SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2023 Supreme(Ker) 1031

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
Bechu Kurian Thomas, J.
Shafeeque and others - Petitioners
Versus
State of Kerala and others - Respondents
Crl.Rev.Pet No. 536 of 2004
Decided On : 26-05-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Respondent: Smt.Sreeja V., Public Prosecutor

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 307 and 324 - Conviction under section 307 altered to section 324 upon appeal, with sentence modified to one year imprisonment and a fine - The accused, armed with weapons, assaulted the complainant but the intention to cause death was not established. (Paras 6-9)

(B) Evidence Evaluation - The Sessions Judge found inconsistencies in witness testimonies, leading to the conclusion that the charges under section 307 were not substantiated, supporting only the lesser charge under section 324. (Paras 7-9)

Facts of the case:
The accused were initially convicted of attempted murder; however, upon appeal, the conviction was reduced to a charge under section 324, reflecting the nature of injuries and evidence presented.

Findings of Court:
The findings by the Sessions Judge were affirmed, highlighting that the evidence did not sufficiently demonstrate the intention to cause death.

Issues: The main issue addressed was whether the intention to kill was established based on witness testimonies and evidence.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the evidence must substantiate the specific intent for a greater charge, and upon reviewing the testimonies, it was concluded they supported a lesser charge.

Result: Revision petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. historical progression of case outcomes (Para 1 , 3 , 4)
2. elements of assault and appropriate charges (Para 2 , 6)
3. dismissal of revision petition based on merit (Para 5 , 10)
4. judicial analysis and agreement with prior rulings (Para 7 , 8 , 9)

ORDER :

Bechu Kurian Thomas, J.

The revision petitioners were initially tried for the offence under section 307 read with section34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short 'IPC') and convicted to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years apart from a fine of Rs.20,000/- each. In the appeal preferred by them before the Sessions Court, the conviction was altered to section 324 IPC and the accused were sentenced to undergo imprisonment for one year and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- each and in default to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months each. Aggrieved thereby, the accused have preferred this revision petition.

2. Pro-section alleged that due to enmity with the defacto complainant, the accused had on 06.12.1997 trespassed into the pathway of the defacto complainant, armed with an iron pipe and knife, and with the intention to cause death of the defacto complainant, assaulted him brutally on his head and abdomen and inflicted serious injuries, thereby committing the offences under sections 307 and 447 read with section 34 of the IPC.

3. In order to prove the prosecution case, PW 1 to PW13 were examined and Ext.P1 to Ext.P5 were marked while the defence examined DW1 and DW2 apart from marking Exts.D1 to D8. The learned Magistrate, after evaluating the evidence adduced, came to the conclusion that the accused are guilty for the offence under section 307 read with section34 of the IPC and sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years apart from a fine of Rs.20,000/- each. A default sentence was also imposed.

4. As mentioned earlier, in the appeal preferred before the Sessions Court, Thrissur, the conviction was altered from section 307 to section 324 and the accused were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year and to pay a fine of Rs.5,000/- each with a default sentence.

5. Since the counsel initially appearing for the revision petitioners had relinquished his vakalath, repeated notices were issued from this Court but the revision petitioners could not be served and therefore this Court had appointed an Amicus Curiae to advance arguments on behalf of the revision petitioners. Since the said Amicus Curiae had stopped practice and due to the long pendency of this revision petition, this Court decided to consider the matter on its merits, after hearing Smt.V.Sreeja, the learned Public Prosecutor.

6. The incident is alleged to have occurred at 10 am on 06.12.1997. Ext.P1 FI Statement was recorded on the same day at 11.45 am itself, on the basis of which Crime No.368 of 1997 was registered. PW1 is the injured witness while PWs 2, 3 and 6 are the occurrence witnesses. The learned Sessions Judge had after appreciating the evidence adduced came to the conclusion that the offence under section 307 is not made out, but only an offence under section 324 read with section34 of the IPC alone is attracted.

7. PW1, who is the injured witness, had spoken in tune with the prosecution case and deposed about the assault committed on him. PWs 2 and 3, who are witnesses to the incident, had also supported the case of the prosecution and also deposed about the attack with the iron pipe. While appreciating the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, learned Sessions Judge had also noticed the inconsistencies in the evidence of PWs 2, 3 and 6 and it is for this reason that the court came to the conclusion that there is insufficient evidence to establish with certainty the existence of an intention to cause death of the victim.

8. Every aspect of the evidence adduced before the court was specifically considered. The findings entered into by the learned Sessions Judge are proper and regular and do not call for any interference.

9. I am in complete agreement with

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top