REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICITION

Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No. 6494      OF 2010 (CRLMP. NO.14745/2010)

 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