(1) WE have heard learned counsel Mr. R. L. Kohli for the appellants and learned counsel Mr. N. K. Agarwal for the respondent-State. Balmukud filed Criminal Appeal No. 54 of 1974 against his conviction and .sentence for offences under S. 302 and 307, Indian Penal Code and sentence of imprisonment for life and rigorous imprisonment for seven years respectively. Appellant Gunna alias Gur Narayan filed Criminal Appeal No. 62 of 1974 against his conviction for an offence under S. 307, Indian Penal Code and sentence of rigorous imprisonment for seven years. Both these appeals were filed in the High court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur. There was also a third appeal, being Criminal Appeal No. 7 of 1974, by the other three accused who were tried at the same trial, but none of them has appealed to this court and, therefore, we are not concerned with them in this matter. Even though Balmukund and Gunna alias Gur Narayan preferred separate appeals in the High Court, they have filed a joint petition for special leave but as there were two separate appeals in the High court, the joint S.L.P. has been given two separate numbers.

(2) THIS court by its Order dated 20/04/1981 issued