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2020 Supreme(UK) 34

IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL
Alok Singh, Ravindra Maithani, JJ.
State Of Uttarakhand And Others - Appellant
Versus
Jai Prakash And Others - Respondent
Criminal Reference No. 02 of 2019 And Criminal Jail Appeal No. 64 of 2019
Decided On : 07-01-2020

Advocates Appeared:
(Criminal Reference No. 02 of 2019) Mr. V.K. Jemini, Deputy Advocate General with Mr. P.S. Uniyal, Brief Holder for the State. (Criminal Jail Appeal No. 64 of 2019) Ms. Manisha Bhandari, amicus curiae, for the Appellant; (Criminal Reference No. 02 of 2019) Mr. Siddharth Sah, amicus curiae. (Criminal Jail Appeal No. 64 of 2019 )Mr. V.K. Jemini, Deputy Advocate General with Mr. P.S. Uniyal, Brief Holder for the State, for the Respondent

Headnote:(A) IPC - Sections 302, 201, 376AB, 377; POCSO Act - Section 6 - Conviction and death penalty for brutal sexual assault and murder of a minor - The prosecution established guilt beyond reasonable doubt, with DNA evidence linking the appellant, corroborated by witness testimony and circumstantial evidence. (Paras 52-60).

(B) Circumstantial Evidence - The court reiterated that in cases reliant on circumstantial evidence, all circumstances must fully establish guilt without leaving gaps and must be consistent only with the hypothesis of the accused's guilt. (Paras 24, 26, 38).

Facts of the case:
The victim, a nine-year-old girl, was found dead in the hut of the appellant, who had previously lured her away with money, indicating a predatory motive. (Paras 2, 9).

Findings of Court:
The evidence, including witness statements and DNA tests, pointed conclusively to the appellant as the perpetrator of the heinous crime. (Paras 52-60).

Issues: The main issues included whether the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and if the death penalty was warranted given the nature of the crime. (Paras 42-60).

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the absence of injuries on the appellant did not absolve him of guilt; the circumstantial links and serious nature of the crime justified the death penalty as the appropriate sentence. (Paras 38-60).

Result: Appeal dismissed; sentence of death confirmed.

Table of Content
1. factual background of the case (Para 2)
2. defendant's argument against charges (Para 3 , 4)
3. prosecution's case and counterarguments (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8)
4. witness testimonies and evidentiary support (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 21)
5. principles governing circumstantial evidence (Para 24 , 25 , 29)
6. victim's age and relevance to the crime (Para 30 , 32 , 33)
7. assessment of witness credibility (Para 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41)
8. application of death penalty criteria (Para 59)
9. final ruling and order (Para 62 , 63)

JUDGMENT

Ravindra Maithani, J. - I have had the benefit of reading the judgment of Brother, Alok Singh, J. I concur with the conclusion, but I still elaborate my own views in arriving at the conclusion.

2. Facts have already been disclosed. The victims parents, were labourers, who were residing in the makeshift huts at the construction site. She was nine years old. Her uncle, aunt and their two sons were also staying near to their hut. On the fateful day, victim was playing with her cousins. Suddenly, she went missing. A search was made and finally her dead body was recovered from the hut of the appellant. It was hidden below the empty sacks and other articles. A report was lodged and after investigating charge-sheet submitted against the appellant. After trial, by the impugned judgment and order, the appellant has been convicted and sentenced.

3. On behalf of the appellant, learned counsel would argue that it is a case of false implication; appellant is also a labourer and he was a soft target. He has been falsely implicated in the case. The following points/arguments have been raised on behalf of the appellant:-

    (i) FIR is not reliable; it is in contradiction to the averments made in the inquest report.

    (ii) There were no marks of injury on the genital of the appellant. It goes to the root of the matter and falsifies the prosecution case.

    (iii) There have been divergent versions about the colour of the underwear of the victim, which doubts the statement of the witnesses.

    (iv) Recovery of hair from the fist of the victim is totally doubtful.

    (v) Forensic Science Laboratory (for short 'the FSL') Report is not reliable, because the prosecution has not proved, as to how, the hair were taken, preserved, stored and transmitted to FSL. It is not proved that the process was intact.

    (vi) Similarly, with regard to semen, it is argued that PW5 Dr. R.C. Arya, examined the appellant on 29.07.2018, but he could not get the sample of his semen. Prosecution has not even shown, as to when the semen of the appellant was extracted. Therefore, it is also doubtful as to how the semen of the appellant was sent for forensic examination.

    (vii) The prosecution has not proved, that the other articles sent for forensic examination were kept safely and transmitted properly.

    (viii) The appellant did not run away after the incident; his conduct shows that he is innocent; the dead body was first detected by PW3 Mohd. Nayyar Alam. It is he to explain as to how the victim died?

    (ix) PW11 and PW12 both are cousins of the victim; they are interested and child witnesses; they are prone to coaching and tutoring; their statement cannot be relied upon.

4. It is argued that the prosecution utterly failed to prove the charges against the appellant. The appellant ought to be acquitted of the charges.

5. In support of arguments, learned counsel placed reliance upon the principles of law, as laid down in the case of Rahim Beg and another Vs. State of U.P. , AIR 1973 SC 343 and Devi Lal Vs. State of Rajasthan , 2019 (1) N.C.C. 541. In the case of Rahim Beg (supra) Honble Supreme Court, inter-alia, held that 'according to Dr. Kativar, Medical Officer of District jail Rae Bareli, if a girl of 10 or 12 year who is virgin and whose hymen is intact is subjected to rape by a fully developed man, there are likely to be injuries on the male organ of the man. No injury was, however, detected by the doctor on the male org

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