IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL
PANKAJ PUROHIT, J.
Chanchal Singh - Revisionist
Versus
State of Uttarakhand - Respondent
Criminal Revision No.199 of 2013
Decided On : 21-11-2023
Cr.P.C. - Criminal Conviction - Sections 279, 337, 338, 304-A IPC - [279, 337, 338, 304-A IPC] - The court affirmed the conviction of the revisionist under Sections 279, 337, 338, 304-A IPC, however, reduced the sentence imposed under Sections 338 and 304-A IPC for two years R.I. to one year R.I. in each section. The revisionist's request for a lenient view due to the matter relating to the year 2006 and his health condition was considered, and the sentence was further altered/modified.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a bus driver driving rashly and negligently, resulting in a fatal accident causing the death of three persons and injuries to several others.
Finding of the Court:
The court affirmed the conviction of the revisionist but considered the revisionist's request for a lenient view due to the matter relating to the year 2006 and his health condition, and accordingly, altered/modified the sentence imposed.
Issues: Conviction and sentencing of the revisionist under Sections 279, 337, 338, 304-A IPC.
Ratio Decidendi: The court considered the revisionist's request for a lenient view due to the matter relating to the year 2006 and his health condition, and accordingly, altered/modified the sentence imposed.
Final Decision: The conviction of the revisionist was affirmed, and the sentence imposed was further altered/modified based on the revisionist's request for a lenient view.
JUDGMENT :
(Pankaj Purohit, J.) :
This revision preferred under Sections 397 & 401 of the Cr.P.C. is directed assailing the judgment and order dated 30.08.2010 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate, Bhikiyasain, District Almora in Criminal Case No.55 of 2009/2007, whereby the said court has, at the end of trial convicted and sentenced the revisionist as under:-
| S. No. | Conviction | Sentence | Fine | Sentence in-default of fine |
| 1. | 279 IPC | Six months’ R.I. | - | - |
| 2. | 337 IPC | Six months’ R.I. | - | - |
| 3. | 338 IPC | Two years’ R.I. | Rs.2,000/- | Three months’ additional imprisonment |
| 4. | 304-A IPC | Two years’ R.I. | Rs.2,000/- | Three months’ additional imprisonment |
2. Assailing the said judgment, revisionist preferred an appeal, which was decided by the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Ranikhet, District Almora being Criminal Appeal No.22 of 2010. The appellate court vide judgment dated 20.07.2013 although affirmed the conviction of the revisionist under Sections 279, 337, 338, 304-A IPC, however, the sentence imposed under Sections 338 and 304-A IPC for two years R.I. was reduced to one year R.I. in each sections. Remaining sentences were directed to run concurrently.
3. Facts of the case in brief are that on the basis of the application moved by the informant that on 20.10.2006, revisionist who was a driver in Bus No. U.P. 01-5059 was driving the said bus from Sarai Khet to Ramnagar. The informant boarded for the said bus, which was having 20-22 passengers. The driver of the bus in order to pick the passengers drove the vehicle rashly and negligently, due to which, the bus fell down from the road resulting the death of three persons, besides causing the injuries to 17 to 18 persons. The injured persons were taken to the hospital by local people and police. The injured also sustained injuries in the said incident. On the said application, the case was registered. The statements of witnesses and site plan were prepared and the charge-sheet was submitted against the accused-revisionist under Sections 279, 337, 338 & 304-A IPC in the court on which the cognizance was taken by the court on 13.11.2017. The prosecution in order to prove its case examined as many as 13 witnesses, namely, PW1 Dev Singh (injured), PW2 Heera Singh (injured), PW3 Arjun Singh (injured), PW4 Prakash Chandra (injured), PW5 Paan Dev (injured), PW6 Triloki Devi (injured), PW7 Mala Singh (injured), PW8 Keshar Singh (post-mortem witness), PW9 Dayakrishan (post-mortem witness), PW10 Mohan Singh Rawat (injured), PW11 Kaanti Ballabh (injured), PW12 Dr. Jagdish Narayan (informant) and PW13 Smt. Mahadevi (injured).
4. Thereafter, the statement of revisionist was recorded under Section 313 Cr.P.C. in which denied the allegations levelled against him. However, he did not adduce the evidence in his defence, accordingly, the trial court convicted and sentenced the revisionist, as mentioned, in para 1 of the judgment.
5. The accused preferred the appeal and the appellate court affirmed the conviction of the revisionist, however, reduced the sentence of the revisionist to the extent of one year R.I. instead of two years R.I. Challenging those judgments, present revision has been filed before this Court.
6. Heard Mr. P.C. Maulekhi, learned counsel for the revisionist and Mr. K.S. Rawal, learned A.G.A. for the State.
7. Learned counsel for the revisionist took this Court to the evidence recorded by the trial court during the trial but in revisional jurisdiction, since it is not available to this Court to re-appreciate the evidence which has been concurrently relied upon by the courts below, this Court asked learned counsel for the revisionist to point out the perversity in the judgment and order under revision which would enjoin this Court to enter into the merits of the case. But, learned counsel could not point out any such pervers
The court considered the revisionist's request for a lenient view due to the matter relating to the year 2006 and his health condition, and accordingly, altered/modified the sentence imposed.
The court's decision highlighted the importance of establishing negligence and the sufficiency of evidence in criminal cases.
The court affirmed the conviction for negligent driving, emphasizing that revisional jurisdiction should not disturb concurrent findings unless there is a manifest injustice.
The court confirmed the conviction for negligence under Section 304-A IPC but reduced the sentence from one year rigorous imprisonment to three months simple imprisonment due to the Revisionist's age....
Concurrent findings of guilty must be upheld unless glaring defects are present or a miscarriage of justice occurs; professional drivers may not qualify for probation under Section 304-A IPC.
The main legal point established is that the conviction for rash and negligent driving was upheld based on the evidence of injured witnesses and documentary evidence, while the offence under Section ....
The court has the discretion to consider the circumstances of the accused and may reduce the sentence based on the family situation and time served.
Court upheld conviction for reckless driving but modified sentence based on humanitarian grounds considering age and time served.
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