As per case facts, the appellants, senior officials of a company, faced criminal complaints for resorting to lay-off without prior permission, citing chronic power shortage and disconnection of electricity by ... the Board due to unpaid dues. The High Court dismissed their Writ Petitions challenging supplementary bills and while not quashing the complaints, directed an inquiry to determine if appellants were employers. The company eventually became sick and its management changed. The question arose whether, given the altered circumstances and the company's sickness, the directed inquiry and criminal cases against the appellants should be continued, particularly concerning the alleged violation of Section 25-M of the Industrial Disputes Act. Finally, this Court, allowing the appeals, held that in the special facts and the company's altered scenario, the inquiry and criminal cases need not be pursued. This decision, falling within Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, secures the ends of justice, leading to the quashing of the criminal proceedings instituted against the appellants.