Non-heinous criminal proceedings may be quashed after amicable settlement where conviction prospects are bleak.

FIR No. 198/2016 was registered at Police Station Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, on the complaint of respondent No. 3. Following investigation, a charge-sheet under Sections 341, 323 and 336 of the Ranbir Nagar Penal Code (RPC) was filed and remained pending before the 3rd Additional Munsiff, Jammu.

During the proceedings, the petitioner and respondent No. 3 entered into a written compromise dated 23 April 2026. Their statements were recorded before the Registrar Judicial, and respondent No. 3 stated that he had no objection to quashing the FIR and consequential proceedings.

The petitioner sought quashing under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Whether the FIR and consequential criminal proceedings could be quashed on the basis of the parties’ compromise.

Whether, considering the nature of the alleged offences and the parties’ settlement, continuation of the proceedings would serve any useful purpose.

The petition was brought under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking quashing of the FIR and consequential proceedings.

Applying Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466, the Court noted that proceedings involving heinous or serious offences, or offences with a substantial societal impact, should not be quashed merely on compromise; by contrast, proceedings with a predominantly private or civil character may be quashed where the parties have resolved their dispute. The Court must also consider whether the prospects of conviction are remote and whether continuation would cause oppression, prejudice or injustice.

The Court found that the alleged offences were not heinous in nature and that the complainant had confirmed the settlement and did not object to quashing.

In light of the compromise and the nature of the allegations, the Court considered the chances of conviction bleak and concluded that continuing the proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would risk injustice and abuse of process.

It allowed the petition and quashed FIR No. 198/2016, registered under Sections 341, 323 and 336 RPC, together with the consequential final report/charge-sheet pending before the 3rd Additional Munsiff, Jammu. The petition was disposed of accordingly.