Supreme Court allows quashing of non-heinous cases via post-conviction compromise

The core issue is whether the High Court could use its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. to quash proceedings for non-heinous offences after a settlement was reached.

Who it concerns: Petitioner: The State of Punjab; Respondents: Avtar Singh & Ors.; Bench: Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Shree Chandrashekar.

What the court decided

• The Court upheld the High Court's order quashing FIR No.249 dated 25.08.2005 and all consequential proceedings, including the conviction and sentence dated 09.05.2012.
• The Court applied the principles from Narinder Singh and Ramgopal, noting that the incident involved individuals and did not constitute a heinous, economic, or NDPS-related offence.

Also in the document

• The Court reiterated that inherent powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. can be exercised to quash proceedings in non-heinous cases even after conviction, provided the compromise is voluntary and the offence is of a private nature.
• The Court emphasized that such powers should not be extended to heinous offences, economic offences, or cases involving contraband under the NDPS Act.
• The judgment was delivered on 25.08.2026.