Penal Code, 1860 - S. 302 - Conviction - Life Imprisonment - Death committed in sudden fight without premeditation - The sudden fight implies the absence of premeditation.
Even as per the evidence of PW-6, there was a wordy quarrel and in that quarrel the appellant inflicted farsi blow on the head of the deceased. As the injuries inflicted on the deceased in the sudden fight between the deceased and the accused party. There was no premeditation. One injury was caused to the deceased by farsi blow on the head which indicates that the appellant has not taken undue advantage of the deceased. Themanner the occurrence and the injury inflicted on the deceased attract Exception 4 to Section 300. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the conviction of the appellant is modified under Section 304 Part-I IPC and the sentence is reduced to the period already undergone.In the result, the conviction of the
appellant under Section 302 IPC is modified as conviction Section 304 Part-I
IPC and sentence of the appellant is reduced to the period already undergone by
him. The appellant is ordered to be released forthwith if his presence is not
required in any other case
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
[R. BANUMATHI] AND [INDIRA BANERJEE] JJ.
23RD OCTOBER, 2018
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2301 OF 2009
BHAGIRATH ...APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
...RESPONDENT(S)
J U D G M E N T
R. BANUMATHI, J.
1. This appeal arises out of the
judgment of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Criminal Appeal No. 309 of 2007
in and by which the High Court has affirmed the conviction of the appellant
under Section 302 IPC and also the life imprisonment imposed upon him.
2. The case of the prosecution is that
on 19.08.2005 at about 10.00 p.m. the deceased-Bherulal was surrounded by the
appellant- Bhagirath (armed with farsi) and other accused persons (since acquitted) viz. Mangu, Sangita Bai,
Suma Bai and Ramkunwar. In the wordy quarrel between the deceased and the
appellant-accused Bhagirath is said to have inflicted the farsi blow on the right side of skull near
ear. When PW-6 (Ramchandra) tried to save the deceased, he also sustained
injuries on his right hand. Further, case of the prosecution is that all other
accused (since acquitted) also inflicted injuries on the deceased-Bherulal. On completion
of investigation, the appellant-accused and otheraccused were charge-sheeted
for the offence under Sections 148/325/302 read with 149 IPC.
3. Relying upon the evidence of
injured eye witness (PW-6), the Trial Court has convicted the appellant-accused
under Section 302 IPC and other accused under Section 302 read with Section 149
IPC and sentenced all of them to undergo life imprisonment. For the conviction
under Section 325 read with Section 149 IPC, they were sentenced to undergo
R.I. for one year.
4. In the appeal before the High
Court, the High Court confirmed the conviction of the appellant-accused and
also sentence of imprisonment as aforesaid. So far as the other coaccused are
concerned, the High Court acquitted all of them holding that the charges
against them have not been established beyond reasonable doubt.
5. We have heard Mr. P.C. Agarwal,
learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant, as well as Ms.
Swarupama Chaturvedi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Madhya
Pradesh, and also perused the impugned judgment and the materials on record.
6. The case of the prosecution rests
upon the evidence of PW-6 (Ramchandra), an injured eye witness, who has deposed
about quarrel between the deceased-Bherulal and the accused party. PW-6 has
also spoken about the infliction of farsi blow by the appellant-Bhagirath on the right side of the head near the
ear of the deceased. When PW-6 tried to rescue the deceased-Bherulal, PW-6
(Ramchandra) also sustained injuries on his right hand. PW-6was also injured in
the occurrence is supported by the medical evidence and evidence of PW-2 (Dr.
C.S. Gangrade). PW-6 being injured eye witness, his evidence stands on higher
footing. Presence of injuries on the person of
PW-6 lends assurance to his testimony (See: Abdul Sayeed
v. State of M.P. reported in (2010) 10 SCC 259 ). We do not find any convincing reason to disbelieve the testimony of
injured eye witness(PW-6).
7. The High Court acquitted all the
other accused, since fatal blow is attributed to the appellant-accused. The
question falling for consideration is to the nature of the offence. As pointed
out earlier, the occurrence was at about 10.00 p.m., when there was wordy
quarrel between the accused party and the deceased – Bherulal that there was a
quarrel between them is established from the evidence of PW-6 also. In the
quarrel, the appellantaccused has inflicted injuries on the right side of the
head of the deceased measuring 15x2 ½ x 3 c.m. Though there was another injury
found on the deceased it was one contusion measuring 10x2 cm on lower portion
of right neck. The fourth exception to Section 300 IPC deals with death
committed in sudden fight without premeditation. The sudden fight implies the
absence of premeditation. Even as per the evidence of PW-6, there was a wordy
quarrel and in that quarrel the appellant inflicted farsi blow on the head of the deceased. As
the injuries inflicted on the deceased in the sudden fight between the deceased
and the accused party. There was no premeditation. One injury was caused to the
deceased by farsi blow on the head which indicates that the appellant has not taken undue
advantage of the deceased. Themanner the occurrence and the injury inflicted on
the deceased attract Exception 4 to Section 300. In the facts and circumstances
of the case, the conviction of the appellant is modified under Section 304
Part-I IPC and the sentence is reduced to the period already undergone.
8. In the result, the conviction of
the appellant under Section 302 IPC is modified as conviction Section 304
Part-I IPC and sentence of the appellant is reduced to the period already undergone
by him. The appellant is ordered to be released forthwith if his presence is
not required in any other case.
9. The appeal is, accordingly, allowed.