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Dharma Pal And Others v. State Of Punjab

Dharma Pal And Others
v.
State Of Punjab

(Supreme Court Of India)

Criminal Appeal No. 405 Of 1979 | 05-05-1993


There are eight appellants in this appeal. They along with two others were tried by the Additional Sessions Judge, Jullundur under S. 302 read with S. 149, Penal Code and allied offences. The trial Court, however, acquitted original accused No. 1 Baldev Raj and Hari Kishan, A-8 and another of all the offences. The accused Jagdish Kumar and Gulshan Kumar were convicted under sections 324 and 323, I.P.C. and were released on probation for a period of one year. Tej Bhan and Hukum Chand were convicted under S. 325 and were sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment. Accused Dharam Pal and Wazir Chand were convicted under S. 307 IPC and sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment. All the convicted accused preferred an appeal and State also preferred and appeal against acquittal of Baldev Raj. The High Court confirmed the conviction of Dharam Pal and Wazir Chand under S. 307 and the sentence awarded thereunder. The conviction of Hukum Chand and Tej Bhan under S. 325, I.P.C. was set aside and altered to one under S. 323, I.P.C. and they were sentenced to one years rigorous imprisonment

2. The High Court, however, allowed the appeal of State against Baldev Raj and convicted him under S. 324, I.P.C. and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for one year. Hence this appeal by all the eight convicted accused

3. The occurrence is said to have been taken place in the month of July, 1974. A number of injured persons from the complainant side were examined and from the record, it appears that a number of accused persons also received injuries. One Sant Lal died on the next day. Both the courts below did not convict any of the accused persons for the defence of murder. On that ground, no case is made out they were responsible for the death

4. It is mentioned before us that Tej Bhan died on 1-9-84 and, therefore, the appeal by him stands abated. Jagdish Kumar and Gulshan Kumar were released on probation and Amir Chand was sentenced only to the payment of fine of Rs. 250/-. Hukum Chand was convicted under S. 325, I.P.C. by the trial Court and was ultimately convicted under S. 323, I.P.C. and sentenced for one year which also has been served out. Baldev Raj was convicted under by the High Court under S. 324 and sentenced to one years R.I. The learned submits that the genesis of the occurrence has been suppressed by the witnesses and whole truth is not placed before the Court. Therefore, all the accused persons are entitled to the benefit of doubt. There are injured witnesses and they have come forward with an acceptable version regarding the persons and participation of the accused. Both the Courts below have accepted this evidence and we see no ground to come to a different conclusion

5. So far as Dharam Pal and Wazir Chand are concerned, we have examined the medical evidence and we are of the view that their cases also stand on the same footing as Hukum Chand and Tej Bhan. However, the injuries inflicted by them are somewhat serious though the conviction under S. 307 is not made out. In the result, the conviction of Dharam Pal and Wazir Chand under S. 307 and sentence of five years R.I. awarded thereunder are set aside. Instead both of them are convicted under S. 324, I.P.C. and sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment. Subject to the above modifications, the appeal is dismissed. If the appellants Dharam Pal and Wazir Chand have already served out the sentence, they need not be taken into custody

Order accordingly.

Advocates List

For

For Petitioner
  • Shekhar Naphade
  • Mahesh Agrawal
  • Tarun Dua
For Respondent
  • S. Vani
  • B. Sunita Rao
  • Sushil Kumar Pathak

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HON'BLE JUSTICE G. N. RAY

HON'BLE JUSTICE K. JAYACHANDRA REDDY

Eq Citation

1993 CRILJ 2856

AIR 1993 SC 2484

1994 (1) APLJ (SC) 47

JT 1993 (SUPPL.) SC 483

LQ/SC/1993/455

HeadNote

- Acquittal reversed; appellants convicted for offences of voluntarily causing hurt, causing hurt, and grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. - All appellants, except two, served their sentences while two appellants died during the pendency of the appeal. - Medical evidence in respect of the injuries caused by two appellants showed that conviction for attempt to murder was not justified, but instead, conviction for voluntarily causing hurt was appropriate. - Reduced sentences imposed on two appellants and conviction of one appellant enhanced to rigorous imprisonment for one year. - Appeal dismissed. - Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 302, 307, 323, and 324.