ORDER :

1. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad whereby the appellant stands convicted for an offence punishable under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for five years.

2. The facts of the case are as under:

2.1 On 11th August, 1978, as Ram Vilas PW-1 and his brother Shiv Vilas were returning home after visiting the temple about half a kilometre away from the village, they were waylaid by the appellant Ram Naresh and his father Jagannath (since expired). Jagannath was carrying a country made revolver whereas the appellant was armed with a single barrel shot gun. Jaganath exhorted the appellant that as Shiv Vilas was always coming in their way he should be killed. The appellant thereupon fired one shot at Ram Vilas which hit him on the head. The firing also attracted PWs. 2 and 3 to the spot. The next morning Ram Vilas along with the injured Shiv Vilas went to Police Station, Makhi and a First Information Report was lodged for an offence punishable under Sections 307/34 Indian Penal Code. On the completion of the investigation the accused were charged for the above offences. The trial court and the High Court have relied on the evidence of Ram Vilas PW-1 and Lalu PW-3 as eye-witnesses of the occurrence, Shiv Vilas, in the meanwhile, having been murdered in some other incident.

3. Before the trial court as well the High Court, the primary argument made on behalf of the accused was that there was an inordinate and unexplained delay in the lodging of the FIR, that the evidence of the eye-witnesses who were closely related to the injured was discrepant in material particulars, and that the medical evidence did not support the ocular evidence. These submissions have been rejected by both the courts below. Before us, today, Mr. Anurag Kishore, the learned counsel for the appellant has reiterated the same arguments. We find from a reading of the evidence that there is no substantial delay in the lodging of the FIR. The incident happened in a village about 9 kms. away from the police station late in the evening and it would have been difficult for the complainant living in rustic and backward area to rush to the police station immediately. We also find no reason to disregard the evidence of Ram Vilas and Lalu, PWs. Admittedly, Ram Vilas was a brother of Shiv Vilas, the injured and Lalu was a close relative and also a party man. It must also be borne in mind that the incident happened in the year 1978 and the evidence was recorded in the year 1986. Some discrepancies are therefore bound to appear in the ocular evidence as memory fades with the passage of time.

4. We have also gone through the evidence of Dr. J.N. Bajpai, PW-5. He deposed that from a look at the injury caused to Shiv Vilas it could not be said with certainty that it was a fire arm injury. In the light of the ocular evidence, however, we find that the opinion of the doctor can in no way stand in the way of the prosecution. Mr. Kishore has also attempted to argue that as the shot had been fired at Shiv Vilas from a distance of four feet the entry wound would have blackening and charring thereon. It is true that had the shot gun been fired from that distance, blackening and charring would have been visible but the four steps (kadams) that have been referred to by Mr. Kishore is not four feet but about 20 feet as a kadam would be about four to five feet. In this view of the matter, the fact that there was no blackening or charring around the wound does not in any manner help the defence.

5. It has been finally submitted by Mr. Kishore that as the incident had happened in the year 1978 and as 32 years had passed on some reduction in the sentence may be considered. We find merit in this plea. We, accordingly, reduce the sentence of the appellant from five to three years.

6. With this modification in the sentence, the appeal is dismissed.

7. Appellant be taken into custody forthwith