In Brief
A State appealed the High Court's order quashing criminal proceedings against accused persons charged with attempt to murder (Section 307 IPC) and obscene acts in public (Section 294 IPC), filed by Birbal Sharma. The High Court had quashed the proceedings solely because the Complainant and accused settled their dispute amicably. The Supreme Court held that non-compoundable offences cannot be quashed merely on the basis of settlement between the Complainant and accused, regardless of their consent. Given the serious nature of the allegations (firing twice with a country-made pistol) and the accused's criminal antecedents, the Court allowed the appeal and remitted the proceedings to proceed on their merits.
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