IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
FARJAND ALI, J.
Uttam Kumar @ Uttamchand, S/o. Shri Deva Ram - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
S.B. Criminal Appeal No. 280 of 2012
Decided On : 19-08-2023
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 374 (2), 313 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 323 - Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 - Section 3(1)(x) - Offence of voluntarily causing hurt - Abusing and hurling caste related abuses - Appeal against conviction - Uttam Kumar Rawal came there and started abusing and hurling caste related abuses towards his son and also slapped him 2-3 times - Persons standing there intervened, upon which, accused went away giving a life threat - Held, Appellant has already suffered agony of protracted trial, spanning over a period of more than 12 years and has been in corridors of court for this prolonged period - Reformative theory of punishment is in vogue in country and since appellant is living peacefully since last 12 years as no report contrary to that has been received by this court, thus, it can be assumed that he has been reformed and no fruitful purpose would be served by sending him to jail at this stage as much misery has already been inflicted upon him - Case of appellant deserves to be dealt with leniency - Appellant deserves benefit of consistent view taken by court in this regard - Judgment of conviction passed by learned Special Judge is affirmed but quantum of sentence awarded by learned trial court for offences under Section 323 of IPC and Section 3(1)(x) of SC/ST Act is modified - Appeal is allowed in part.
JUDGMENT :
1. The appellant has preferred the instant appeal under Section 374 (2) of the CrPC being aggrieved of the judgment dated 16.03.2012 passed by the learned Special Judge, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Cases, Sirohi in Special Sessions Case No.15/2011, whereby he has been convicted and sentenced in the following manner :-
| Offence for which convicted | Sentence, fine and default sentence |
| Section 323 of the IPC | 3 months’ simple imprisonment alongwith a fine of Rs.500/- and in default of payment of fine, further to undergo, simple imprisonment of 15 days |
| Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act | 6 months’ simple imprisonment alongwith a fine of Rs.500/- and in default of payment of fine, further to undergo, simple imprisonment of 15 days |
2. Briefly stated, facts relevant and essential for disposal of the case are that on 11.05.2011, complainant Hakmaram S/o Punma Ji Meghwal, resident of Manora, submitted a written report at the Police Station Barlut to the effect that on that day at 10.30 p.m. a function was going on at his sister's house. At that time, Uttam Kumar Rawal came there and started abusing and hurling caste related abuses towards his son Praveen Kumar and also slapped him 2-3 times. The persons standing there intervened, upon which, the accused went away giving a life threat.
3. On the basis of aforesaid report, FIR No.54/2011 for the offences under Sections 323 of the IPC and Section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act was registered and after usual investigation, a chargesheet was filed against the present appellant.
4. The learned trial court framed charges against the appellant for the above offences and upon denial of guilt by him, commenced the trial. During the course of trial, as many as 10 witnesses were examined and 7 documents were exhibited. Thereafter, an explanation was sought from the accused-appellant under Section 313 Cr.P.C., in which he denied the prosecution allegations and claimed the son of the complainant owed him money and a mobile phone and upon asking for the same, the complainant party got infuriated and lodged a false case against him. Then, after hearing the learned Public Prosecutor and the learned Defence Counsel and upon meticulous appreciation of the evidence, learned trial Judge convicted and sentenced the appellant in the manner stated above vide judgment dated 16.03.2012, which is under assail before this court in the instant appeal.
5. After arguing on merits to some extent, learned counsel for the appellant does not wish to press the present appeal in respect of the judgment of conviction passed by the learned trial court and preferred to make submissions on the point of sentence only. He submits that the incident pertains to the year 2011, in which, the appellant, who was then a young man, asked for the money and mobile he owed and in the heat of moment, he hurled some abuses towards the son of the complainant. It was the first criminal case registered against him. He had no criminal antecedents. No adverse remark has been passed over his conduct in the impugned judgment. He has faced the rigor of criminal case for good 12 years, therefore, taking a lenient view the sentence awarded to him may be reduced to the period already undergone.
6. Learned public prosecutor has, of course, been able to defend the case on merits but does not refute the fact that it was the first criminal case registered against the appellant.
7. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Public prosecutor and perused the material available on the record.
8. Since the appeal against conviction is not pressed and after perusing the record, nothing is noticed which requires interference in the finding of guilt reached by learned trial court, this court does not wish to interfere in the judgment of con
The court affirmed the conviction but modified the sentence to time already served, emphasizing reformative justice based on the elapsed time and personal circumstances of the appellants.
The necessity of independent and impartial witnesses in cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to substantiate claims of public humiliation and intimidation.
The court can reduce a sentence to the time already served when considering prolonged custody and mental trauma of the accused while maintaining the conviction.
The court may reduce a sentence to the period already undergone when considering the time served and mental trauma, while upholding the conviction under relevant laws.
The prosecution failed to prove the charges under the SC/ST Act, justifying the acquittal, while the trial court's decision to grant probation for IPC convictions was upheld.
The absence of evidence for abusive language led to acquittal under the SC/ST Act, while the sentence under IPC was reduced to time already served due to prolonged trial.
Inconsistencies in witness statements and doubt regarding the incident can lead to the acquittal of the accused, especially under stringent provisions such as the SC/ST Act.
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