2007 Supreme(MP) 396

2007(2) JLJ 309
Miss Sheela Khanna and S.A. Naqvi, JJ.
Mohar Singh v. State of M.P.
Criminal Appeal No. 179 of 1995 (Gwalior) : against judgment of
VI Additional Sessions Judge, Gwalior, Camp Dabra, passed in
Sessions Trial No.247 of 1993; Decided on 9.4.2007.

Headnote:(1) Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss.304 Pt.I and 302 -- genesis of occurrence not established -- no previous dispute or enmity -- only one gun-shot fired resulting in death -- offence falls under S.304 Pt.I.

       Complaint Harnam Singh (PW4) was going towards Chopal. On way, he saw that the appellant and Ajab Singh (acquitted co-accused) were hurling abuses to his brother deceased Bhagwan Singh. Deceased Bhagwan Singh objected to it. On this, the appellant said "Tera Muha Bahoot Chalta Hai Abhi Thuz Ko Niptata Hun". Ajab Singh then instigated the appellant Mohar Singh to bring his gun. Thereafter, appellant went running to his house and brought muzzle loaded gun of his father. Ajab Singh exhorted the appellant to kill the deceased. Thereafter, the appellant fired a shot at the deceased causing injuries over the neck of the deceased, who fell down and died. At that time, Sarman Singh (PW2) was standing nearby and a pellet of the gun hit on his chest. [Para 3

       Held : Harnam Singh (PW4) in para 22 has simply stated that the appellant wanted to make an influence on the deceased (Bhagwan Singh Pe Rob Jamane Ke Liye). But in the report (Ex.P5) or in the police statement (Ex.D-5) this witness has not mentioned about the fact that the appellant wanted to make an influence or show his influence. But at the same time, he admitted that before the incident, there was no dispute between the deceased and the appellant. The appellant had caused a single gun-shot injury, on being instigated by co-accused Ajab Singh. Thus, if there was no dispute or quarrel or enmity before the incident and it has not been made clear by the witnesses as to what was the cause or reason for hurling abuses then certainly it can be inferred that the genesis of the occurrence has not been established in this case, though, it is proved beyond doubt that the appellant fired a gun-shot injury to the deceased resulting his death. Therefore, in view of the observation made by the apex Court in the case of Surendra Singh @ Bittu v. State of Uttaranchal [2006(2) Crimes 167 (SC)], the offence committed by the appellant would not fall under section 302 of IPC, but in our considered view, the offence would fall under section 304 of IPC. 2006(2) Crimes 167 (SC) followed. [Para 21

       (2) Criminal Practice -- witnesses clearly stating that appellant fired shot causing injury on the neck of deceased -- infirmity on point of distance from where shot was fired -- not material. [Para 14

       (3) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S.8 -- cogent evidence of eye-witnesses available -- motive need not be proved. [Para 18

       (4) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss.161 and 154 -- injured witness -- admitted in hospital -- name mentioned in FIR -- investigation officer could not attend him in hospital -- delay in recording police statement is not fatal. [Para 17

       (5) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss.227/228 -- charge of minor offence not framed initially -- rightly not framed thereafter because of re-examination of witnesses -- this alone does not afford any ground to seek acquittal. [Para 18

       (6) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss.157 and 154 -- proof of compliance of S.157 -- FIR recorded without any delay -- police reached immediately -- prepared spot map and inquest report same day -- sent the dead body same day -- there cannot be any doubt that FIR was ante-timed or antedated -- non-proof immaterial. [Para 19

       (7) Penal Code, 1860 -- S.304 Pt.I -- offence under -- imprisonment for more than 7 years suffered -- no useful purpose would be served if again sent to jail -- sentence of undergone imprisonment imposed enhancing fine to Rs.15,000/-. [Para 22

       ¼1½ naM lafgrk] 1860 && /kkjk 304 Hkkx 1 rFkk 302 && ?kVuk dk mRl LFkkfir ugha && iwfoZd >xM+k ;k ‘k=qrk ugha && canwd dk dsoy ,d Qk;j fd;k x;k tks e`R;q esa ifj.kkfer gqvk && vijk/k /kkjk 304 Hkkx 1 ds v/khu vkrk gSA

       ifjoknh gjuke flag ¼v lk 4½ pkSiky dh vksj tk jgk FkkA ekxZ esa mlus ns[kk fd vihykFkhZ vkSj vtc flag ¼nks"keqDr lg&vfHkqDr½ mlds HkkbZ e`rd Hkxoku flag dks nqoZpu dg jgs FksA Hkxoku flag us bl ij vkifRrÙk dhA ml ij ls vihykFkhZ us dgk] ^^rsjk eq¡g cgqr pyrk gS vHkh rq>dks fuiVkrk gw¡**A vtc flag us rc mldh canwd ykus ds fy, eksgjflag dks izsfjr fd;kA rRi‘pkr~ vihykFkhZ vius ?kj nkSM+rk gqvk x;k vkSj vius firk dh HKjekj canwd ys vk;ka vtc flag us vihykFkhZ dks ekj Mkyus ds fy, izsfjr fd;kA rRi‘pkr~ vihykFkhZ us e`rd ij ,d Qk;j fd;k ftlls e`rd dh xnZu ij {kfr;k¡ gqbZa vkSj og fxj x;k rFkk ej x;kA ¼iSjk 3

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % gjuke flag ¼v lk 4½ us iSjk 22 esa ek= dFku fd;k gS fd vihykFkhZ] e`rd ij izHkko Mkyuk pkgrk Fkk ¼Hkxoku flag ij jkSc tekus ds fy,½A fdarq fjiksVZ ¼izn‘kZ ih&5½ esa ;k iqfyl dFku ¼izn‘kZ Mh&5½ esa bl lk{kh us bl rF; ds ckjs esa mYys[k ugha fd;k gS fd vihykFkhZ izHkko Mkyuk pkgrk Fkk vFkok izHkko nf‘kZr djuk pkgrk FkkA fdarq lkFk&gh] mlus Lohdkj fd;k gS fd ?kVuk ds iwoZ e`rd vkSj vihykFkhZ ds e/; dksbZ >xM+k ugha FkkA lg&vfHkqDr vtc flag dh izsj.kk ij mlus canwd ds Qk;j dh dsoy ,d {kfr dkfjr dh gSA bl izdkj] ;fn ?kVuk ds iwoZ dksbZ >xM+k ;k eyg ugha Fkk rFkk lk{khx.k }kjk bl ckjs esa LI"V ugha fd;k x;k gS fd nqoZpu dgs tkus ds fy, D;k dkj.k Fkk] rc fuf‘pr gh ;g fu"d"kZ fudkyk tk ldrk gS fd ekeys esa ?kVuk dk mRl LFkkfir ugha fd;k x;k gS] ;|fi] ;g lansg ls ijs lkfcr gS fd vihykFkhZ us e`rd dks canwd ds Qk;j dh Pkfr dkfjr dh ftlds ifj.kkeLo:i mldh e`R;q gks xbZA blfy,] lqjs‘k flag mQZ fcV~Vw fo- mÙkjkapy jkT; [2006¼2½ ØkbEl 167¼,l lh½] ds ekeys esa loksZPp U;k;ky; dh leqfDr dh n`f"V ls vihykFkhZ }kjk dkfjr vijk/k na-iz-la- dh /kjkk 302 ds v/khu ugha vk,xk] fdarq gekjh lqfopkfjr jk; ls vijk/k na-iz-la- dh /kkjk 304 Hkkx 1 ds v/khu vk,xkA 2006¼2½ ØkbEl~ 167¼,l lh½ vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 21

       ¼2½ nkafMd izFkk && lk{khx.k dk Li"V dFku fd vihykFkhZ us canwd dk Qk;j fd;k ftlls e`rd dh xnZu ij {kfr dkfjr gqbZ && tgk¡ ls Qk;j fd;k x;k mldh nwjh ds fcanq ij ‘kSfFkY; && rkfRod ughaA ¼iSjk 14

       ¼3½ lk{; vf/kfu;e] 1872 && /kkjk 8 & izR;{kn‘khZ lk{khx.k dk fu‘pk;d lk{; miyC/k && gsrq lkfcr fd;k tkuk vko‘;d ughaA ¼iSjk 18

       ¼4½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 161 rFkk 154 && {kfrxzLr lk{kh && vLirky esa HkrhZ && izFke bfÙkyk fjiksVZ esa uke mfYyf[kr && vUos"k.k vf/kdkjh mlls feyus vLirky ugha tk ldk && iqfyl dFku vfHkfyf[kr fd, tkus esa foyac ?kkrd ughaA ¼iSjk 17

       ¼5½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 227@228 && xkS.k vijk/k dk vkjksi vkjaHk esa fojfpr ugha fd;k x;k && lk{khx.k ds iqu% iqujh{k.k ds dkj.k rRi‘pkr~ Bhd&gh fojfpr ugha fd;k x;k && nks"keqfDr dh bZIlk ds fy, ek= ;g vk/kkj ugha gks ldrkA ¼iSjk 18

       ¼6½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 157 rFkk 154 && /kkjk 157 ds vuqikyu dk lcwr && izFke bfÙkyk fjiksVZ vfoyac vfHkfyf[kr && iqfyl rRdky igq¡ph && LFky ekufp= rFkk e`R;q leh{kk fjiksVZ mlh fnu rS;kj dh && ‘ko mlh fnu Hkstk x;k && dksbZ lansg ugha fd;k tk ldrk fd izFke bfÙkyk fjiksVZ iwoZ≤kafdr vFkok iwoZ&fnukafdr Fkh && lkfcr ugha fd;k tkuk egRoghuA ¼iSjk 19

       ¼7½ naM lafgrk] 1860 && /kkjk 304 Hkkx 1 && vijk/k && 7 o"kZ ls vf/kd dkjkokl Hkksxk && iqu% tsy Hksts tku dk dksbZ vFkZiw.kZ iz;kstu fl) ugha gksxk && tqekZuk :-15]000@& rd c<+krs gq, Hkksxs x, dkjkokl dk naMkns‘k vf/kjksfirA ¼iSjk 22