Matrimonial criminal proceedings may be quashed under Section 482 CrPC upon voluntary settlement.

The wife’s complaint led to Crime No. 380 of 2023 and, following investigation, proceedings in C.C. No. 24908 of 2023 against the husband and other petitioners for alleged offences under Sections 498-A, 504 and 506 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The petitioners sought to quash those proceedings under Section 482 CrPC.

The parties later reported that they had settled their matrimonial dispute, filed a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent, and agreed to withdraw their respective cases.

In the connected petition concerning the wife’s maintenance proceeding, the husband sought withdrawal after reporting the settlement.

1. Whether the criminal proceedings in C.C. No. 24908 of 2023 should be quashed under Section 482 CrPC in view of the parties’ voluntary settlement.

2. Whether Crl.P. No. 3328 of 2024 should be dismissed as withdrawn following the petitioner’s request and the reported settlement.

Section 482 CrPC preserves the High Court’s inherent power to make orders necessary to secure the ends of justice.

Section 320 CrPC provides for compounding specified offences, but the petitioners also invoked the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction in seeking quashing of the proceedings.

The court identified the alleged offences as those under Sections 498-A, 504 and 506 IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

No precedent was cited in the order.

The parties appeared through counsel and jointly represented that they had settled the dispute voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence.

They had agreed to pursue divorce by mutual consent, resolve the financial terms of their separation, and withdraw their cases against each other.

Considering the settlement and the parties’ stated wish to end the dispute, the court held that continuation of the criminal proceedings was unnecessary and that exercising its inherent jurisdiction would secure the ends of justice.

It allowed Crl.P. No. 10842 of 2023 and quashed, as against the petitioners, the proceedings in C.C. No. 24908 of 2023 arising from Crime No. 380 of 2023.