#criminal proceedings quashed

The Uttarakhand High Court set aside the charge-sheet and all criminal proceedings under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita because the parties reached a voluntary settlement, even though the offence under Section 109 is non-compoundable. This establishes that a genuine settlement can override non-compoundability, guiding future compounding applications.

Allahabad High Court rules that cognizance of offences under the repealed Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 is legally invalid after its replacement by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The court quashed proceedings initiated under the void legislation, reinforcing that prosecution under repealed statutes cannot sustain.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ruled that a Managing Director cannot be held vicariously liable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act solely based on their corporate position - prosecution must allege specific, concrete involvement in day-to-day operations. This sets a critical precedent for corporate officers facing criminal liability in regulatory offences, reinforcing that designation alone is insufficient to establish mens rea.

MP High Court rules that a false affidavit submitted in a non-judicial context (e.g., marriage) does not attract criminal liability under Section 193 IPC, as it does not constitute 'false evidence' in a judicial proceeding. The court quashed proceedings, emphasizing that matrimonial disputes cannot be weaponized to misuse criminal law.

Telangana High Court reinforces that offences against public servants under Sections 186 and 187 IPC cannot proceed without a written complaint from the concerned authority, extending the quashing to allied charges under Sections 143, 153-A, 120-B, and 149 IPC. The ruling underscores the mandatory procedural safeguard to prevent abuse of process.

Madhya Pradesh High Court quashes criminal proceedings under Section 164 BNSS where a civil suit with temporary injunction is already pending, reinforcing that parallel proceedings in possession disputes amount to abuse of process. The ruling aligns with Supreme Court precedent, protecting litigants from vexatious criminal litigation during ongoing civil adjudication.