Judgement

S. K. DAS J. - This is an appeal by special leave from the judgement and order of Punjab High Court dated 27th of April 1955, by which the appellant Balbir Singh a student aged about 19, has been convicted the offence of murdering one Mst. Chinti sentenced to transportation for life under Section 302, Indian Penal Code. By the said order the High Court has also convicted and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for four years under Section 457, Indian Penal Code. The High Court has directed that the two sentences shall run concurrently.

2. The appellant Balbir Singh and one Jagir Singh, another boy aged about 16 were tried by the learned by learned Sessions Judge of Hoshiarpur with the aid of four assessors. The charges on which they were tried were the following. Both Balbir Singh and Jagir Singh were charged with having murdered Mst. Chinti and her two sons, Kewal Singh and Autar Singh aged 11 and 5 respectively. Mst. Chinti, a woman aged about 27 or 28, it was alleged, was strangled to death by the appellant Balbir Singh on the night between the, 18th and 19th of February 1954. Her two sons, Kewal Singh and Autar Singh, were also hit by a Kirpan (sword) and died then a