IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.RAMKUMAR THURSDAY, THE 7TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 18TH MAGHA 1929 Crl.MC.No. 524 of 2008() ------------------------ PETITIONER: ------------ 1. SHIJO PUNNAN, S/O.P.V.PUNNAN, MANNUVILAYIL HOUSE, EZHAMKULAM VILLAGE, ADOOR TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT. 2. P.V.PUNNAN, S/O.T.M.VARGHESE, MANNUVILAYIL HOUSE, EZHAMKULAM VILLAGE, ADOOR TALUK, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT. 3. ALEXANDER @ MONICHAN, S/O.T.M.VARGHESE, DO. DO. 4. USHA PUNNAN, W/O.P.V.PUNNAN, OF DO. DO. BY ADV. SRI.JOHNSON MANAYANI RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. SYTHA R., D/O.RAVI P., SREERAGAM HOUSE, PAZHANJIYOOR KONAM MURI, NOORANADU VILLAGE, MAVELIKKARA TALUK, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT. 2. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, THAMPANNUR POLICE STATION, TRIVANDRUM. 3. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI.K.S. SIVAKU7MAR ADV. SRI.H.HARIDAS FOR R1 THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: V. RAMKUMAR, J. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Crl.M.C. No. 524 of 2008 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dated: 7-2-2008 ORDER Petitioners are accused Nos. 1 to 4 in C.C. No. 88 of 2007 on the file of the Judl. First Class Magistrate Court-III, Thiruvananthapuram. 2. In the light of the subsequent settlement of the dispute between the marital parties, the petitioner has approached this Court by invoking the powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. The learned counsel for the first respondent/de facto complainant also admitted that the matter has been settled between the marital partners. Having regard to the resolution of the disputes between the marital parties, continuance of the criminal prosecution against the petitioners is an avoidable irritant. 3. Eventhough the offence under Section 498 A I.P.C. is not compoundable, in the light of the decision of the Apex Court in B.S. Joshi v. State of Haryana (AIR 2003 SC 1386), the powers under Section 482 Cr.P.C. can be invoked by this Court to bring about premature termination of the prosecution. Accordingly, this Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed. C.C. No. 88 of 2007 pending before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court,III , Thiruvananthapuram r shall stand quashed. V. RAMKUMAR, (JUDGE) ani ani.