It is a settled position of law that the High Court possesses inherent powers to quash criminal proceedings — including an FIR or charge-sheet — where the interest of justice so demands. This authority, now codified under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (previously Section 482 CrPC), is not curtailed merely by procedural developments such as the filing of a charge-sheet. In Shaileshbhai Ranchhodbhai Patel & Another v. State of Gujarat & Ors. , the Hon’ble Supreme Court reaffirmed that the High Court may exercise its inherent jurisdiction to quash an FIR and all consequential proceedings even after a charge-sheet has been filed, if the allegations — taken at face value — do not disclose the commission of any offence, or if the continuation of proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of law or of the Court. In Joseph Salvaraj A. v. State of Gujarat & Ors. [(2011) 7 SCC 59], it was further clarified that the filing of a charge-sheet after the...
