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1999 Supreme(P&H) 242

PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT
M.L. Singhal, J. Crl.
State of Haryana - Petitioner
Versus
Arun Kumar - Respondent
Appeal No. 20 of 1999.
Decided On : 4 March, 1999

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. D.K. Khanna, AAG, Haryana.

The court's power to summon additional accused under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the elements of abetment of suicide under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code.

Headnote:

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE - SECTION 319 - ABETMENT - SECTION 107 - INTERPRETATION - COURT'S POWER TO SUMMON ADDITIONAL ACCUSED - CONDITIONS - ABETMENT OF SUICIDE - ELEMENTS - INSTIGATION - MEANING.

Fact of the Case:

The prosecution alleged that the deceased, Shiv Kumar, was harassed by his employer, Arun Kumar, and two others, Krishan Kumar and Mahi Pal, which led him to commit suicide. The deceased's father, Hukam Singh, and another witness, Satish Kumar, testified about the harassment faced by Shiv Kumar.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the evidence did not establish that Krishan Kumar and Mahi Pal had abetted Shiv Kumar's suicide. The court noted that the deceased had written a suicide note in which he mentioned that Arun Yadav, Mahi Pal, and Krishan Kumar were his enemies and that he would teach them a lesson.

Issues: 1. Whether the court had the power to summon Krishan Kumar and Mahi Pal for trial under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (abetment of suicide) in exercise of its powers under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure? 2. Whether the evidence established that Krishan Kumar and Mahi Pal had abetted Shiv Kumar's suicide?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure empowers the court to summon a person for trial if it appears from the evidence that the person has committed an offence for which the person could be tried together with the accused. 2. Abetment of a thing is defined in Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code as instigating, engaging in a conspiracy, or intentionally aiding the doing of that thing. 3. Instigation means actively suggesting or stimulating someone to do an act by any means of language, direct or indirect.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the State's revision petition and upheld the order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rewari, declining to summon Krishan Kumar and Mahi Pal for trial under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.

JUDGMENT

M.L. Singhal, J. - This is Criminal Revision filed by the State of Haryana against the order of Additional Sessions Judge, Rewari dated 5.6.1998 whereby he declined to summon Krishan Kumar and Mahi Pal for their trial under Section 306 Indian Penal Code in exercise of powers vesting in him under Section 319 Criminal Procedure Code

2. The prosecution case in brief is that Shiv Kumar son of Hukam Singh was wording with M/s PS Motors, Gurgaon, owned by Arun Kumar-accused. A motor cycle was purchased by Shiv Kumar from Arun Kumar. Arun Kumar used to deduct the price of the motor cycle from the salary of Shiv Kumar. Shiv Kumar used to tell his father Hukam Singh that Arun Kumar was harassing him and compelling him to bring back the motor cycle to him. On 26.7.1997 Hukam Singh was informed by a police constable that his son Shiv Kumar had been run over by a train. On 25.7.1997, Shanti Devi mother of Shiv Kumar had given Rs. 6000/- to Arun Kumar. According to the prosecution Shiv Kumar was compelled by Arun Kumar to commit suicide.

3. On 19.12.1997 Arun Kumar was charged under Section 306 Indian Penal Code by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Rewari. On 5.6.1998, Hukam Singh appeared as PW-1. Hukam Singh PW-1 stated that Shiv Kumar was also beaten by Krishan Kumar, PTI of their village. He was also harassed by Krishan Kumar. Shiv Kumar used to teach in the school where Krishan Kumar was working as PTI. It was a Government School. Rs. 700, 800, 900, 1000/- were to be paid by Krishan Kumar towards tuition fee. This amount was not paid by Krishan Kumar. Non-payment of tuition fee by Krishan Kumar also contributed to the commission of suicide by Shiv Kumar. Mahi Pal was working as Branch Post Master in their village. Forms of Navy, Air Force and other services were sent by the concerned Departments at the address of Shiv Kumar. Mahi Pal used to keep those forms with him. Those were not delivered by Mahi Pal to his son Shiv Kumar. When Shiv Kumar objected to that, Post Master told him that it was not his luck to get into service and that he should do some menial work. His son used to narrate all this to his father Hukam Singh. Mahi Pal had given beating to his son Shiv Kumar. Shiv Kumar committed suicide as he was fed up with Mahi Pal and Krishan Kumar. Satish Kumar PW-2 also stated about the harassment of Shiv Kumar by Mahi Pal and Krishan Kumar.

4. It was submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the deceased had written a suicide note. In the suicide note which was addressed by the deceased to his mother, he had mentioned that Arun Yadav, Mahi Pal and Krishan Kumar were his enemies and that he would teach them a lesson.

5. In my opinion, learned Additional Sessions had rightly refused to summon Mahi Pal and Krishan Kumar for trial under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code in exercise of powers vesting in him under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

6. Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure reads as under :- "Power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence - (1) Where, in the course of any inquiry into, or trial of, an offence, it appears from the evidence that any person not being the accused has committed any offence for which such person could be tried together with the accused, the Court may proceed against such person for the offence which he appears to have committed. (2) Where such person is not attending the Court, he may be arrested or summoned, as the circumstances of the case may require, for the purpose aforesaid. (3) Any person attending Court, although not under arrest or upon a summons, may be detained by such Court for the purpose of the inquiry into, or trial of, the offence which he appears to have committed. (4) Where the Court proceeds against any person under sub-section (1) then - (a) the proceedings in respect of such person shall be commenced afresh, and the witnesses re-heard; (b) subject to the provisions of clause (a), the case may proce



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