The Delhi High Court has quashed an FIR registered against a man accused of assaulting a doctor on duty, on the condition that he performs one month of community service at the same hospital where the incident had occurred.
Justice Ajay Digpaul, while noting that the parties had reached an amicable settlement, directed the petitioner to serve every Saturday and Sunday for one month at Dr. Sushma Jindal Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi, under the supervision of the same doctor who was allegedly assaulted.
The case concerned an FIR lodged in 2019 against one Vipin Ahuja, who was booked for offences under Section 506 IPC (criminal intimidation) and Section 4 of the Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008.
According to the prosecution, Ahuja, while attending to a patient, allegedly created a disturbance inside the hospital, physically assaulted the doctor on duty, and called others who verbally abused the staff and disrupted hospital operations.
The Court was informed that in January 2025, the parties entered into a settlement deed, whereby the complainant-doctor agreed to withdraw the FIR. Ahuja thereafter approached the High Court seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings.
The doctor appeared before the Court and categorically affirmed that the compromise was voluntary, free of coercion, and that he no longer wished to pursue the matter. He also expressed willingness to forgive the accused.
Taking into account the amicable settlement and the fact that no grievous injuries had been caused during the incident, the Court opined that continuing with the criminal proceedings would serve no useful purpose.
However, the Court was careful to emphasize that violence against medical professionals in hospitals cannot be trivialized, as such incidents not only threaten the safety of doctors and staff but also endanger patients requiring urgent treatment.
Balancing the settlement with the larger public concern, the Court quashed the FIR, subject to the accused undertaking community service at the hospital. The operative portion of the order reads:
“FIR No. 280/2019 registered at Police Station Anand Vihar, for the offences punishable under Section 506 of the IPC and Section 4 of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage of Property) Act, and consequent proceedings emanating therefrom, are quashed qua the present petitioner, subject to the petitioner performing community service starting from 27.09.2025.”
Case Details
• Case Title: Vipin Ahuja v. State NCT of Delhi & Anr.
• Bench: Justice Ajay Digpaul
• FIR No.: 280/2019, PS Anand Vihar
