JUDGMENT

SARKARIA, J.:—This appeal is directed against a judgment of the High Court of Rajasthan.

2. The appellants Chandmal and Ranglal were tried by the Sessions Judge, Pratapgarh in respect of 918 offences under Sections 302, 201 and 411, Penal Code. The Judge convicted Chandmal under Section 302, Penal Code, for committing the murder of Mst. Nazar Bai and sentenced him to imprisonment for life. He further convicted him under Section 411, Penal Code, as a dishonest receiver of stolen property of the deceased and sentenced him to one year s rigorous imprisonment. He was convicted under Section 201, Penal Code, also, but no separate sentence was passed on that count. Ranglal was acquitted of the charges under Ss. 302 and 201, Penal Code but was convicted for an offence under Section 411, Penal Code and sentenced to one year s rigorous imprisonment. The High Court dismissed the appeal of the convicts. Hence this appeal by special leave.

3-4. The prosecution story, as it emerges from the record, was as follows:

Mst. Nazar Bai, an old widow was residing alone and separately from her son, Shankar Lal, P. W. 11 in the town of Chittor. On Karwa Chauth day, the 24th October, 1964, at abo