On the complaint lodged by the second respondent, the first respondent police has registered a case in Crime No.161 of 2012 under Sections 147, 148, 294(b), 323 and 324 of the Indian Penal Code r/w Section 3(1)(x) of SC/ST Act, against the petitioners herein, for quashing which, the petitioners and the defacto complainant are before this Court on the ground that they have arrived at a compromise.
2. Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, Mr.S.Ramasubbu, Special Sub-Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Taluk Police Station is present. The defacto complainant is present and the petitioners are also present and their identifications were also verified by this Court, in addition to the confirmation of the identity of the parties by the learned Government Advocate (Criminal side) through Mr.S.Ramasubbu, Special Sub- Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Taluk Police Station.
3. Under normal circumstances, a First Information Report under SC/ST Act should not be routinely quashed. However, in this case, the defacto complainant, who is present in Court, submitted that the incident had taken place in the year 2012, while the defacto complainant was travelling by bus. The defacto complainant also submitted that when the incident had taken place, the accused in this case were school students and that their career will be in peril, if the prosecution proceeds further. That apart, on the intervention of elders, both communities are living in peace. Along with a joint compromise memo, the second respondent has also filed an affidavit dated 16.02.2017, wherein, it is stated as follows:
"3. I humbly submit that now there is a compromise arrived between the petitioners/accused persons and me. In view of the above said compromise, the petitioners/accused persons and myself jointly submitted Joint Compromise Memo in regard of above Cr.No.161/2012 on the file of 1st respondent police. I have no objection to quash the above FIR in Cr.No.161/2012 on the file of the first respondent as I having no interest to continue the proceedings."
4. In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion that no useful purpose would be served in keeping the matter pending. Therefore, this petition is allowed and the entire proceedings in Crime No.161 of 2012 on the file of the first respondent police in respect of all the accused including those who are not before this Court are hereby quashed. The affidavit dated 16.02.2017 and the joint compromise memo shall form part of this order.
5. At the instance of the learned counsel for the petitioners, the petitioners themselves voluntarily came forward to contribute some amount for the purpose of removal of Karuvelam Trees.
6. Accepting the submission, the petitioners are directed to pay a sum of Rs.500/- (Rupees Five Hundred only) each, to the credit of Indian Bank Savings Account No.6514082295, operated by the Registrar (Administration), Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai, for the purpose of removal of Karuvelam Trees, within a period of two weeks from today. After making payment, a copy of the challan shall be furnished to the Registrar (Administration), Madurai Bench of Madras High Cour, Madurai.
7. Post the matter on 06.04.2017 "for reporting compliance".
To:
1.The Inspector of Police, Sankarankovil Taluk Police Station, Sankarankovil, Tirunelveli District.
2.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai..