Jharkhand High Court
Ritik Singh vs The State Of Jharkhand on 10 July, 2026
Author: Anil Kumar Choudhary
Bench: Anil Kumar Choudhary
(2026:JHHC:20480)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
Cr.M.P. No. 2046 of 2026
Ritik Singh, aged about 25 years, son of Manjeet Singh, resident of
H. No. 18C, Hari Mandir Road, Birsanagar, P.O. & P.S.-Golmuri,
Town-Jamshedpur, Dist.-East Singhbhum
...... Petitioner
Versus
1.
The State of Jharkhand
2. Manjeet Singh @ Manjit Singh, son of late Hardeep Singh,
resident of 6B, Kalu Bagan, New Baridih, Baridih, P.O. & P.S.-
Baridih, Town-Jamshedpur, Dist.-East Singhbhum
….. Opposite Parties
For the Petitioner : Mr. Sourav Kumar, Advocate
: Mr. Vikas Kumar, Advocate
For the State : Mrs. Mohua Palit, Addl. P.P
For the O.P. No.2 : Mr. Agnivesh, Advocate
PRESENT
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY
By the Court:- Heard the parties.
2. This Criminal Miscellaneous Petition has been filed invoking
the jurisdiction of this Court under Section 528 of B.N.S.S., 2023
with the prayer to quash the entire criminal proceeding in
connection with Sidhgora P.S. Case No. 120 of 2024 registered for
the offence punishable under Sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 323, 324,
325, 307, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section
27 of Arms Act.
3. It is jointly submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner
and the learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 by drawing
attention of this Court to the Interlocutory Application No.9043 of
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2026 which is supported by separate affidavits of the petitioner
and the opposite party no. 2 that therein it has categorically been
mentioned that during the pendency of the present case with the
intervention of well-wishers, relatives and respectable persons of
the society, the parties have amicably resolved and settled all their
disputes and differences out of their own free will, without any
force, coercion, undue influence or pressure from any corner. It is
further jointly submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner
and the learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 that the
genesis of the occurrence is petty dispute between the parties and
some exaggeration has been made in the FIR to make the case a
serious one but actually, the offence punishable under Section 307
of the Indian Penal Code is not made out. It is next jointly
submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the
learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 that in view of the full
and final settlement between the petitioner and the opposite party
no.2, the opposite party no.2 is not desirous of proceeding with
the case and the chance of the conviction of the petitioner is
remote and bleak. Hence, it is submitted that the prayer as made
in this criminal miscellaneous petition be allowed.
4. Learned Addl. P.P. submits that the State has no serious
objection to the prayer as made in this criminal miscellaneous
petition, in view of the compromise between the parties.
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5. Having heard the submissions made at the Bar and after going
through the materials available in the record, it is pertinent to
mention here that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case
of Narinder Singh and Others vs. State of Punjab & Another
reported in (2014) 6 SCC 466, in paragraph 29, has laid down the
principles by which, the High Court would be guided in giving
adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties, and
exercising its power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. while accepting the
settlement and quashing the proceedings which, reads as under:
“29. In view of the aforesaid discussion, we sum up and lay down the
following principles by which the High Court would be guided in giving
adequate treatment to the settlement between the parties and exercising
its power under Section 482 of the Code while accepting the settlement
and quashing the proceedings or refusing to accept the settlement with
direction to continue with the criminal proceedings:
29.1. Power conferred under Section 482 of the Code is to be
distinguished from the power which lies in the Court to compound the
offences under Section 320 of the Code. No doubt, under Section 482 of
the Code, the High Court has inherent power to quash the criminal
proceedings even in those cases which are not compoundable, where the
parties have settled the matter between themselves. However, this power
is to be exercised sparingly and with caution.
29.2. When the parties have reached the settlement and on that
basis petition for quashing the criminal proceedings is filed, the guiding
factor in such cases would be to secure:
(i) ends of justice, or
(ii) to prevent abuse of the process of any court.
While exercising the power the High Court is to form an opinion on
either of the aforesaid two objectives.
29.3. Such a power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions
which involve heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or
offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in
nature and have a serious impact on society. Similarly, for the offences
alleged to have been committed under special statute like the Prevention
of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while
working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of
compromise between the victim and the offender.
29.4. On the other hand, those criminal cases having
overwhelmingly and predominantly civil character, particularly those
arising out of commercial transactions or arising out of matrimonial
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relationship or family disputes should be quashed when the parties have
resolved their entire disputes among themselves.
29.5. While exercising its powers, the High Court is to examine
as to whether the possibility of conviction is remote and bleak and
continuation of criminal cases would put the accused to great oppression
and prejudice and extreme injustice would be caused to him by not
quashing the criminal cases.
29.6. Offences under Section 307 IPC would fall in the category
of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be generally treated
as crime against the society and not against the individual alone.
However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because
there is a mention of Section 307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed
under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as
to whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or
the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would
lead to proving the charge under Section 307 IPC. For this purpose, it
would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained,
whether such injury is inflicted on the vital/delicate parts of the body,
nature of weapons used, etc. Medical report in respect of injuries
suffered by the victim can generally be the guiding factor. On the basis
of this prima facie analysis, the High Court can examine as to whether
there is a strong possibility of conviction or the chances of conviction are
remote and bleak. In the former case it can refuse to accept the settlement
and quash the criminal proceedings whereas in the latter case it would
be permissible for the High Court to accept the plea compounding the
offence based on complete settlement between the parties. At this stage,
the Court can also be swayed by the fact that the settlement between the
parties is going to result in harmony between them which may improve
their future relationship.
29.7. While deciding whether to exercise its power under Section
482 of the Code or not, timings of settlement play a crucial role. Those
cases where the settlement is arrived at immediately after the alleged
commission of offence and the matter is still under investigation, the
High Court may be liberal in accepting the settlement to quash the
criminal proceedings/investigation. It is because of the reason that at
this stage the investigation is still on and even the charge-sheet has not
been filed. Likewise, those cases where the charge is framed but the
evidence is yet to start or the evidence is still at infancy stage, the High
Court can show benevolence in exercising its powers favourably, but
after prima facie assessment of the circumstances/material mentioned
above. On the other hand, where the prosecution evidence is almost
complete or after the conclusion of the evidence the matter is at the stage
of argument, normally the High Court should refrain from exercising its
power under Section 482 of the Code, as in such cases the trial court
would be in a position to decide the case finally on merits and to come to
a conclusion as to whether the offence under Section 307 IPC is
committed or not. Similarly, in those cases where the conviction is
already recorded by the trial court and the matter is at the appellate
stage before the High Court, mere compromise between the parties
would not be a ground to accept the same resulting in acquittal of the
offender who has already been convicted by the trial court. Here charge
is proved under Section 307 IPC and conviction is already recorded of a
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heinous crime and, therefore, there is no question of sparing a convict
found guilty of such a crime.” (Emphasis supplied)
6. Now coming to the facts of the case, because of some
misunderstanding, this case has been instituted. In the facts of the
case, the offence punishable under Section 307 of the Indian Penal
Code is not made out. It is needless to mention here that in view of
compromise between the parties, the possibility of conviction of
the petitioner is remote and bleak and continuation of the case
would put the accused-petitioner to oppression and prejudice and
extreme injustice would be caused by not quashing this criminal
case. Hence, continuation of the criminal proceeding will amount
to abuse of the process of law and in the interest of the justice, the
entire criminal proceeding in connection with Sidhgora P.S. Case
No. 120 of 2024 be quashed and set aside qua the petitioner only.
7. Accordingly, the entire criminal proceeding in connection with
Sidhgora P.S. Case No. 120 of 2024, is quashed and set aside qua
the petitioner only.
8. In the result, this Criminal Miscellaneous Petition is allowed.
9. Consequently, the interlocutory application no.9043 of 2026 is
disposed of.
(Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.)
High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi
Dated, the 10th July, 2026
AFR/Gunjan/-
Uploaded on 13/07/2026
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