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Allahabad High Court

SUNIL KUMAR JAISWALversusSTATE OF U.P. THRU. PRIN. SECY. HOME DEPTT. LKO. AND 2 OTHERS

Decided
Disposal
Allowed/Partly Allowed on merits/Granted

Holding

The High Court quashed the criminal proceedings against the applicant on the ground of a valid compromise between the parties.

Summary

The applicant, Sunil Kumar Jaiswal, filed an application under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita seeking to quash the Sessions Trial No.599 of 2025, which arose from a criminal case under Sections 137(2) and 87 of the same Act. A compromise deed dated 28‑08‑2025, verified by the trial court, showed that the applicant and the third opposite party were married and had settled their dispute. The High Court examined Supreme Court precedents on the permissibility of compromise in cognizable and non‑compoundable offences and the inherent power of the High Court under Section 482 to quash proceedings. Relying on the guidelines laid down in *Parbatbhai Aahir v. State of Gujarat* and considering the nature of the offence as having a predominant civil flavour, the Court held that continuing the trial would serve no useful purpose. Consequently, the application was allowed and the criminal proceedings were quashed.

Issues considered

  • The High Court’s power under Section 482 to quash criminal proceedings when the parties have reached a compromise.
  • Whether a compromise can justify quashing of offences under Sections 137(2) and 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which are non‑compoundable.
  • Whether public interest and the nature of the offence preclude the exercise of the inherent power to quash.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • compromise
  • quash
  • inherent powers
  • Section 482
  • non‑compoundable offence
  • criminal procedure
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
  • public interest
  • civil dispute
  • economic offence

Judgment

           HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                          LUCKNOW
                 APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 2232 of 2025

Sunil Kumar Jaiswal
                                                                       .....Applicant(s)
                                         Versus

State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko.
And 2 Others                                                                  .....Opposite
                                                                                    Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)                                   :   Aman Agarwal
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)                              :   G.A.

Court No. - 16
                        HON'BLE BRIJ RAJ SINGH, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the applicant(s), learned A.G.A. for the State-
opposite party no.1.
2. The present application has been filed seeking quashing of the entire
proceedings of Sessions Trial No.599 of 2025, State Vs. Sunil Kumar Jaiswal,
arising out of Case Crime No.0043 of 2025, under Sections 137(2) and 87 of
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Police Station Ghazipur, District Lucknow and
the cognizance order dated 08.03.2025, pending before the District & Sessions
Judge, Lucknow.
3. In pursuance of order dated 26.09.2025 passed by this Court, the compromise
deed dated 28.08.2025 annexed as Annexure-5 to the application has been
verified by the court concerned vide order dated 19.11.2025 annexed as
Annexure-7 to the application. Therefore, submission is that the entire
proceedings of the aforesaid criminal case are liable to be quashed as applicant
and opposite party no3 were married and are living as wife and husband as
stated in paragraph-5 of the application.
4. This Court is not unmindful of the following judgements of the Supreme
Court:
i. B.S. Joshi and others Vs. State of Haryana and another, (2003)4 SCC 675;
ii. Nikhil Merchant Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation, (2008) 9 SCC 677;
iii. Manoj Sharma Vs. State and others, (2008) 16 SCC 1;
iv. Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303;
v. Narindra Singh and others Vs. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466; and
                                                                     NA528 No. 2232 of 2025
                                       2

vi. State of M.P. Vs. Laxmi Narayan and others, AIR 2019 SC 1296

5. In the aforesaid judgments, the Supreme Court has categorically held that
compromise can be made between the parties even in respect of certain
cognizable and non-compoundable offences. Reference may also be made to
the decision given by this Court in Shaifullah and others Vs. State of U.P. and
another, 2013 (83) ACC 278, in which the law expounded by the Supreme
Court in some of the judgments noted above has been explained in detail.
6. Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Parbatbhai Aahir @ Parbatbhai
Bhimsinhbhai Karmur and others Vs. State of Gujarat and another, (2017) 9
SCC 641 has laid down the following guidelines with regard to quashing of
criminal proceedings as well compromise in criminal proceedings in paragraphs
16 to 16.10, which read as under:
"16. The broad principles which emerge from the precedents on the subject, may be
summarised in the following propositions;
16.1. Section 482 preserves the inherent pwers of the High Court to prevent an abuse of the
process of any court or to secure the ends of justice. The provision does not confer new
powers. It only recognises and preserves powers which inhere in the High Court;
16.2. The invocation of the jurisdiction of the High Court to quash a First Information Report
or a criminal proceeding on the ground that a settlement has been arrived at between the
offender and the victim is not the same as the invocation of jurisdiction for the purpose of
compounding an offence. While compounding an offence, the power of the court is governed
by the provisions of Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The power to
quash under Section 482 is attracted even if the offence is non-compoundable.
16.3. In forming an opinion whether a criminal proceeding or complaint should be quashed in
exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482, the High Court must evaluate whether the ends
of justice would justify the exercise of the inherent power;
16.4. While the inherent power of the High Court has a wide ambit and plenitude it has to be
exercised; (i) to secure the ends of justice or (ii) to prevent an abuse of the process of any
court;
16.5. The decision as to whether a complaint or First Information Report should be quashed
on the ground that the offender and victim have settled the dispute, revolves ultimately on the
facts and circumstances of each case and no exhaustive elaboration of principles can be
formulated;
16.6. In the exercise of the power under Section 482 and while dealing with a plea that the
dispute has been settled, the High Court must have due regard to the nature and gravity of the
offence. Heinous and serious offences involving mental depravity or offences such as murder,
rape and dacoity cannot appropriately be quashed though the victim or the family of the
victim have settled the dispute. Such offences are, truly speaking, not private in nature but
have a serious impact upon society. The decision to continue with the trial in such cases is
founded on the overriding element of public interest in punishing persons for serious offences;
16.7. As distinguished from serious offences, there may be criminal cases which have an
overwhelming or predominant element of a civil dispute. They stand on a distinct footing in so
far as the exercise of the inherent power to quash is concerned;
16.8. Criminal cases involving offences which arise from commercial, financial, mercantile,
                                                                                                        NA528 No. 2232 of 2025
                                                                           3

                                    partnership or similar transactions with an essentially civil flavour may in appropriate
                                    situations fall for quashing where parties have settled the dispute;
                                    16.9. In such a case, the High Court may quash the criminal proceeding if in view of the
                                    compromise between the disputants, the possibility of a conviction is remote and the
                                    continuation of a criminal proceeding would cause oppression and prejudice; and
                                    16.10. There is yet an exception to the principle set out in propositions 16.8 and 16.9 above.
                                    Economic offences involving the financial and economic well-being of the state have
                                    implications which lie beyond the domain of a mere dispute between private disputants. The
                                    High Court would be justified in declining to quash where the offender is involved in an
                                    activity akin to a financial or economic fraud or misdemeanour. The consequences of the act
                                    complained of upon the financial or economic system will weigh in the balance."

                                    7. Considering the fact that compromise between the parties has been entered
                                    into, which is on record; both the parties being present here; looking into the
                                    facts and circumstances of the case, as noted herein-above as also the
                                    submissions made by the counsel for the parties, the Court is of the considered
                                    opinion that no useful purpose would be served by prolonging the proceedings
                                    of above mentioned case.
                                    8. Accordingly, application is allowed and the entire proceedings of Sessions
                                    Trial No.599 of 2025, State Vs. Sunil Kumar Jaiswal, arising out of Case Crime
                                    No.0043 of 2025, under Sections 137(2) and 87 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,
                                    2023, Police Station Ghazipur, District Lucknow and the cognizance order
                                    dated 08.03.2025, pending before the District & Sessions Judge, Lucknow, are
                                    hereby quashed so far it relates to the applicant(s).



                                                                                                         (Brij Raj Singh,J.)
                                    January 5, 2026
                                    Rao/-




Digitally signed by :-
CHEBROLU SRINIVASA RAO
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad,
Lucknow Bench


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