B. V. NAGARATHNA, SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA
State of Madhya Pradesh – Appellant
Versus
Rajaram – Respondent
ORDER :
1. Being aggrieved by the judgment dated 01.07.2009 passed by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior Bench in Criminal Appeal No. 216 of 1998, the State of Madhya Pradesh has preferred this appeal.
2. Initially, there were eight accused and the Trial Court by its judgment and sentence passed in Sessions Trial No. 55/1991 convicted the respondents/accused under Sections 302/34 and 323/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) sentencing them to undergo life imprisonment. The respondents/accused preferred the Criminal Appeal No. 216 of 1998.
3. However, the High Court on re-appreciation of the evidence on record acquitted the respondents/accused of the offences alleged against them under Section 302 and convicted the accused of the offences under Sections 323/34 of the IPC. The High Court also noted that the respondents/accused by that point of time had undergone one year eleven months nineteen days; two years eight months and two years nine months twenty four days respectively. Considering the maximum punishment under Section 323 of the IPC to be one year or fine, the High Court in exercise of its jurisdiction thought it fit to release these persons as the sentence they had un
The court upheld the High Court's acquittal of murder charges and affirmed the conviction under lesser charges, emphasizing the sufficiency of time served by the accused.
Murder – There cannot be any sentence/punishment less than imprisonment for life if an accused is convicted for offence punishable under Section 302 IPC.
The court upheld the conviction under Section 304 Part I IPC while modifying the sentence to the time already served due to mitigating circumstances.
The court has the discretion to reduce a sentence considering the facts and circumstances of the case, including the lack of criminal antecedents and the absence of misuse of bail.
The High Court's decision to release convicts on probation under Section 307 IPC was upheld, emphasizing the absence of prior offenses and familial ties, while leaving the jurisdictional question ope....
Grievous hurt – Sentence can be reduced to period already undergone keeping in view mitigating circumstances of case.
Appeal against conviction – Right balance has to be struck by taking up for hearing even some of old criminal appeals against conviction where accused are on bail – It is desirable that certain categ....
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