredofromotheoaccusedoaso costsotoobeopaidowithoD.L.S.A.,oKarnal.oAccusedostandsoacquittedoofotheo noticeoofoaccusationoservedouponohim.oHisobail/suretyobondsoalsoostando dischargedo accordingly.o Fileo beo consignedo too Recordo Roomo aftero dueo compliance."o o o o Onotheostrengthoofoaboveoarguments,olearnedocounseloforotheo petitionerohasopressedoforograntoofopetitionoinohand.oo

4.o o Learnedo Stateo counselohasoopposedotheopetitionoinohand.o He,o however,odoesonotodisputeotheofactothatotheopartiesohaveoamicablyoresolvedo theomatteroandotheomainocomplaintostandsodisposedoof.oo

5.o o Learnedo counselo foro respondento No.2o –o complainanto appearso andoratifiesotheofactumoofocompromiseohavingobeenoeffectedobetweenotheo o o o o 4o o partiesoasowelloasotheocomplaintoinoquestionohavingobeenodisposedoofobeforeo theoCourtobelow.oo

6.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheopaper-book.oo

7.o o Theoseminaloquestionothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoinotheopresento petitiono iso aso too whethero theo impugnedo FIRo (aso alsoo proceedingso arisingo therefrom)ounderoSectiono209oofoBNSo(erstwhileoSectiono174-AoofotheoIPC)o deservesotoobeoquashedoinotheofactualomatrixoofotheopresentocase.oo

8.o o Ato thiso juncture;o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmentoofothisoCourtopassedoinoCRM-M-51049-2019otitledoasoMohammado HanifoAttariovs.oStateoofoHaryana,odecidedoono06.07.2023;orelevantowhereofo readsoasounder:o "3.oInoviewotheofactothatoafterotheoprincipleoproceedingsoinowhichotheopetitionero wasodeclaredoProclaimedoOffenderostandoconcluded,otheoquestionowouldoariseo is:o'whetheroinotheogivenocircumstances,oproceedingsounderoSectiono174Aoofo theo IPCo pursuanto too FIRo No.425o datedo 17tho ofo November,o 2017o cano beo allowedotoocontinue.o

4.o Theo questiono framedo ibido iso noo moreo reso integrao ando alreadyo standso answeredobyoCo-ordinateoBenchoofothisoCourtoinoCRM-M-43813-2018otitledo aso"BaldevoChandoBansalov.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoanother"ovideoorderodatedo

29.01.2019,owhichoheldoasounder:o o "Prayero ino thiso petitiono iso foro quashingo ofo FIRo No.64o datedo

15.02.2017o filedo undero Sectiono 174Ao ofo theo Indiano Penalo Codeo registeredo ato Policeo Stationo Sector-5,o Panchkulao ando allo othero subsequento proceedingso arisingo thereofo aso wello aso ordero datedo

24.10.2016opassedobyotheotrialoCourtovideowhichoaodirectionowaso issuedotooregisterotheoaforesaidoFIR."o o XXo XXXo o XXXXoo o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoreliedouponotheodecisionso renderedobyothisoCourtoino"VikasoSharmaov.oGurpreetoSinghoKohlio ando anothero (supra),o 2017,o (3)o L.A.R.584,o Microqualo Technoo Limitedo ando otherso v.o Stateo ofo Haryanao ando another,o 2015o (32)o RCRo(Criminal)o790oando"RajneeshoKhannaov.oStateoofoHaryanao ando another"o 2017o (3)o L.A.R.o 555o whereino ino ano identicalo circumstance,othisoCourtohasoheldothatosinceotheomainopetitionofiledo undero Sectiono 138o ofo theo Acto standso withdrawno ino viewo ofo ano amicableosettlementobetweenotheoparties,otherefore,ocontinuationoofo proceedingsounderoSectiono174AoofoIPCoshallobeonothingobutoano abuseoofotheoprocessoofolaw.o o XXo XXXo o XXXXo o Ino viewo ofo theo same,o Io findo merito ino theo presento petitiono ando accordingly,opresentopetitionoisoallowedoandotheoimpugnedoordero datedo 24.10.2016o passedo byo Judicialo Magistrate,o 1sto Class,o PanchkulaoasowelloasoFIRoNo.64odatedo15.02.2017oregisteredoundero o o o o 5o o Sectiono174AoofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeoatoPoliceoStationoSector-5,o Panchkulaoandoallootherosubsequentoproceedingsoarisingothereof,oareo herebyoquashed."o

5.ooSameoisotheoviewoofoanotheroCo-ordinateoBenchoinotheo"AshokoMadaanov.o Stateo ofo Haryanao ando another"o reportedo aso 2020o (4)o RCRo (Criminal)o 87,o whereinoitohasobeenoheldothat:o o "Noodoubt,otheolearnedocounseloforotheorespondentohasovehementlyo arguedothatotheooffenceounderoSectiono174AoI.P.C.oisoindependento ofotheomainocase,otherefore,omerelyobecauseotheomainocaseohasobeeno dismissedoforowantoofoprosecution,otheopresentopetitionocannotobeo allowed,ohowever,okeepingoinoviewotheofactothatotheopresentoFIRo wasoregisteredoonlyoonoaccountoofoabsenceofromotheoproceedingsoino theo maino caseo whicho hado beeno subsequentlyo regularisedo byo theo courto whileo grantingo bailo too theo petitioner,o theo defaulto stoodo condoned.o Ino sucho circumstances,o continuationo ofo proceedingso underoSectiono174AoLP.C.oshallobeoabuseoofotheoprocessoofocourt.oo

7.oAccordingly,otheopetitionoisoallowed.oFIRoNo.o446odatedo

21.08.2017,oregisteredounderoSectiono174AoI.PC.oatoPoliceoStationo Kotwali,oDistrictoFaridabad,oasowelloasoconsequentialoproceedingso shallostandoquashed."o o

8.1.o o Moreorecently,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledo asoDaljitoSinghovs.oStateoofoHaryanaoandoAnother,oCriminaloAppealoNo.4359o ofo2024odecidedoono02.01.2025;ohasoheldothat:o o "7.3oo Now,o whato happenso ifo theo statuso underoSectiono 82oCr.P.C.o iso nullifiedo i.e.,o theo persono subjectedo too sucho proclamation,o byo virtueo ofo subsequentodevelopmentsoisonoolongerorequiredotoobeopresentedobeforeoao Courtoofolaw.oThen,ocanotheoprosecutionostilloproceedoagainstosuchoaopersono forohavingonotoappearedobeforeoaoCourtoduringotheotimeothatotheoprocesso wasoinoeffect.oTheoansweroisoinotheoaffirmative.oWeosayosooforotheofollowingo reasons:-o o (i)oo TheolanguageoofoSectiono174A,oIPCosayso"whoeverofailsotoo appearoatotheospecifiedoplaceoandotheospecifiedotimeoasorequiredobyo proclamation…".oThisoimpliesothatotheoveryoinstanceoatowhichoao personoisodirectedotooappear,oandoheodoesonotodooso,othisoSectiono comesointooplay;o o o(ii)oo Whatofurtheroflowsofromotheolanguageoemployedoisothatotheo instanceoofonon-appearanceobecomesoanoinfractionoofotheoSection,o ando therefore,o prosecutiono thereforo wouldo beo independento ofoSectiono82,oCr.P.C.obeingoinoeffect;o o (iii)oo So,owhileoproceedingsounderoSectiono174AoIPCocannotobeo initiatedo independento ofoSectiono 82,o Cr.P.C.,o i.e.,o cano onlyo beo startedopostotheoissuanceoofoproclamation,otheyocanocontinueoifotheo saidoproclamationoisonoolongeroinoeffect.o o (iv)oWeofindothatotheoDelhioHighoCourtohasotakenothisoview,oi.e.,o thatoSectiono174A,oIPCoisoaostand-aloneooffenceoinoMukeshoBhatiaoMukeshoBhatiao v.Stateo(NCToofoDelhi)o2022oSCCoOnLineoDelo1023;oDivyaoVermao v.oStateo2023oSCCoOnLineoDelo2619;oSameenao&oAnr.ov.oStateo thGNCToofoDelhio&oAnr.oCrl.oM.C.oNo.1470oofo2021,oDatedo17 o May,o2022oForotheoreasonsoafore-stated,oweoagreeowithotheofindingso madeo ino theseo judgments/orders.o Ato theo sameo time,o ito standso clarifiedothatoweohaveonotocommentedoonotheomeritsoofotheocases.o o (v)o Grantedo thato theo offenceo prescribedo inoSectiono 174AoIPCo iso indeedostand-alone,ogivenothatoitoarisesooutoofoanooriginalooffenceoino connectiono witho whicho proceedingso underoSectiono 82oCr.P.C.o iso initiatedoandoinotheosaidooffenceotheoaccusedostands,osubsequently,o o o o o 6o o acquitted,oitowouldobeopermissibleoinolawoforotheoCourtoseizedoofotheo trialounderosuchooffence,otootakeonoteoofosuchoaodevelopmentoando treato theo sameo aso ao groundo too drawo theo proceedingso too ao close,o shouldosuchoaoprayerobeomadeoandotheocircumstancesoofotheocaseosoo warrant.o o 8.oo Inoconclusion,oweoholdothatoSectiono174AoIPCoisoanoindependent,o substantiveo offence,o thato cano continueo eveno ifo theo proclamationo underoSectiono 82,o Cr.P.C.o iso extinguished.o Ito iso ao stand-aloneo offence.oo xxxxxxxxx"o o o o However,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoquashedotheoimpugnedo FIRo(therein)ounderoSectiono209oofotheoBNSo(erstwhileoSectiono174-Aoofotheo IPC)osince,ointeroalia,otheooriginalooffenceoinotheoformoofocriminalocomplainto underoSectiono138oofoNIoAct,o1881oinotheosaidocaseohadobeenosettledoando withdrawnobyotheorivaloparties.oo

9.o o Ito iso foro theo Higho Court,o whileo exercisingo itso innateo plenaryo powerso undero Sectiono 528o ofo BNSS,o 2023/o 428o ofo Cr.P.C.,o 1973,o too ratiocinateo thato ito shouldo noto applyo theo lawo ino ano austere,o academico ando exactingo technicalo manner,o withouto consideringo itso practicalo implications.o TheoLawoisonotomerelyoaosetoofoprogrammed,onailed-to-the-groundorules,otoo beoappliedowithoutocontext.oItomustobeoenforced,owhileobearingoinomind,othato itsopurposeoisotooensureosubstantiveojusticeobetweenotheoparties.oTheostatutoryo provisiono ofo Sectiono 174-Ao ofo IPC,o wheno perusedo ino theo lighto ofo ratioo decidendioofotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoDaljitoSingh'soDaljitoSingh'so caseo(supra),ounequivocallyoshowsothatoanoFIRounderoSectiono174-Aoofotheo IPCodoesonotoproprioovigoreobecomeoliableotoobeoquashed,oinocaseotheorivalo partiesohaveoenteredointooaocompromiseoandosuchocriminalocomplaint/FIRohaso beeno compromisedo ando quashed/withdrawno accordingly.o However,o ato theo sameo time,o theo factumo ofo theo criminalo complaint/FIRo (ino furtheranceo ofo proceedingso whereof)o havingo beeno compromised/settled,o iso indubitably,o ao relevantofactorotoobeoconsideredowhileodealingowithoaopleaoforoquashingoofoano FIRo(asoalsooproceedingsoemanatingotherefrom)ounderoSectiono174-AoofoIPC.oo o o o o 7o o Thiso facto assumeso greatero significanceo consideringo thato theo initialo proceedingso pertaino exclusivelyo too ao privateo criminalo complainto undero Sectiono138oofoNIoAct,o1881,owhichotheolegislatureohasoexpresslyoclassifiedo asoaocompoundableooffence.oSucholitigation,oespeciallyoinotheobackdropoofo originalooffenceohavingobeenocompromisedowillohaveoanoadverseoimpactoono theooverburdenedo Court-dockets.o Allowingosucho prosecution,o wheno initialo complaintohasobeenosettled/withdrawnowouldoundermineotheolegislativeointento andodistortotheoremedialonatureoofoSectiono138oofoNIoActoofo1881.ooItowouldo tantamountotoocontraveningotheoprinciplesoofofairness,oproportionality,oando justiceoinocriminaloproceedings.oAoliteralointerpretationomayosometimesoleado too unjusto outcomeso thato alsoo contradicto theo law'so underlinedo purpose.o Therefore,otheoHighoCourtounderoitsoinherentojurisdictionomustobalanceotheo lettero ofo Lawo witho itso spirit,o ensuringo fairo ando equitableo results.o Thiso approacho underscoreso Law'so roleo aso ano apparatuso foro fosteringo societalo harmonyoandoaddressingotheoreal-worldocomplexities,oefficaciouslyoasoalsoo effectively,oratherothanomereoliteral/technicalocompliance.ooo

10.o o Theo inherento jurisdictiono undero Sectiono 528o BNSS,o 2023/o Sectiono482oCr.P.C.,o1973oisoprimarilyoaimedoatopreventingoabuseoofojudicialo processo ando securingo theo endso ofo justice.o Thus,o wheno theo disputeo iso essentiallyopersonaloinonatureoandoaogenuineocompromiseohasobeenoreached,o theo Higho Courto mayo interveneo too quasho theo criminalo proceedings,o recognizingotheocontinuationothereofowouldobeonon-productiveoandounjustoino theogivenocircumstances.oTheoinherentopowersoofoaoHighoCourtoareopowerso whichoareoincidentalorepleteopowers,owhichoifodidonotosooexist,otheoCourto wouldobeoobligedotoositostilloandohelplesslyoseeotheoprocessoofolawoandoCourtso beingoabusedoforotheopurposesoofoinjustice.ooInootherowords;osuchopower(s)oiso o o o o 8o o intrinsico too ao Higho Court,o ito iso itso veryo life-blood,o itso veryo essence,o itso immanentoattribute.ooWithoutosuchopower(s),oaoHighoCourtowouldohaveoformo butolackotheosubstance.ooTheseopowersoofoaoHighoCourtohenceodeserveotoobeo construedowithotheowidestopossibleoamplitude.oTheseoinherentopowersoareoino consonanceowithotheonatureoofoaoHighoCourtowhichooughtotoobe,oandohasoino factobeen,oinvestedowithopower(s)otoomaintainoitsoauthorityotoopreventotheo processo ofo law/Courtso beingo obstructedo oro abused.o Ito iso ao triteo positso ofo jurisprudenceothatothougholawsoattemptotoodealowithoallocasesothatomayoarise,o theo infiniteo varietyo ofo circumstanceso whicho shapeo eventso ando theo imperfectionso ofo languageo makeo ito impossibleo too layo downo provisionso capableoofogoverningoeveryocase,owhichoinofactoarises.oAoHighoCourtowhicho existso foro theo furtheranceo ofo justiceo ino ano indefatigableo manner,o shouldo therefore,ohaveounfetteredopower(s)otoodealowithosituationsowhich,othoughonoto expresslyoprovidedoforobyotheolaw,oneedotoobeodealtowith,otoopreventoinjusticeo orotheoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolawoandoCourts.ooTheojuridicalobasisoofotheseo plenaryopower(s)oisotheoauthority;oinofactotheoseminalodutyoandoresponsibilityo ofoaoHighoCourt;otoouphold,otooprotectoandotoofulfillotheojudicialofunctionoofo administeringo justice,o ino accordanceo witho law,o ino ao regular,o orderlyo ando effectiveo manner.o o Ino othero words;o Sectiono 528o ofo BNSS,o 2023o reflectso peerlessopowers,owhichoaoHighoCourtomayodrawouponoasonecessaryowhenevero itoisojustoandoequitableotoodooso,oinoparticularotooensureotheoobservanceoofotheo dueo processoofolaw,o too preventovexationo orooppression,o toodoo justiceo nayo substantialojusticeobetweenotheopartiesoandotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.o

11.o o Keepingo ino viewo theo entiretyo ofo theo attendingo factso ando circumstancesoofotheocaseoinohand;oespeciallyotheooriginalooffenceobeingoano offenceo undero Sectiono 138o ofo Negotiableo Instrumentso Acto ofo 1881,o theo o o o o 9o o originalooffenceoallegedotoohaveobeenocommittedoinotheoyearo2018,otheosubjecto mattero ofo theo originalo offenceo havingo beeno settledo amicablyo betweeno theo partiesoandotheocriminalocomplaintounderoSectiono138oofotheoNIoActohavingo beenodisposedoofoonotheobasisoofosuchosettlement/compromise;othisoCourto deemso ito appropriateo thato theo impugnedo FIRo aso alsoo allo proceedingso emanatingotherefromodeserveotoobeoquashed.oo

12.o o Itois,ohence,odirectedoasounder:o

(i)o o Instantopetitionoisoallowed;oo

(ii)o o Theo impugnedo FIRoNo.174odatedo18.04.2025,oAnnexureo P-2,o registeredoagainstotheopetitionerounderoSectiono174-AoIPCoatoPoliceoStationo Civilo Lines,o Karnalo ando allo subsequento proceedingso arisingo therefrom,o includingo impugnedo ordero datedo 02.09.2019,o wherebyo theo petitionero waso declaredo aso ao proclaimedo persono alongo witho proceedingso initiatedo undero Sectionso82o&o83oCr.oP.C.,ostandoquashed;oo

(iii)o o Allopendingoapplication(s),oifoany,ostandsodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooJUDGEo Aprilo22,o2026o mahaviroo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo