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Allahabad High Court

RAJKUMAR AND 2 OTHERSversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

Decided

Holding

The High Court held that, despite the offences being non‑compoundable, the criminal proceedings were quashed because the parties had reached a genuine settlement and continuation of the case would be futile.

Summary

The applicants filed an application under Section 528 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking to quash the chargesheet dated 10‑04‑2018 and the cognizance order dated 18‑08‑2018 in Criminal Case No.2505 of 2018, which involved offences under Sections 354, 308 and 325 IPC. Both parties had amicably settled the dispute, a compromise that was verified by the trial court on 22‑07‑2026 and admitted by counsel for the opposite side. The High Court examined precedents – Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, Madhavrao Scindia v. Angre and H.N. Pandakumar v. State of Karnataka – which allow quashing of criminal proceedings even for non‑compoundable offences where a genuine settlement exists. Relying on these authorities and the fact that continuation of the case would be futile, the Court exercised its inherent power under Section 528 CrPC to quash the chargesheet and the cognizance order. The application was therefore allowed.

Issues considered

  • Can criminal proceedings for non‑compoundable offences under Sections 354, 308 and 325 IPC be quashed on the basis of a compromise/settlement between the parties under Section 528 CrPC?

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • quash criminal proceeding
  • Section 528 CrPC
  • non‑compoundable offences
  • settlement
  • compromise
  • IPC 354
  • IPC 308
  • IPC 325
  • court discretion

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

           APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 24475 of 2026

Rajkumar And 2 Others
                                                             .....Applicant(s)
                                   Versus
State of U.P. and Another
                                                                .....Opposite
                                                                      Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)                 :   Upendra Kumar Pushkar
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)            :   Akal Raj Singh, G.A.

Court No. - 79
                 HON'BLE SAURABH SRIVASTAVA, J.

1. Heard Sri Upendra Kumar Pushkar, learned counsel for applicants and Sri
Akal Raj Singh, learned counsel for opposite party no.2 as well as learned
AGA.

2. The present application has been filed to quash chargesheet dated
10.04.2018 and cognizance/summoning order dated 18.08.2018 passed in
Criminal Case No.2505 of 2018, S.T. No.389 of 2024 (State Vs. Rajkumar
and others), arising out of Case Crime No.15 of 2018, under Sections 354,
308, 325 IPC, P.S. Iglas, District Aligarh, pending in the court of learned
Additional District and Sessions Judge, POCSO-I, Aligarh, on the basis of
compromise.

3. At the very outset, learned counsel for applicants has submitted that
compromise has already been preferred and the same has also been verified
by learned court concerned on dated 22.07.2026 which has been appended
with this petition, this fact has also been ascertained and seconded by
learned counsel for opposite party no.2.

4. The parties have amicably settled their dispute and fact of compromise
has been confirmed and admitted by learned counsel for opposite parties and
as such, there would be no harm and error if the proceedings may be
quashed in light of the compromise.

5. A three-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court in Gian Singh v. State of
Punjab & another, (2012) 10 SCC 303, has observed in para 54 of the said
judgment that where the High Court quashes a criminal proceeding having
regard to the fact that the dispute between the offender and the victim has
been settled although the offences are not compoundable, it does so as in its
                                                                                              NA528 No. 24475 of 2026
                                                                    2

                                    opinion, continuation of criminal proceedings will be an exercise in futility
                                    and justice in the case demands that the dispute between the parties is put to
                                    an end and peace is restored; securing the ends of justice being the ultimate
                                    guiding factor.

                                    6. In the case of Madhavrao Jiwajirao Scindia v. Sambhajirao
                                    Chandraojirao Angre, [(1988) 1 SCC 692], Hon'ble the Apex Court has
                                    also observed that where matters are also of civil nature i.e. matrimonial,
                                    family disputes, etc. the Court may consider "special facts", "special feature"
                                    and quash the criminal proceeding to encourage genuine settlement of
                                    disputes between the parties.

                                    7. In the case of H.N. Pandakumar Vs. State of Karnataka [2025 INSC
                                    37], Hon'ble the Apex Court has also observed hat if the offence is non-
                                    compoundable which is having no serious impact on society then there
                                    would be no harm and error if the proceedings may be quashed in light of
                                    the compromise entered into between the parties. Relevant paragraph of the
                                    said judgment is being quoted hereinbelow:-

                                    "5. In light of the amicable settlement and the complainant's unequivocal
                                    consent, as evidenced by the Interlocutory Application, this Court finds it
                                    appropriate to allow the present M.A. While the offense under Section 326
                                    IPC is non- compoundable under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure
                                    Code, 1973, the exceptional circumstances of this case, including the
                                    voluntary settlement between the parties, warrant the exercise of this Court's
                                    inherent powers to give effect to the compromise."

                                    8. Keeping in mind the position of law and facts, circumstances of the
                                    case, chargesheet dated 10.04.2018 and cognizance/summoning order dated
                                    18.08.2018 passed in Criminal Case No.2505 of 2018, S.T. No.389 of 2024
                                    (State Vs. Rajkumar and others), arising out of Case Crime No.15 of 2018,
                                    under Sections 354, 308, 325 IPC, P.S. Iglas, District Aligarh, pending in the
                                    court of learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, POCSO-I, Aligarh,
                                    are hereby quashed.

                                    9. Accordingly, the present application stands allowed.

                                    September 11, 2026
                                    Vivek Kr.
                                                                                         (Saurabh Srivastava,J.)




Digitally signed by :-
VIVEK KUMAR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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