Ranjit
Kumar Das & Ors. Vs. State of Bihar & Ors. [2009] INSC 1531 (3
September 2009)
Judgment
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1050
OF 2002 RANJIT KUMAR DAS AND ORS. ... APPELLANT(S) :VERSUS:
O R D E R
This
appeal is directed against the order dated 14.3.2002 in Criminal Miscellaneous
No.28348/2000 passed by the learned Single Judge of the High Court of
Judicature at Patna. This order was passed by the High Court in a petition
filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for quashing the
criminal complaint.
The
learned Single Judge of the Patna High Court observed as under:
"Civil
and criminal remedies on the same set of facts can be available but in the
circumstances of a case, if it is found that only civil remedy is available, no
criminal case would lie. Criminal and civil remedies are not exclusive or
co-extensive. From a perusal 2 of the complaint petition and statement of the
complainant on solemn affirmation, it cannot be said that the ingredients of
criminal offence have not been made out, the only exception being allegation
relating to Sunetra Kumar Das.
In view
of the aforesaid, this application is partly allowed and the impugned order and
criminal proceeding against the petitioner Sunetra Kumar Das is quashed by the
High Court. In so far as other petitioners are concerned, this petition is
dismissed."
The
appellants Ranjit Kumar Das, Chhabi Das and Pawan Kumar Jha have approached
this Court for quashing the judgment and order of the Patna High Court. During
the pendency of this matter, the parties have filed a joint compromise petition
which is signed by the learned counsel for the parties and all the appellants
Ranjit Kumar Das, Chhabi Das, Pawan Kumar Jha and respondent No.2 - Rajendra
Prasad Choudhary and respondent No.3 - Narmada Devi. A joint Memo of Compromise
is also annexed to the said petition. The joint Memo of Compromise be taken on
record.
In the
compromise application, it is mentioned that the appellants have agreed to give
up their title, rights and interest in the house situated at Village 3 Mouza
Dhouni, Khata No. 26, Khasra No. 280, Thana No.199, Village Dhauni, P.O. &
P.S. Tarapur, District Mnger, Bihar, admeasuring 9 Dhoor in favour of
respondent NO.3 who is the wife of respondent No.2.
The
appellants executed a registered Power of Attorney in favour of respondent No.3
on 6.8.2009 giving rights to execute registered sale deed in favour of
respondent No.2. Respondent Nos.2 and 3 have agreed to withdraw all pending
civil and criminal proceedings filed by them against the appellants. The
details of the pending proceedings as given in para are as under:
(a)
Criminal Complaint Case No. 548 of 1998 in the Court of Judicial Magistrate,
1st Class, Bhagalpur;
(b) Money
Suit No. 6 of 1999 in the Court of Sub Judge IV, Bhagalpur;
and all
proceedings, if any, arising there from.
The
parties are close relations and the dispute between them is essentially of a
civil nature. Learned counsel for the State of Bihar also has no objection to
the said compromise being accepted.
We, on
consideration of the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case,
accept the compromise which has been agreed to and signed by the 4 parties.
In this
view of the matter, this appeal is disposed of in terms of the memo of
compromise.
....................J (DALVEER BHANDARI)
....................J (B.S. CHAUHAN)
NEW DELHI,
SEPEMBER 3, 2009.
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