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2023 Supreme(Raj) 691

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
FARJAND ALI, J.
Heera Lal S/o. Hasta Ram & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
State of Rajasthan - Respondent
S.B. Criminal Appeal No. 576 of 1998
Decided On : 17-08-2023

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Anil Gupta, Mr. S.K. Verma.
For the Respondent: Mr. Abhishek Purohit, AGA-cum-PP.

Headnote:

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 374 (2), 313 - Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 451, 323, 326, 302, 336 - Murder offence - Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means - Appeal against conviction - Appeal has been filed by accused against judgment passed by learned District & Sessions Judge in Sessions Case whereby learned Judge convicted and sentenced accused - Held, No weapon was used by appellants in commission of offence; they have not any previous criminal antecedents; as per memos issued during investigation, in year 1997, appellants were aged about 30 years and 26 years - Now, after 26 years have lapsed and she has become more older; they remained in jail for few days during investigation and trial and whereafter about two months post conviction, therefore, after lapse of 26 years Court do not find it justifiable to send them back to jail - Thus, sentence suffered by them till date and rigor of trial which they faced, would be sufficient enough to meet ends of justice; they have good case for reduction of sentence, therefore, sentence awarded to them is reduced to period already undergone - Appeal is partly allowed.

JUDGMENT :

1. The instant appeal under Section 374 (2) Cr.P.C. has been filed by the accused-appellants against the judgment dated 15.09.1998 passed by the learned District & Sessions Judge, Bikaner in Sessions Case No.27/1998 whereby the learned Judge convicted and sentenced the accused as under:-

Name of the accused

Offence for which convicted

Substantive sentence

Fine and default sentence

Heera Lal

Section 451 IPC

Six months’ RI

Fine of Rs.100/- and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo 15 days RI

Section 323 IPC

Three months’ RI

Fine of Rs.50/- and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo 7 days RI

Smt. Pushpa

Section 326 IPC

Seven years’ RI

Fine of Rs.100/- and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo 15 days RI

Section 451 IPC

Six months’ RI

Fine of Rs.100/- and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo 15 days RI

    All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently and the period spent in judicial custody shall be adjusted in the original imprisonment.

2. Succinctly stated the facts of the case are that a report (Ex.P/9) came to be lodged on 15.10.1997, which was based on the statement of one Lala Ram recorded by the ASI of Police Station Coatgate, Bikaner. It was alleged that the deceased Lala Ram and the appellants’ family are close relatives and there was a discord between them; on the day of incident suddenly appellants pelted stones in the house of Lalaram upon which, he came out of the room and received injuries. On raising protest, the appellant Pushpa and all other accused persons namely Heeralal and Rupa Devi gave beating to him by fists and kicks; the appellant Pushpa poured hot water on his waist as a consequence of which, his lumber suffered with blisters. After chalking out the FIR (Ex.P/9) the investigation was commenced and during the course of treatment, on 17.10.1997, victim Lalaram died thus, offence under Section 302 IPC was added and after thorough investigation, appellant Pushpa was chargesheeted for the offence under Sections 302, 451 and 336 of the IPC and rest of the accused Heeralal and Rupa Devi were charge sheeted for the offence under Sections 302/34, 451 and 336 of the IPC and the trial commenced.

3. After taking cognizance and framing of charges, as many as 10 witnesses were examined and 19 documents were exhibited on behalf of the prosecution. Thereafter, the accused were examined under Section 313 Cr.P.C. wherein they abjured the allegations and adduced two witnesses in defence. After affording opportunity of hearing to the counsel for the parties, the learned trial Court acquitted the accused Roopa Devi whereas, accused Heerlal and Pushpa Devi were acquitted for offence under Sections 302/34 and 336 of the IPC however, convicted the accused Heera Lal for the offence under Sections 451 and 323 of the IPC and Smt. Pushpa for offence under Sections 326 and 451 of the IPC and both were sentenced as mentioned in para No.1 of the judgment.

4. Learned counsel for the appellants after arguing the matter to some extent does not press the judgment of conviction and seeks benevolence on the point of sentence only.

5. Learned Public Prosecutor opposed the submissions advanced by the appellants’ counsel and submits that the learned trial Court has passed a well reasoned therefore, no interference is called for by this Court.

6. I have heard the learned counsel for the appellants as well as learned Public Prosecutor and scrutinized the record of the case.

7. For the purpose of satisfaction, I have minutely gone through the evidence brought on record and find no illegality or misappreciation of evidence in the impugned judgment passed by the learned trial Court, the same does not require interference of this Court. Thus, the appeal is dismissed to the extent of finding of guilt and judgment of conviction is ma

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