JUDGMENT :

C.T. Ravikumar, J.

1. The appellants along with eight others stood the trial before the Court of Additional Sessions Judge – III, Rampur in Uttar Pradesh in Sessions Trial No.167/1981 for offences under Sections 302/149, 307/149, 147 and 148 of the Indian Penal Code (for short ‘IPC’). As per judgment dated 10.06.1982 all of them were convicted under Section 302/149, IPC. Further, it was found that offence u/S 307/149 was not made out against them, but offences under Sections 324/149 and 323/149 were made out. Consequently, they were also convicted under those Sections. In addition, seven of the accused persons including the appellants were convicted under Section 148, IPC and the three others were convicted under Section 147, IPC. For the conviction under Section 302, IPC they were sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life. For the convictions under the other Sections, they were handed down different terms of imprisonment and all the sentences were directed to be run concurrently. They jointly filed appeal viz., Criminal Appeal No.1510/1982 before the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. During its pendency seven of them died and consequently, qua them the Appeal was di