2005 Supreme(Raj) 1433
Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench
Honble V.K. BALI, J. Honble HARBANS LAL, J.
State of Rajasthan - Appellant
Versus
Mohan Lal & Ors. - Respondents
D.B. Criminal Death Reference No. 1 of 2003
Decided On : June 02, 2005
A.K. Gupta with Surendra Sharma, Alka Bhatnagar, Pooja Gupta and Ashutosh Bhatia, for accused Appellants B.N. Sandu, PP for State
Headnote:Penal Code, Secs. 148, 427 342, 460, 302, 302/149 – Brutal killing of five persons – No proof as to which accused caused fatal injuries – Trial Court awarded death sentence to five accused persons – Large number of others were awarded life imprisonment also – Held – Persons equally situated have been acquitted even though by giving benefit of doubt for lack of proper identification – Five deaths were caused not only by those who have been sentenced to death but by others as well who have been acquitted – Conviction can be sustained only u/S. 302 read with Sec. 149 IPC – Exceptions for giving capital punishment apply. – (1974) 4 SCC 443 relied on.
U/S. 148 IPC - Three years R.I. and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, six months R.I.)
U/S. 427 IPC - 2 years RI and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 6 months).
U/S. 342 IPC - 1 years RI and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 3 months).
U/S. 460 IPC - 10 years RI and a fine of Rs. 2,000/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for one year).
U/S. 302 IPC death sentence by handing from neck till such time they die (To be hanged by neck till death)
(2). The appellants named above (Mohan Lal, Yuvraj and Hansraj sons of Ram Narayan, Hans Raj son of Gopal, Radhey Shyam son of Gopal and Modunath son of Bheru Nath have challenged the order of conviction and sentence by filing Appeal bearing No. 464/2003 Mohan Lal and others vs. State of Rajasthan.
(3). Out of eleven others who have been held guilty and accordingly sentenced, as mentioned above, Lal Chand @ Ram Niwas son of Birdhilal, Revadi Lal son of Kishore, Ghanshyam and Radhey Shyam sons of Prahald who have been sentenced as mentioned below have filed criminal appeal bearing No. 670/2003.
U/S. 148 IPC - Three years R.I. And a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, six months R.I.)
U/S. 427 IPC - 2 years RI and fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 6 months).
U/S. 342 IPC - 1 year RI and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 3 months).
U/S. 460 IPC - 10 years RI and a fine of Rs. 2,000/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for one year).
U/S. 302/149 IPC - Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2000/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for one year).
(4). Appellants Dhanpal, Kanhaiya and Nawal sons of Ram Pratap, and Ramlal son of Ram Narain, another four out of eleven, who have been held guilty for various offences as mentioned below, have filed criminal appeal bearing No. 621/2003:
U/S. 148 IPC - Three years R.I. and fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, six months R.I.)
U/S. 427 IPC - 2 years RI and fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 6 months).
U/S. 342 IPC - 1 year RI and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 3 months).
U/S. 460 IPC - 10 years RI and a fine of Rs. 2,000/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for one year).
U/S. 302/149 IPC - Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2000/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for one year).
(5). Remaining three appellants, out of the eleven, namely Babulal son of Dev Lal, Mangilal son of Baldev and Radhey Shyam son of Shankar Lal, who have been held guilty for various offences as mentioned below, have filed criminal appeal No. 520/2003:
U/S. 148 IPC - Three years R.I. and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, six months R.I.).
U/S. 427 IPC - 2 years RI and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 6 months).
U/S. 342 IPC - 1 year RI and a fine of Rs. 500/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for 3 months).
U/S. 460 IPC - 10 years RI and a fine of Rs. 2,000/- (in default of payment of fine, further RI for one year).
U/S. 302/149 IPC - Life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2000/- (in default of payment of fine, fu