1. Conviction under Section 302 IPC for causing death by inflicting a farsi blow during a quarrel — Appeal against affirmation of life imprisonment. (Para 1 , 2 )
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2018 Supreme(SC) 1083
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
R. BANUMATHI, INDIRA BANERJEE, JJ.
BHAGIRATH – APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH – RESPONDENT(S)
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2301 OF 2009
Decided On : 23-10-2018
Important Points
IMPORTANT POINTS
Evidence of an injured eye witness stands on a higher footing.
In case of sudden quarrel without premeditation and a single blow, accused cannot be convicted u/s 302 IPC.
Evidence of an injured eye witness stands on a higher footing.
In case of sudden quarrel without premeditation and a single blow, accused cannot be convicted u/s 302 IPC.
Subject
Criminal Law - Murder
Act Referred
Headnote
(a) Criminal trial – Appreciation of evidence – Evidence of injured eye witness – Stands on a higher footing. (Para 6)
(2010) 10 SCC 259 – Relied upon
(b) Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Section 302 and 304 Part I – Sudden quarrel – No premeditation – Only one blow, on the head – Case falls u/s 304 Part I – All co-accused acquitted – Conviction modified accordingly – Sentence reduced to period undergone.
Facts of the case:
The appellant was convicted and sentenced u/s 302 IPC.
High Court affirmed the conviction and the sentence.
Finding of the Court:
Appellant has been wrongly convicted u/s 302 IPC.
Result: Appeal allowed.
Legal Category Hierarchy
Table of Contents
2. Challenge to the conviction under Section 302 IPC and the resulting sentence of life imprisonment. (Para 1 , 5 )
3. Testimony of an injured eye witness is reliable and supported by medical evidence; the incident occurred during a sudden fight without premeditation. (Para 6 , 7 )
4. Death caused in a sudden fight without premeditation, where no undue advantage is taken, attracts Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC. (Para 7 )
5. Conviction modified from Section 302 IPC to Section 304 Part-I IPC and sentence reduced to the period already undergone. (Para 8 , 9 )
6. What is the evidentiary value of the testimony of an injured eye witness?
The evidence of an injured eye witness is placed on a higher footing, as the presence of injuries on the witness lends assurance to their testimony. (Para 6 )
7. When does a killing attract Exception 4 to Section 300 of the IPC?
A killing attracts Exception 4 when it is committed during a sudden fight without premeditation and the accused has not taken undue advantage of the deceased. (Para 7 )
8. How is a conviction modified when death occurs during a sudden fight without premeditation?
If the act occurs during a sudden fight without premeditation and no undue advantage is taken, the conviction is modified from murder under Section 302 IPC to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part-I IPC. (Para 7 , 8 )
JUDGMENT
R. BANUMATHI,J.
1. This appeal arises out of the judgment of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Criminal Appeal No. 309 of 2007 in and by which the High Court has affirmed the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 IPC and also the life imprisonment imposed upon him.
2. The case of the prosecution is that on 19.08.2005 at about 10.00 p.m. the deceased-Bherulal was surrounded by the appellant- Bhagirath (armed with farsi) and other accused persons (since acquitted) viz. Mangu, Sangita Bai, Suma Bai and Ramkunwar. In the wordy quarrel between the deceased and the appellant-accused Bhagirath is said to have inflicted the farsi blow on the right side of skull near ear. When PW-6 (Ramchandra) tried to save the deceased, he also sustained injuries on his right hand. Further, case of the prosecution is that all other accused (since acquitted) also inflicted injuries on the deceased-Bherulal. On completion of investigation, the appellant-accused and other accused were charge-sheeted for the offence under Sections 148/325/302 read with 149 IPC.
3. Relying upon the evidence of injured eye witness (PW-6), the Trial Court has convicted the appellant-accused under Section 302 IPC and other accused under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC and sentenced all of them to undergo life imprisonment. For the conviction under Section 325 read with Section 149 IPC, they were sentenced to undergo R.I. for one year.
4. In the appeal before the High Court, the High Court confirmed the conviction of the appellant-accused and also sentence of imprisonment as aforesaid. So far as the other co- accused are concerned, the High Court acquitted all of them holding that the charges against them have not been established beyond reasonable doubt.
5. We have heard Mr. P.C. Agarwal, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant, as well as Ms. Swarupama Chaturvedi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Madhya Pradesh, and also perused the impugned judgment and the materials on record.
6. The case of the prosecution rests upon the evidence of PW-6 (Ramchandra), an injured eye witness, who has deposed about quarrel between the deceased-Bherulal and the accused party. PW-6 has also spoken about the infliction of farsi blow by the appellant-Bhagirath on the right side of the head near the ear of the deceased. When PW-6 tried to rescue the deceased-Bherulal, PW-6 (Ramchandra) also sustained injuries on his right hand. PW-6 was also injured in the occurrence is supported by the medical evidence and evidence of PW-2 (Dr. C.S. Gangrade). PW-6 being injured eye witness, his evidence stands on higher footing. Presence of injuries on the person of PW-6 lends assurance to his testimony (See: Abdul Sayeed v. State of M.P. reported in (2010) 10 SCC 259 ). We do not find any convincing reason to disbelieve the testimony of injured eye witness(PW-6).
7. The High Court acquitted all the other accused, since fatal blow is attributed to the appellant-accused. The question falling for consideration is to the nature of the offence. As pointed out earlier, the occurrence was at about 10.00 p.m., when there was wordy quarrel between the accused party and the deceased – Bherulal that there was a quarrel between them is established from the evidence of PW-6 also. In the quarrel, the appellant- accused has inflicted injuries on the right side of the head of the deceased measuring 15x2 ½ x 3 c.m. Though there was another injury found on the deceased it was one contusion measuring 10x2 cm on lower portion of right neck. The fourth exception to Section 300 IPC deals with death committed in sudden fight without premeditation. The sudden fight implies the absence of premeditation. Even as per the evidence of PW-6, there was a wordy quarrel and in that quarrel the appellant inflicted farsi blow on the head of the deceased. As the injuries inflicted on the deceased in the sudden fight between the deceased and the accused party. There was no premeditation. O
