Judgment

CHINNAPPA REDDY, J. :- Tehal Singh was convicted under Section 302, Indian Penal Code on three counts and sentenced to death by the learned Sessions Judge, Faridkot. His brothers Darshan Singh and Gurmal Singh were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34, Indian Penal Code and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life. Bhal Singh was also convicted under Section 27 of the Arms Act and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for three years. The convictions and sentences were confirmed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Tehal Singh, Darshan Singh and Gurmel Singh have appealed to this Court by special leave. Chiman Lal and Murari Lal who were also tried with the three appellants for an offence under Section 302 read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code were acquitted by the learned Sessions Judge. There was no appeal to the High Court against their acquittal.

2. The brief case of the prosecution was as follows : There was some rivalry between Chiman Lal and Murari Lal who were transport operators on one side and Prithi Singh and Harmal Singh, who were also transport operators on the other side. One 22nd August, 1976, Pirthi Singh, his brother Harmel Singh. Mith