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2023 Supreme(P&H) 3173
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
SANJAY VASHISTH, J.
Chanan Singh & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
State of Punjab – Respondent
CRA-S-102-SB of 2005 (O&M)
Decided On : 08-02-2023
For the Appellants :Mr. D.S. Pheruman, Advocate with Mr. D.S. Mann, Advocate.
For the Appellants(in CAR-S-118-SB-2005) :Mr. Amar Singh Sandhu, Advocate.
For the Respondents: Mr. Vinay Kumar Gupta, AAG, Punjab.
Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code - Sections 148, 450, 307, 326, 324/149, 323/149, 328/149 - Criminal Appeals filed by convicts against conviction and sentence imposed by Trial Court - Appellants held guilty for serious offences including attempted murder and rioting - All sentences ordered to run concurrently. (Paras 2, 12-15)
(B) Compromise - Legal validity and implications of compromise in criminal cases - Parties reached amicable settlement after familial disputes, indicated genuine compromise without coercion. (Paras 4-14)
Facts of the case:
Competing factions from the same village involved in a violent altercation leading to multiple injuries. Following a lengthy prosecution over two decades, parties arranged compromise with the intervention of village elders.
Findings of Court:
Convictions maintained, but sentences reduced to periods already undergone, considering the amicable settlement and substantial time served.
Issues: Legitimacy of compromise and the appropriateness of sentence reduction post-conviction.
Ratio Decidendi: Court reinforces the balance between upholding convictions while recognizing the social context and advancements in conflict resolution - highlights the celebration of peace over prolonged punishment.
Result: Appeals disposed, sentences modified to periods already served.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. factual background of the case. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. discussion on compromise between parties. (Para 4) |
| 3. court's examination of compromise validity. (Para 5 , 6 , 7) |
| 4. consequences of compromise on sentencing. (Para 8 , 12 , 14) |
| 5. final order maintaining conviction, reducing sentences. (Para 15) |
JUDGMENT
Mr. Sanjay Vashisth, J.
This judgement shall dispose of CRA-S-102-SB-2005 and CRA- S-118-SB-2005, which have been filed by the respective convicts in version and cross-version cases.
2. CRA-S-102-SB-2005, has been filed by appellants Chanan Singh, Bawa Singh, Sarwan Singh @ Sama, Bachittar Singh, and Karaj Singh, respectively, against the judgement of conviction and order of sentence dated 23.12.2004, passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge (Adhoc), Fast Track Court, Amritsar (for brevity 'Ld. Trial Court'), in Sessions Case No. 116 of 17.01.2000/08.06.2004. Accused/appellants were held guilty for commission for the offences punishable under Sections 148 , 450, 307, 326/149, 324/149, 323/149, 328/149 of IPC and each one of them were ordered to undergo sentence(s), as detailed in the following table:
| Name of Convict | Under Section | Sentence | Fine | In Default |
| Chanan Singh | 148 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
|
| 450 IPC | 05 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 307 IPC | 07 years RI | Rs. 1000/- | 03 months RI | |
| 326/149 IPC | 03 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 328/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| Bawa Singh | 148 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
|
| 450 IPC | 05 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 307/149 IPC | 07 years RI | Rs. 1000/- | 03 months RI | |
| 326/149 IPC | 03 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 324 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 328/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| Sarwan Singh @ Sama | 148 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
|
| 450 IPC | 05 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 307/149 IPC | 07 years RI | Rs. 1000/- | 03 months RI | |
| 326/149 IPC | 03 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 323 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| Bachhittar Singh | 148 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
|
| 450 IPC | 05 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 307/149 IPC | 07 years RI | Rs. 1000/- | 03 months RI | |
| 326/149 IPC | 03 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 323 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| Karaz Singh | 148 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
|
| 450 IPC | 05 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 307/149 IPC | 07 years RI | Rs. 1000/- | 03 months RI | |
| 326 IPC | 03 years RI | Rs. 500/- | 02 months RI | |
| 324/149 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 324 IPC | 02 years RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 328/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
| |
| 323/149 IPC | 01 year RI |
|
|
All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The period of detention already undergone by the accused-appellants was ordered to be set off against the substantive sentence.
3. CRA-S-118-SB-2005, has been filed by appellants Gurvail Singh, Pargat Singh, Kulwinder Singh @ Manna, Baldev Singh @ Deba, and Sewa Singh, respectively, against the judgement of conviction and order of sentence dated 23.12.2004, passed by Ld. Trial Court, in Sessions Case No. 117 of 2002. Accused/appellan
