In a recent turn of events, the Delhi High Court, under the guidance of Justice Saurabh Banerjee, quashed a First Information Report (FIR) related to an attempt to commit culpable homicide. This decision came after the involved parties reached a settlement. Justice Banerjee remarked,
“In view of the fact that the settlement has been arrived at between the parties…in order to bring a quietus to the present disputes…this court is of the opinion that continuation of the aforesaid FIR will be an exercise in futility.”
The FIR, which was registered on July 28 under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, was subsequently nullified. As a part of the settlement, the court directed the 24 individuals involved in the case to split into four groups, each comprising six members. These groups are tasked with performing
“basic cleaning work”
at four police stations in Delhi: Mehrauli, Fatehpur Beri, Maidan Garhi, and Neb Sarai. This cleaning duty is scheduled for three days – Monday, Thursday, and Sunday, starting from September 18, 2023. The groups have the freedom to decide their composition and the specific police station where they will undertake the cleaning responsibilities.
The background of the case reveals that the parties, who were neighbors, had allegedly engaged in a verbal altercation, which escalated to a physical scuffle and even stone-pelting. However, on September 2, they entered into a compromise deed. The complainant respondents informed the court that they had voluntarily settled all disputes with the petitioners. They expressed no interest in pursuing criminal proceedings against the petitioners and raised no objections to the quashing of the FIR.
In a parallel case, the court also addressed another dispute where it ordered the complainant and two accused individuals to collectively contribute ₹48,000. This amount is designated for the purchase of uniform socks for police personnel stationed at six police stations: Keshavpuram, Bharat Nagar, Model Town, Ashok Vihar, Roop Nagar, and Maurice Nagar. The court’s order stated,
“The petitioners submit that they shall hand over their share of ₹24,000 in cash to the respondent no.2 today, who shall in turn, add the same to his share of ₹24,000 and utilise the total cost of ₹48,000 for purchase/procurement of uniform socks for the police personnel stationed at the 6 Police Stations.”
In conclusion, the Delhi High Court’s recent decisions highlight the court’s innovative approach to dispute resolution, emphasizing reconciliation and community service.
