JUDGMENT :

Mehta, J.

1. These appeals by special leave have been preferred by the State of Punjab to assail the judgment dated 17th July, 2014 rendered by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in Criminal Appeal Nos. 580 of 2002 and 606 of 2002 whereby, the learned Division Bench, allowed the appeals preferred by the respondents(accused) and acquitted them while reversing the judgment dated 12th July, 2002 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Faridkot(hereinafter referred to as ‘trial Court’) in Sessions Case No. 118 of 1998. The learned trial Court had convicted and sentenced the accused as below: -