Cross-FIRs quashed using inherent powers where parties settled private disputes arising from neighbor misunderstandings.

The court heard two connected petitions arising from cross-FIRs (No. 55/2018 and No. 49/2018) registered at P.S. Moti Nagar following a neighborhood dispute over the installation of a gas pipeline.

Allegations in FIR No. 55/2018 included assault and outraging modesty under Sections 323/354-B/34 IPC, while the cross-FIR No. 49/2018 alleged similar offences under Sections 323/509/34 IPC.

Though the matters had reached the stage of prosecution evidence, the parties—who reside on different floors of the same building—settled the dispute through a written Settlement Agreement dated 03.02.2026.

The parties appeared before the court expressing a desire to quench the proceedings to maintain harmony, stating the incidents arose from misunderstandings.

1. Whether the High Court should exercise its inherent powers to quash criminal proceedings in non-compoundable cross-cases based on a private amicable settlement between neighbors.

The court invoked the inherent powers vested under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 (corresponding to Section 482 of the CrPC).

Criminal proceedings may be quashed if a dispute is primarily private in nature, involves no public interest, and where continuing the prosecution would serve no useful purpose following a settlement.

The court observed that the dispute was a localized altercation between neighbors that had been resolved through the intervention of elders and mediators.

Since the complainants and victims in both cases voluntarily entered into a settlement and received compensation, they no longer wished to pursue the charges.

The court reasoned that because the matters were "primarily private in nature" and did not affect "public interest," forcing the continuation of trial—especially when witnesses were unlikely to support the prosecution—would be a futile exercise of judicial resources.

Consequently, the court found it fit to "secure the ends of justice" by allowing the quashing petitions, albeit with a fiscal penalty to be paid to the Legal Services Committee.

The holding was made subject to the condition that the petitioners in each case deposit a cost of Rs. 20,000/- (totaling Rs. 40,000/- for both matters) with the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee within four weeks.

The court further directed the parties to submit the original settlement and proof of cost deposit to the Trial Court.