Important Point
There is no principle that in all cases of single blow Section 302 IPC is not attracted. Single blow may, in some cases, entail conviction under Section 302 I.P.C., in some cases under Section 304 I.P.C. and in some other cases under Section 326 I.P.C. The question with regard to the nature of offence has to the determined on the facts and in the circumstances of each case.

Headnote:Indian Penal Code, 1860-Section 302, Explanation 4-Murder or culpable not amounting to murder -Principles for determination of-Nature of offence has to be determined on facts and circumstance of each case-There is no principle that in all cases of single blow Section 302 is not attracted.
       Held : The requirements of this exception 4 to Section 302 are :
        (a) without premeditation in a sudden fight;
        (b) in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel;
        (c) the offender has not taken undue advantage; and
        (d) the offender has not acted in a cruel or unusual manner.
       Where these requirements are satisfied, culpable homicide would not be murder. (Para 7)
       There is no principle that in all cases of single blow Section 302 I.P.C. is not attracted. Single blow may, in some cases, entail conviction under Section 302 I.P.C., in some cases under Section 304 I.P.C. and in some other cases under Section 326 I.P.C. The question with regard to the nature of offence has to the determined on the facts and in the circumstances of each case. The nature of the injury, whether it is on the vital or non-vital part of the body, the weapon use, the circumstances in which the injury is caused and the manner in which the injury is inflicted are all relevant factors which may go to determine the required intention or knowledge of the offender and the offence committed by him. (Para 9)
       In the instant case, the appellant and three others snatched the wrist watch of a boy known to the deceased and Harkishan. At the request of that boy, they asked the appellant and his associates to return the watch. The appellant told the deceased and Harkishan to come to some specified place. There, three associates of the appellant caught hold of the deceased and the appellant gave the fatal blow with the knife. The stab wound was given on the chest on the left side of the sternum between the costal joint of the 6th and 7th rib and both the ribs have been fractured. It appears that truck of the wound had gone through sternum, pericardium anterior and posterior after passing the ribs and thereafter entered the liver and perforated a portion of stomach. Total depth of wound was 19 cm can direction of truck was going downwards posteriorly. The impact of the single blow with knife has been disastrous. Therefore, it cannot be said that the appellant has not taken undue advantage or not acted in cruel or unusual manner. In our view, Exception 4 has, therefore, no application on the facts of this case. The deceased was disabled from saving himself because he was held by the associates of the appellant who inflicted though a single yet a fatal blow of the description noted above. These facts clearly establish that the appelant had intention to kill the deceased. In any event, he can safely be attributed dangerous that it must in all probability cause death or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death. The appellant had rightly been convicted and sentenced under Sections 302 and 324 I.P.C. (Paras 5, 8, 9 & 11)

Judgment

Syed Shah Mohammed Quadri, J. -Leave is granted limited to the question of nature of offence.

2. The appellant along with two others wa tried for committing muder of one Satish (herinafter referred to as ‘the deceased’) and causing injuries with knife to Harkishan ans was convicted for offences punishable under Section 302 and 324 I.P.C. read with Section 34 I.P.C. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and three years rigrous imprisonment for the said offences by learned Sessions Judge in Sessions Case No. 198 of 1981 on July 17, 1982. A Division Bench of the High Court of the Madhya Pradesh at Gwalior in Crininal Appeal No. 171 of 1982 confirmed his conviction under Sections 302 and 324 I.P.C. and sentence for the said offences and dismissed his appeal on April 30, 1998. Against the judgment and order of the High Court, he is in appeal before this Court.

3. Dr. T.N. Singh, learned senior counsel for the appellant, has urged that it is a case falling under Exception 4 to Section 300 I.P.C and, in any event, as the appellant had given only a single blow with knife, he ought not to have been convicted under Section 302 I.P.C.; his conviction could only be under Section 304 I.P.C.

4. Mr. Anoop Choudhary, learned senior counsel appearing for the State, argued that none of the requirements of Exception 4 are present and the circumstances clearly suggest that the appellant had intention to kill the deceased, therefore, he was rightly convicted under Section 302 I.P.C.

5. Apropos of the contentions, we have perused the judgments of the Trial Court and the High Court. It appears that the appellant and three others snatched the wrist watch of a boy known to the deceased and Harkishan. At the request of that boy, they asked the appellant and his associates to return the watch. The appellant told the deceased and Harkishan to come to some specified place. On reaching there, they had exchange of hot words and then Naresh, Pappu and Laxman caught hold of the deceased and the appellant gave a knife blow on the chest of the deceased as a result of which he fell down. The appellant also inflicted injuries with knife on Harkishan who rushed to save the deceased. While the deceased was being taken to the police station, he succumbed to the injuries. Dr. D.S. Badkur (P.W. 5), who conducted post-mortem on the person of the deceased, found the following injuries :

“Stab wound 1.5 x .5 cm. vertical situated on interior aspect of chest on left border of sternum and at the stern costal joint of 6th and 7th rib, sternum cut and fracture in arms 9.2 area, truck of the wound going through and through and sternum, pericandium (pericardium), anterior and posterior well of rt. vertical (It) dome of disphram (diaphragm), left lobe of liver cardiac and of stomach perforated total depth of wound was 19 cm. and direction of truck was going downwards posteriorly and towards abdominal cavity pericardial (illega) (iliac) full of blood, middle media sternum ecchy mosed (ecchymosis) around wound track. Stomach contention coming out in peritoneum cavity.”

6. P.W. 5 stated that the deceased died due to shock and haemorrhage resulting from the said wound which could have been caused by a sharp-edged cutting weapon.

7. Now Exception 4 to Section 300 I.P.C, is in the following terms :

“Exception 4.-Culpable homicide is not murder if it is committed without premeditation in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel and without the offender’s having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner.

Explanation.-It is immaterial in such cases which party offers the provocation or commits the first assault.”

The requirements of this exception are:

(a) without premeditation in a sudden fight;

(b) in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel;

(d) the offender has not acted in a cruel or unusual manner.

Where these requirem

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1999 Supreme(SC) 933

Cases Referred (2)