Sabina, J. - (1.) PETITIONERS have filed this petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing of FIR No. 19 dated 8.2.2009, under Section 406, 506 of the Indian Penal Code ('IPC' for short), registered at Police Station Sadar Gurdaspur, District Gurdaspur and all the subsequent proceedings arising therefrom. Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that during the pendency of the investigation, parties had amicably settled their dispute. Petitioners had agreed to pay Rs. 3,50,000/ - to the complainant towards dowry articles. However, during the investigation, petitioners had paid only Rs. 3,00,000/ - to respondent No. 2 but had failed to make the complete payment and, consequently, challan was presented against the petitioners.
(2.) TODAY , learned counsel for the petitioners has handed over draft to the tune of Rs. 50,000/ - to respondent No. 2, who is present in person. Respondent No. 2 has accepted the draft and has submitted that she has no objection if the FIR in question is ordered to be quashed but has submitted that she reserves her right to claim maintenance for the child and whatever other rights the child has in the property of her husband.
(3.) AS per the Full Bench judgment of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others vs. State of Punjab, : 2007 (3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, High Court has power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to allow the compounding of non -compoundable offence and quash the prosecution where the High Court felt that the same was required to prevent the abuse of the process of any Court or to otherwise secure the ends of justice. This power of quashing is not confined to matrimonial disputes alone.;