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State Of J & K v. Ramesh Singh

State Of J & K v. Ramesh Singh

(High Court Of Jammu And Kashmir)

Criminal Revision Petition No.26 of 1998 | 09-02-1999

Kawoosa, J.By way of this Criminal revision, petitioner prays for settling aside the order of discharge passed by learned Sessions Judge, Kathua on 03.02.1998.

2. This revision petition emanates from criminal case under section 302 and 376 R.P.C. registered against respondentaccused On the allegations that the deceased Ram Piary, aged about 32 years, a house wife from village Kathua of Tehsil Billawar had taken meals from her home for her husband, who was working at his Garath on 27.08.1997. While returning back after serving meals to her husband she allegedly has been assaulted by the accused/Respondents gang raped and thereafter murdered her. Report was lodged to the Police, who found the other day the body of the deceased covered under bushes towards the garath side. At a distance of 3 feet, her Shilwar and ear rings were also found on the ground in accordance with the disclosures statement made by the accused. Shilwar and ear rings were seized by the police at the instance of accused. After the case was committed to the Sessions Court for trial. Sessions Judge framed charge under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the R.P.C. Only against the accusedpersons, but they were discharged for the affiance under Section 376 RPC.

3. State has questioned the Judgment to the extent of discharging the accusedpersons under Section 376 RPC.

4. Heard learned counsel for the parties and I have gone through the file. Learned Government advocate has forcefully contended that the accused could not have been discharged merely on the ground that the postmortem report shows no internal and external injury on the hymen of the deceased and no semen was found.

5. Learned counsel for the otherside urged before me that there is not an iota of evidence, which involves the accusedPersons with the commission of rape. He has relied upon postmortem report and has stated that there is no evidence on which reasonable inference can be drawn that the accused has committed the rape. I have gone through the post mortem report. The postmortem report reveals that no external and internal injuries found around vagina, no foreign material found per vagina and the cause of the death of the deceased shown as haemorrhage and shock from head injuries. So far the order passed by the learned Sessions Judge is concerned, I am of the view that he has rightly come to the conclusion that no rape appears to have been committed, because there is no eye witness and circumstantial evidence also does not lead to draw reasonable inference that gang rape has been committed. This finding is virtually based on postmortem and there is no other evidence at all, so I cannot take any exception to the findings arrived at by the learned Sessions Judge regarding allegations of rape, but at the same time the contention of the learned Government Advocate to the extent that even if rape is "not" committed, but the attempt has been made for that. I see some substance in this argument, because the young lady of 32 of age, who was returning to home after servings the meals have been assaulted by the accusepersons as alleged and there must be some motive behind assaulting the lady, when she was seen alone. Secondly, when the dead body was found covered by bushes, at a distance of 3 feet her shilwar and ear rings were also found on the ground, whereby nexus of attempt to commit rape emerges. Shilwar has been opened from the deceased, it was found at a distance of 3 feet from the dead body alongwith ear rings. Injuries were on the part of the body including head injury, which shows that she has resisted the attempt to the last. Whether they have raped or not and as per medical report, no rape seems to have been committed, but at the same time opening of the shilwar of the lady does not rule out the attempt of rape. It is true that generally to the commission of such offence, eye witnesses are exceptionally not available, mostly in such cases reliance is laid on circumstantial evidence. Here in this case, lady was young coming on the road side alone. She was assaulted by the accused, lady has resisted to the last. She has received injuries on other parts of the body including head injury. Her Shilwar has been opened and it was found at some distance of the dead body, no other motive is alleged or inferred, which could rule out the attempt of rape.

6. For these reasons, therefore, I am of the view that the trial court has not properly applied its mind, so the order of discharge is modified to the extent that the accused persons, who have been framed charges under section 302 RFC, charge will be framed by the trial court against them under Section 376/5II RFC attempt to commit rape. The trial court will expedite the proceedings. Prosecution is directed to cooperate with the court in the disposal of the case at an early date and the prosecution will give the consecutive dates till the matter is disposed of.

Advocate List
  • For Petitioner : Seema Shehkar, M.S.Bhat, Gagan Basotra, Advocates appearing for the Parties
Bench
  • HON'BLE JUSTICE M.Y.KAWOOSA, J
Eq Citations
  • (1999) SriLJ 205 : (1999) SriLJ 77 : (1999) 1 SriLJ 205 LQ/JKHC/1999/31
Head Note

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, CODIFICATION AND PRACTICE — Discharge — Attempt to commit rape — Held, on facts, discharge of accused under S. 376 IPC not proper — Discharge modified to the extent that accused persons, who have been framed charges under S. 302 IPC, will be charged under S. 376/51 IPC (attempt to commit rape) — Trial court directed to expedite proceedings — Prosecution directed to cooperate with court in disposal of case at an early date and to give consecutive dates till matter is disposed of — Penal Code, 1860 — S. 376/51 r/w S. 302 — Failure to commit rape — Whether attempt to commit rape made out — Held, whether they have raped or not and as per medical report, no rape seems to have been committed, but at the same time opening of the shilwar of the lady does not rule out the attempt of rape — It is true that generally to the commission of such offence, eye witnesses are exceptionally not available, mostly in such cases reliance is laid on circumstantial evidence — Here in this case, lady was young coming on the road side alone — She was assaulted by the accused, lady has resisted to the last — She has received injuries on other parts of the body including head injury — Her shilwar has been opened and it was found at some distance of the dead body, no other motive is alleged or inferred, which could rule out the attempt of rape — Evidence Act, 1872 — S. 114(g) — Postmortem report — No external and internal injuries found around vagina, no foreign material found per vagina and the cause of the death of the deceased shown as haemorrhage and shock from head injuries — Hence, held, on facts, discharge of accused under S. 376 IPC not proper — Discharge modified to the extent that accused persons, who have been framed charges under S. 302 IPC, will be charged under S. 376/51 IPC (attempt to commit rape) — Trial court directed to expedite proceedings — Prosecution directed to cooperate with court in disposal of case at an early date and to give consecutive dates till matter is disposed of