Ramgopal & Anr vs State Of M.P.& Anr
- SCC(2010) 13 SCC 540
- Neutral2010 INSC 458
- SCR[2010] 9 SCR 354
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
An offence designated as non-compoundable under the Indian Penal Code cannot be quashed or the accused acquitted merely because the parties have arrived at an amicable settlement, notwithstanding such settlement between them.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
RAMGOPAL & ANR. ...Petitioner(s)
Versus
STATE OF M.P. & ANR. ...Respondent(s)
O R D E R
Delay condoned.
Issue notice.
The petitioners herein were convicted, inter alia,
under Section 326 IPC. We understand that the parties have
arrived at an amicable settlement. However, in view of the
fact that the offence mentioned in Section 326 is a non-
compoundable offence, we cannot straightway acquit the
petitioners the settlement between the parties,
notwithstanding.
There are several offences under the IPC that are
currently non-compoundable. These include offences
punishable under Section 498-A, Section 326, etc. of the
IPC. Some of such offence can be made compoundable by
introducing a suitable amendment in the statute. We are
of the opinion that the Law Commission of India could
examine whether a suitable proposal can be sent to the
Union Government in this regard. Any such step would not
only relieve the courts of the burden of deciding cases in
which the aggrieved parties have themselves arrived at a
settlement, but may also encourage the process of
re-conciliation between them. We, accordingly, request the
Law Commission and the Government of India to examine all
these aspects and take such steps as may be considered
feasible.
The Secretary General of this Court shall forthwith
send a copy of this order to the Law Commission of India as
well as to the Law Secretary to the Government of India.
The Law Secretary is requested to place a copy of this
order before the Hon'ble Minister of Law & Justice, Union
of India.
..........................................J. (MARKANDEY KATJU)
...........................................J. (T.S. THAKUR) New Delhi July 30, 2010
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