( 1 ) LEAVE granted in SLP (Crl.) No. 1333 of 2000.

( 2 ) THE appellant Bhura Ram and eleven others were charged for the offences punishable under Sections 147, 302, 323, 379 and 149 of the Indian penal Code for assaulting Rooparam and having murdered him. The trial court on detailed examination of the evidence acquitted the seven accused. The appellant was convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 147, 302, 323/149 and 379/149 1pc. For offence under Section 302 IPC, life imprisonment besides fine was imposed on him. In respect of other offences, varied sentences were imposed. Besides the appellant, four other accused, namely, Kesra Ram, Moola Ram, Sohan Lal and Bhanwar Lal were convicted for the offence under Sections 302/149 and imprisonment for life and fine was imposed on them.

( 3 ) ON appeal the High Court maintained the conviction and sentences of the appellant for offence under Section 302 IPC and other offences. The conviction of Moola Ram, Sohan Lal and Bhanwar Lal for offence under sections 302/149 IPC and the consequent sentence for the said offence was set aside resulting in their acquittal for the offence of murder of Rooparam. Kesra Ram died during the pendency of the appeal before the High Court. The conviction of Moola Ram, Sohan Lal and Bhanwar Lal for offence punishable under Sections 147, 323/149 and 379/149 IPC was sustained and to that extent their appeal was dismissed. The order of sentence passed by the trial court for these offences on these three accused was set aside and instead they were released on probation of good conduct.

( 4 ) BHURA Ram has challenged the impugned judgment and order of the high Court confirming that of the trial court. The State of Rajasthan has also challenged the impugned judgment and order of the High Court to the extent it acquits the three accused of the charge under Sections 302/149 IPC.

( 5 ) THE main contention urged in support of the appeal filed by Bhura ram is that he was entitled to the benefit of Exception (1) to Section 300 ipc. Mr L. K. Pandey, learned advocate who was appointed as amicus to assist the Court on behalf of the accused-appellant strenuously contends that as a result of sudden provocation the appellant Bhura Ram lost the power of self-control and caused the death of Rooparam (deceased) by giving him an axe-blow. Learned counsel further contends that assuming without admitting: that Bhura Ram had gone to the hut of the deceased Rooparam where ugrasen was killed at the hands of Rooparam and, therefore, it is clear that he acted in the right of private defence and the resultant killing of Ugrasen (sic Rooparam) at the hands of the appellant was the result of grave and sudden provocation due to which he lost the power of self-control. It has been submitted that deceased Ugrasen along with two other persons had gone to the hut of Rooparam in a jonga jeep. The jeep was parked at a distance. All other persons remained in or near the jeep and only Ugrasen had gone to call rooparam for attending the Panchayat which was to meet on the date of the incident itself with a view to resolve the controversy of land between rooparam and others. It was pointed out that cultivatory possession of the land which was the subject-matter of dispute resulting in the entire dispute was that of Kesra Ram who was cultivating the land for the last many years prior to the incident. He was illegally dispossessed and the possession of rooparam in respect of the land was wholly unauthorised. On this basis an argument was built that in fact the aggressor was Rooparam and not the appellant Bhura Ram and his party.

( 6 ) THE case against the appellant and others for the murder of Rooparam was registered on the statement of PW 2 Smt Saudi. That statement was to the effect that on the date of occurrence, another brother of Rooparam and her two daughters, who though -living in the same hut had gone to the neighbouring huts. At about 5. 00 p. m. Ugrasen along with a large number