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Allahabad High Court

YASHEEN AND ANOTHERversusSTATE OF U.P. AND 3 OTHERS

Decided

Holding

The application under Section 528 BNSS is allowed and the charge‑sheet, cognizance order and all proceedings are quashed.

Summary

The applicants filed an application under Section 528 of the BNSS seeking to quash the charge‑sheet and proceedings in a Special Sessions Trial for offences under Sections 64(1) and 115(2) of the BNSS and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. They asserted that the accused (applicant No.1) had married the victim on 07‑02‑2026, a child was born, and a compromise was effected and verified by the trial court. The victim’s counsel accepted the marriage, and the State could not dispute the facts of marriage, birth and compromise. The High Court examined Supreme Court precedents where prosecutions were quashed on the ground of marriage between the accused and the complainant. Relying on those judgments, the Court held that the prosecution could not be sustained and allowed the application, quashing the charge‑sheet, cognizance order and all proceedings.

Issues considered

  • Whether a criminal prosecution under the BNSS and POCSO Act can be quashed on the ground that the accused has married the victim and a compromise has been reached.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • quash of criminal prosecution
  • marriage as defence
  • Section 528 BNSS
  • POCSO Act
  • compromise
  • Supreme Court precedent
  • Article 142

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
                 APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 7510 of 2026

Yasheen And Another
                                                             .....Applicant(s)
                                    Versus

State Of U.P. And 3 Others
                                                                .....Opposite
                                                                      Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)               :     Arun Kumar Bajpai
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)          :     Satish Kumar Mishra, G.A.

Court No. - 80
                   HON'BLE VIVEK KUMAR SINGH, J.

1. Supplementary affidavit filed today is taken on record.

2. Heard Sri Arun Kumar Bajpai, learned counsel for the applicants, Sri
Satish Kumar Mishra, learned counsel for the opposite party no.2/ victim
and learned AGA for the State-opposite party no.1.

3. Present application under Section 528 of the BNSS has been filed to quash
the charge-sheet dated 13.09.2025 and cognizance order dated 04.11.2025 as
well as entire proceedings of Special Sessions Trial No.1301 of 2025 (State
versus Yasheen and another) against the applicant no.1 under Sections 64(1),
115(2) B.N.S. and Section 6 of POCSO Act and against the applicant no.2
under Section 115(2) of B.N.S. arising out of Case Crime No.153 of 2025,
Police Station Gajipur, District Fatehpur, pending in the Exclusive Court,
Additional Sessions Judge/ Special Judge, POCSO Act, Fatehpur on the
basis of compromise in between the victim and applicant no.1.

4. The following submissions have been made by the learned counsel for the
applicants:

      (i) The applicant no.1 and the victim of the present case have entered
      into matrimonial alliance on 07.02.2026.

      (ii) A baby girl was born out of the wedlock of the applicant no.1 and
      the victim on 28.10.2025. A copy of the birth certificate has been
      appended as Annexure No.6 to this affidavit.
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      (iii) The applicant no.1 and the victim, after solemnization of their
      marriage, are living together as husband and wife along with their
      baby girl under the same roof.

      (iv) The parties have entered into compromise on 07.02.2026 and
      16.03.2026 and the compromise dated 16.03.2026 has been verified
      by the learned trial court on 17.03.2026 in pursuance of order dated
      20.02.2026 passed by this Court.

      (v) The applicant no.1 and the victim have solemnized their marriage
      on 07.02.2026 and a baby girl also born out and the parties have
      entered into compromise, therefore, the proceedings against the
      applicants be quashed.

5. Learned counsel for the opposite party no. 2 has put his appearance and
accepted the contentions of the learned counsel for the applicants and
admitted this fact that the marriage of the victim has been solemnized with
the applicant no.1.

6. The learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer made by the learned counsel for
the applicants, but could not dispute the fact of marriage, birth of a child and
compromise and its verification on 17.03.2026.

7. I have heard rival submissions of the parties and perused the record.

8. Undoubtedly, the marriage of the applicant no.1 and the victim has
solemnized on 07.02.2026 and a baby girl was born out of the wedlock of
the applicant no.1 and the victim. The compromise has also taken place
between the parties which has also been verified by the learned Trial Court
vide order dated 17.03.2026.

9. Reference may be made to the judgements of Supreme Court in K.
Dhandapani Vs. The State By the Inspector of Police, 2022 SCC OnLine
SC 1056 and Mafat Lal and other Vs. The State of Rajasthan, 2022 SCC
OnLine SC 433, wherein, the Apex Court quashed the criminal prosecution
of accused therein on the ground that accused had solemnized marriage with
the prosecutrix and court cannot turn a blind eye to the said fact. In the
submission of learned counsel for applicant, the ratio laid down by Apex
Court in aforementioned judgements is squarely applicable to the facts of the
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present case. As such, no exception can be carved out in the case of present
applicants with reference to the aforementioned judgements of Supreme
Court inasmuch as the applicant has also solemnized marriage with the
prosecutrix and the parties are happily living together. On the above
conspectus, the learned counsel for applicant submits that the criminal
prosecution of applicant cannot be sustained in law as well as fact and
therefore, the same is liable to be quashed by this Court.

10. The Apex Court in the case of K. Dhandapani (supra) and Mafat Lal
(Supra) also quashed the proceedings against the accused therein on the
grounds that the accused had solemnized marriage with the prosecutrix and
secondly, the court cannot turn a blind eye to the said fact. Since the
judgement rendered by Apex Court in the case of K. Dhandapani (supra) is a
short one, therefore, the same is reproduced in its entirety:

     "Leave granted.

     The appellant who is the maternal uncle of the prosecutrix belongs to
     Valayar community, which is a most backward community in the State of
     Tamilnadu. He works as a woodcutter on daily wages in a private factory.
     FIR was registered against him for committing rape under Sections
     5(j)(ii)read with Section 6, 5(I) read with Section 6 and 5(n) read with
     Section 6 of Protection of Child from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,
     2012. He was convicted after trial for committing the said offences and
     sentenced to undergo rigorous Reason: imprisonment for a period of 10
     years by the Sessions Judge, Fast Track Mahila Court, Tiruppur on
     31.10.2018. The High Court, by an order dated 13.02.2019, upheld the
     conviction and sentence. Aggrieved thereby, the appellant has filed this
     appeal.

     Mr. M.P.Parthiban, learned counsel appearing for the appellant,
     submitted that allegation against him was that he had physical relations
     with the prosecutrix on the promise of marrying her. He stated that, in
     fact, he married the prosecutrix and they have two children.

     The appellant submitted that this Court should exercise its power under
     Article 142 of the Constitution and ought to do complete justice and it
     could not be in the interest of justice to disturb the family life of the
                                                               NA528 No. 7510 of 2026
                                    4


     appellant and the prosecutrix.

     After hearing the matter for some time on 08 th March, 2022, we directed
     the District Judge to record the statement of the prosecutrix about her
     present status. The statement of the prosecutrix has been placed on
     record in which she has categorically stated that she has two children
     and they are being taken care of by the appellant and she is leading a
     happy married life.

     Dr. Joseph Aristotle S., learned counsel appearing for the State, opposed
     the grant of any relief to the appellant on the ground that the prosecutrix
     was aged 14 years on the date of the offence and gave birth to the first
     child when she was 15 years and second child was born when she was 17
     years. He argued that the marriage between the appellant and the
     prosecutrix is not legal. He expressed his apprehension that the said
     marriage might be only for the purpose of escaping punishment and there
     is no guarantee that the appellant will take care of the prosecutrix and the
     children after this Court grants relief to him.

     In the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, we are of the
     considered view that the conviction and sentence of the appellant who is
     maternal uncle of the prosecutrix deserves to be set aside in view of the
     subsequent events that have been brought to the notice of this Court. This
     Court cannot shut its eyes to the ground reality and disturb the happy
     family life of the appellant and the prosecutrix. We have been informed
     about the custom in Tamilnadu of the marriage of a girl with the maternal
     uncle.

     For the aforesaid mentioned reasons, the conviction and sentence of the
     appellant is set aside in the peculiar facts of the case and shall not be
     treated as a precedent. The appeal is accordingly, disposed of. Pending
     application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

     In case, the appellant does not take proper care of the prosecutrix, she or
     the State on behalf of the prosecutrix can move this Court for
     modification of this Order."

11. The Apex Court in the case of Shriram Urav Vs. State of Chhattisgarh
                                                             NA528 No. 7510 of 2026
                                  5


in Criminal Appeal No(S). 41/2021, decided on 10.01.2025, also quashed
the conviction as well as the sentence imposed upon the appellant on the
ground that the appellant/accused and the complainant/victim had married
each other.

12. Similarly, in the case of Dasari Srikant vs. State of Telangana
reported in (2024) SCC OnLine SC 936, wherein, under identical
circumstances and almost identical provisions the Supreme Court quashed
the proceedings instituted against the accused therein. The relevant
paragraph 8 to 10 of the Dasari Srikant (supra) read as under:-

     "8. Since, the appellant and the complainant have married each other, the
     affirmation of the judgment rendered by the High Court would have the
     disastrous consequence on the accused appellant being sent to jail which
     in turn could put his matrimonial relationship with the complainant in
     danger.

     9. As a consequence, we are inclined to exercise the powers under Article
     142 of the Constitution of India for quashing the conviction of the
     accused appellant as recorded by the learned trial Court and modified by
     the High Court.

     10. As a result, the impugned judgment dated 27th June, 2023 passed by
     the High Court and judgment dated 9th April, 2021 passed by the trial
     Court are hereby quashed and set aside."

13. In another judgment of Mahesh Mukund Patel vs. State of U.P. and
Others, reported in 2025 SCC OnLine SC 614, the Hon'ble Supreme
Court quashed the proceedings of offence, punishable under Section 354A,
363, 366, 376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 3 and 4 of the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on the ground of marriage
between the accused and the victim. It was brought on record that from the
wedlock between the accused and the victim, two children were born, whose
documents were produced alongwith the appeal. The Apex Court in this case
quashed the proceedings on the ground that no purpose would be served by
continuing the prosecution as it would cause undue harassment to the
appellant/accused and the victim and their children.
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                                    6


14. The Supreme Court in another judgment of Madhukar and Others vs.
The State of Maharashtra and Another, arising out of SLP (Criminal) No.
7212 of 2025, alongwith Prabhakar vs. The State of Maharashtra and
Another, arising out of SLP (Criminal) No. 7495 of 2025, quashed the
proceedings of case crime no.302 of 2023, dated 20.11.2023, under sections
324, 141, 143, 147, 149, 452, 323, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860 as well as quashed the proceedings of case crime no.304 of 2023, dated
21.11.2023, under sections 376, 354-A, 354-D, 509 and 506 IPC on the basis
of compromise between the parties. Paragraph nos.6, 7 and 8 of the said
judgment are reproduced herein:-

     "6. At the outset, we recognise that the offence under Section 376 IPC is
     undoubtedly of a grave and heinous nature. Ordinarily, quashing of
     proceedings involving such offences on the ground of settlement between
     the parties is discouraged and should not be permitted lightly. However,
     the power of the Court under Section 482 CrPC to secure the ends of
     justice is not constrained by a rigid formula and must be exercised with
     reference to the facts of each case.

     7. In the present matter, we are confronted with an unusual situation
     where the FIR invoking serious charges, including Section 376 IPC, was
     filed immediately following an earlier FIR lodged by the opposing side.
     This sequence of events lends a certain context to the allegations and
     suggests that the second FIR may have been a reactionary step. More
     importantly, the complainant in the second FIR has unequivocally
     expressed her desire not to pursue the case. She has submitted that she is
     now married, settled in her personal life, and continuing with the
     criminal proceedings would only disturb her peace and stability. Her
     stand is neither tentative nor ambiguous, she has consistently maintained,
     including through an affidavit on record, that she does not support the
     prosecution and wants the matter to end. The parties have also amicably
     resolved their differences and arrived at a mutual understanding. In these
     circumstances, the continuation of the trial would not serve any
     meaningful purpose. It would only prolong distress for all concerned,
     especially the complainant, and burden the Courts without the likelihood
     of a productive outcome.
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                                              8. Therefore, having considered the peculiar facts and circumstances of
                                              this case, and taking into account the categorical stand taken by the
                                              complainant and the nature of the settlement, we are of the opinion that
                                              the continuation of the criminal proceedings would serve no useful
                                              purpose and would only amount to abuse of process."

                                    15. In view of the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the
                                    aforementioned judgments as well as facts of the case, the present
                                    application succeeds and is liable to be allowed. It is accordingly allowed.

                                    16. The charge-sheet dated 13.09.2025 and cognizance order dated
                                    04.11.2025 as well as entire proceedings of Special Sessions Trial No.1301
                                    of 2025 (State versus Yasheen and another) against the applicant no.1 under
                                    Sections 64(1), 115(2) B.N.S. and Section 6 of POCSO Act and against the
                                    applicant no.2 under Section 115(2) of B.N.S. arising out of Case Crime
                                    No.153 of 2025, Police Station Gajipur, District Fatehpur, pending in the
                                    Exclusive Court, Additional Sessions Judge/ Special Judge, POCSO Act,
                                    Fatehpur, are hereby quashed.

                                    17. No order as to costs.



                                                                                                (Vivek Kumar Singh,J.)
                                    April 20, 2026
                                    Radhika




Digitally signed by :-
RADHIKA VISHWAKARMA
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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