Judgment :

Dr. Mukundakam Sharma, J.

1. In these criminal appeals the issue that arises for our consideration is whether in the facts and circumstances of the present case, the maximum penalty of death sentence is called for or life sentence which is awarded to the respondents by the High Court would meet the ends of justice.

2. One Sewa Singh, the deceased, was the Municipal Commissioner of Municipal Committee, Sirhind City. He also used to recite Kirtan in the Gurdwara Sahib whereas his son Rachhpal Singh alias Happy, Inderjit Singh and Kuldeep Singh, were also working as Sewadars in Gurdwara Bara Sirhind, which was quite near the house of Sewa Singh. Kamaljit Singh and Manjit Singh were previously working as Sewadar in the Gurdwara. While working as such they had developed illicit relations with Bhinder Kaur, the wife of Sewa Singh, the deceased. The said illicit relation became known to Sewa Singh, the deceased, and his son Rachhpal Singh alias Happy and they did not appreciate the said illicit relationship and sometimes used to beat Bhinder Kaur and told her in specific terms not to indulge in such activities. They also restrained accused Kamaljit Singh and Manjit Singh to come