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2018 Supreme(Pat) 332
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
ARUN KUMAR, J.
Nathuni Singh Yadav @ Nathuni Yadav @ Nathuni Singh s/o Parsuram Singh Yadav - Appellant
Versus
The State of Bihar - Respondent
Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 37 of 2011
Decided On : 27-03-2018
For the Appellant : Mr. Rana Vikram Singh
For the Respondent: Mr. Parmeshwar Mehta
Conviction under Section 27 of the Arms Act requires proof of contravention of Section 5 of the Arms Act.
Headnote:
Arms Act - Conviction under Section 27 - Section 27 of the Arms Act - Summary of Acts and Sections: Section 27 of the Arms Act - The court discussed the interpretation of Section 27 of the Arms Act and its application in cases involving licensed arms. The court highlighted the requirement for proving contravention of Section 5 of the Arms Act for conviction under Section 27 and referenced relevant case law to support its decision.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant was acquitted of charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code but convicted under Section 27 of the Arms Act for possessing arms in a different jurisdiction than specified in the license. The appellant appealed against the conviction.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the trial court misinterpreted Section 27 of the Arms Act and failed to prove that the appellant contravened Section 5 of the Arms Act, which is necessary for conviction under Section 27. The court allowed the appeal and discharged the appellant from the liability of the bail bond.
Issues: Misinterpretation of Section 27 of the Arms Act, lack of evidence of contravention of Section 5 of the Arms Act, and the appellant's appeal against the conviction.
Ratio Decidendi: Conviction under Section 27 of the Arms Act requires proof of contravention of Section 5 of the Arms Act. Misinterpretation of the legal provisions led to the appellant's wrongful conviction.
Final Decision: The appeal stands allowed, and the appellant is discharged from the liability of the bail bond.
Heard the parties.
2. The present appeal is against the judgment and order of conviction, dated 25.05.2010 and 27.05.2010 respectively delivered by Sri Ravi Shankar Tiwari, Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court, I, Kaimur at Bhabhua, in S. Tr. No. 113 of 2008/31 of 2008 thereby acquitting the appellant and others of the charges under Sections 302, 149, 120B and 379 of the Indian Penal Code has convicted him for committing offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act consequently sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 5 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/-, in case of default in making payment of fine to further undergo simple imprisonment for one month.
3. Being aggrieved and dissatisfied by the aforesaid judgment and order of conviction the appellant has preferred the appeal.
4. Learned counsel for the appellant contends that five accused persons were put on trial by the trial Court for charge under Sections 302, 149, 379 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and also under Section 27 of the Arms Act for killing the informant’s brother, Akhilesh Singh, by gun shot injury. However, the trial Court due to lack of evidence acquitted all accused persons of charges under Sections 302, 149, 379 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, but, strange enough convicted the appellant under Section 27 of the Arms Act merely on the evidence that the part of the licensee arms of the appellant was recovered within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Bihar though the licence of the appellant was to carry the arms within the jurisdiction of Varanasi Divisional Area in the State of Uttar Pradesh as committed the offence under Section 27 of the Arms Act by violating provision of Section 5 of the Arms Act.
5. The learned trial Court has misinterpreted Section 5 and Section 27 of the Arms Act, it is not a case that the appellant had no licence rather admitted fact is that he had the licence of the said arms issued under Section 3 of the Arms Act.
6. Learned counsel has placed reliance on two decisions reported in AIR 1987 SC, 2377 (Piara Singh Vrs. State of Punjab) as well as on the case of Deomuni Sharma Vrs. State of Jharkhand reported in (2009) 16 SCC, 80 decided by the Apex Court reported in Deomuni Sharma (supra).
7. The learned counsel for the State submits that the licensee arms of the appellant was recovered within the State of Bihar so the offence under Section 27(1) of the Arms Act is attracted and proved so there is no error in the judgment.
8. Having considered the rival submissions and on appraisal of records of the case, the Court finds that the trial Court acquitted the appellant, Nathuni Singh Yadav @ Nathuni Yadav @ Nathuni Singh, along with other co-accused of charges under Sections 302, 149, 379 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, but, surprisingly enough convicted the appellant under Section 27 of the Arms Act whereas it is not proved by the prosecution that appellant by using his licensee arm has killed the deceased, Akhilesh Singh, the brother of the informant. Section 27 of the Arms Act is a penal provision for awarding punishment in case of using arms. Section 27 sub clause (1) of the Arms Act reads as such :
“27. Punishment for using arms, etc:--(1) Whoever uses any arms or ammunition in contravention of section 5 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extent to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.”
9. The penal provision under Section 27(1) of the Arms Act is attracted only if any arm or ammunition is used by accused contravening Section 5 of the Arms Act. Section 5 of the Arms Act deals with licence of manufacture, sell etc. of arms and ammunition. This provision of law prohibits that any person unless holds an arm licence, he should in accordance with the provision of the Arms Act cannot use, manufacture, sell, transfer, convert, repair, test or prove. Besides that he cannot also exhibits any arm or offer it for sale or transfer to any
