Delhi HC Quashes Cross-FIRs Between Neighbours Over Pet Dispute, Orders Pizza and Chaach for Ashram Inmates

While quashing a cross FIR between neighbours over their pets, the Delhi High Court has asked the respective parties to serve Amul Chaach tetra packs along with mix vegetable pizzas to inmates of Sanskar Ashram, near GTB Hospital in Dilshad Garden.

Justice Arun Monga, while allowing the petitions, directed that the complainants and accused should “join hands and jointly bear the expenses”. The court clarified that the exercise shall be treated as community service, to be carried out by all parties together.

“Each inmate and the attendants and other staff of the Ashram shall be served one pizza along with Amul Chaach tetra pack. The pizzas shall be baked by the complainant in FIR No. 220/2025 dated 05.05.2025 registered at P.S. Mansarovar Park and the same shall be treated as the community service to be jointly carried out by all the complainants and the accused,” the order reads.

The case arose from two FIRs lodged on May 5, 2025, at Police Station Mansarovar Park. The first FIR was registered under Sections 351(2), 117, 126(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The second invoked Sections 115, 126(2), 351 and 3(5) of the same code.

Both FIRs stemmed from the same incident, with each neighbour filing complaints against the other. The quarrel was linked to the handling of their pets and eventually degenerated into a scuffle, with allegations of assault, intimidation and misbehaviour being levelled from both sides.

During the proceedings, counsel for both sets of petitioners told the court that the dispute arose out of a serious misunderstanding. The parties had subsequently resolved their differences through a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 1, 2025, which was placed on record.

The Additional Standing Counsel for the State as well as counsel for the respondents confirmed the compromise and submitted that they had no objection to the quashing of the FIRs.

The parties also appeared before the court in person and affirmed that they were acting voluntarily, without any coercion or duress, and did not wish to pursue the criminal proceedings further.

Justice Monga noted that the dispute was essentially private in nature and continuation of the proceedings would serve no useful purpose.

Court recorded that one of the complainants was engaged in the business of baking and selling pizzas, while the other was a respectable citizen, and that prolonging the trial would only rekindle hostility.

“In such circumstances, continuation of the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose and would rather amount to an abuse of the process of law. Not quashing the criminal proceedings would rather rekindle hostility, whereas quashing the same would promote cordiality and bonhomie between the neighbours,” the court observed.

Invoking its powers under Section 528 of the BNSS, the Court said the quashing was necessary to prevent undue hardship to the parties and to promote goodwill and societal harmony.

"Accordingly, the petitions are allowed. FIR No. 220/2025 dated 05.05.2025 under Sections 351(2), 117, 126(2), 3(5) BNS and the second bearing no. 221/2025 dated 05.05.2025 under Sections 115, 126(2), 351, 2(5), both lodged at Police Station Mansarovar Park, and all other consequential proceedings are hereby quashed," the Court said

Case Title: Arvind Kumar and Others v The State and Another

Order Date: 19 September 2025 

Bench: Justice Arun Monga