High Court may quash matrimonial criminal proceedings under Article 226 following a genuine, voluntary settlement.

Petitioner No. 1 was the husband of respondent No. 3, while petitioner Nos. 2 and 3 were her parents-in-law and petitioner Nos. 4 and 5 were her sisters-in-law. Their marriage was solemnised on 14 June 2024 according to Hindu rites.

Following matrimonial disputes, respondent No. 3 lodged FIR/Case Crime No. 0004 of 2026 at Police Station Gadarpur, District Udham Singh Nagar, alleging offences under Sections 115(2), 352 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

During the proceedings, the parties entered into an amicable settlement. Petitioner No. 1 and respondent No. 3 agreed to dissolve their marriage and jointly instituted proceedings under Section 27 of the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand.

The settlement included payment of ₹15,00,000 to respondent No. 3 towards full and final settlement, return of her stridhan, resolution of the minor child’s custody, and relinquishment of further claims against each other.

A Compounding Application supported by affidavits was filed, asserting that the settlement was voluntary and free from coercion or undue influence.

Although the State opposed the application, respondent No. 3 supported the settlement and sought quashing of the FIR. During video-conferencing proceedings, she confirmed that she had received the settlement amount and her stridhan, and expressly stated that she had no objection to quashing the criminal proceedings.

Whether the High Court could exercise its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution to quash the FIR and consequential criminal proceedings arising from a matrimonial dispute on the basis of a voluntary settlement between the parties.

Whether, in view of the settlement, payment of the agreed amount, return of stridhan, and respondent No. 3’s unequivocal consent, continuation of the criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of law.

The Court exercised its constitutional jurisdiction under Article 226 to secure the ends of justice and prevent abuse of the process of law.

It relied on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab, (2012) 10 SCC 303; Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466; and State of Madhya Pradesh v. Laxmi Narayan, (2019) 5 SCC 688, which establish that criminal proceedings arising predominantly from private, personal, or matrimonial disputes may be quashed following a genuine and voluntary settlement, subject to the nature and gravity of the offences and the broader societal impact.

The FIR alleged offences under Sections 115(2), 352 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

The Court found that the dispute was predominantly matrimonial and personal, rather than an offence having a grave impact on society at large.

The settlement was supported by affidavits, payment of ₹15,00,000, return of stridhan, resolution of custody and financial claims, and steps toward dissolution of the marriage.

Respondent No. 3 personally confirmed before the Court that the settlement was voluntary, that she had received the agreed benefits, and that she had no objection to quashing the FIR.

Applying the principles in Gian Singh, Narinder Singh and Laxmi Narayan, the Court held that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the prosecution and that its continuation would constitute an unnecessary continuation of litigation and an abuse of process.

It allowed Compounding Application I.A. No. 1 of 2026 and quashed FIR/Case Crime No. 0004 of 2026, registered at Police Station Gadarpur, District Udham Singh Nagar, together with all consequential proceedings.

The writ petition was accordingly allowed, and any pending applications were disposed of.