Judgment

Fazl Ali J. - This is an appeal by one Pritam Singh against the decision of the High Court of Punjab at Simla, upholding his conviction on the charge of murder of one Buta Singh and confirming the sentence of death passed on him by the Sessions Judge of Ferozepore. The prosecution case, which has been found to be substantiaily true by both the trial Judge and the High Court may be shortly stated as follows:

2. On 28th December 1948, Pritam Singh had made indecent overtures to one Punni wife of Kakarra Chamar, who had been brought into the village by Buta Singh, the deceased about 10 or 12 years ago. Buta Singh, on learning of this incident, spoke to Pritam Singh, but finding that his attitude was uncompromising, he advised Kakarra to go to the police station to report the matter. On the next day, while Kakarra was going to the police station, Mal Singh, the first prosecution witness in the case, brought him back telling him that Pritam Singh had apologized and the matter should not be pursued. On 30th December, at about 5 P.M. just when Buta Singh name out of his house, Pritam Singh came up with a double barrelled 12 bore gun and shot him in the abdomen, and Buta Singh die