QUASHING OF CROSS-FIRS PERMISSIBLE UPON AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF PRIVATE DISPUTES BETWEEN CLOSELY RELATED PARTIES.

The court heard two connected petitions filed by closely related family members seeking the quashing of cross-FIRs (No. 527/2021 and 528/2021) registered at P.S. Kirti Nagar

FIR 527/2021 was registered by a daughter-in-law alleging threats and attempted sexual assault by the petitioners

FIR 528/2021 was registered by a paternal aunt alleging verbal abuse and assault during a scuffle

Although charge sheets were filed in both cases, the parties subsequently entered into a Compromise Deed dated April 25, 2026, with the help of community members

The complainants appeared before the Court and confirmed they entered the settlement voluntarily

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

Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 [formerly Section 482 of the CrPC], which grants the High Court inherent powers to pass orders necessary to give effect to any order under the Code, prevent abuse of the process of any Court, or otherwise to secure the ends of justice

The principle that where matrimonial or family disputes are amicably settled, and the nature of the allegations is such that a conviction is unlikely, the proceedings may be quashed to achieve the ends of justice

The Court observed that the parties are closely related and have resolved all disputes with the intervention of society members

By examining the nature of the allegations and the fact that the complainants expressed "no objection" to the quashing, the Court reasoned that continuing the criminal proceedings would be a futile exercise and would not serve any useful purpose

To ensure the settlement was bona fide, the Court verified the identities of the parties through the Investigating Officer and confirmed that the compromise was reached without coercion or influence

The quashing was made subject to the petitioners in each case depositing a cost of Rs. 30,000/- (totaling Rs. 60,000/-) to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) West District within four weeks

Proof of deposit and original affidavits must be submitted to the Trial Court within six weeks