2021 Supreme(MP) 400

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
G.S. Ahluwalia and Rajeev Shrivastava, JJ.
Nathu Singh v. State of M.P.
Criminal Appeals No. 397 of 2005, 401 of 005 and 425 of 2005(Gwalior): against thejudgment and sentence dated 20.5.2005 passed by the II Additional Sessions Judge, Morena in Sessions Trial No. 37/2001; Decided on 30.4.2021

Headnote:

(1) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- related witness -- evidence of "related witness" cannot be discarded only on ground of relationship. (2018) 16 SCC 475, (2018) 10 SCC 509 and (2003) 2 SCC 661 followed. [Para 50]

(2) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- interested witness -- is witness having direct or indirect interest in seeing accused punished due to prior enmity or other reasons -- has strong motive to falsely implicate accused. (2019) 19 SCC 567 followed. [Paras 51 & 52]

(3) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- witness -- quality of witness counts, not quantity. (1976) 4 SCC 369, Yanob (2013) 6 SCC 428, (2008) 13 SCC 271, (2005) 10 SCC 369, (2017) 11 SCC 129 and (2016) 4 SCC 357 followed. [Para 59]

(4) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 8 -- motive -- enmity is double-edged weapon - accused claiming enmity between them and complainant party -- such enmity may also provide motive to commit offence. (2014) 16 SCC 560 followed. [Para 60]

(5) Practice (Criminal) -- site plan -- part of site plan prepared by investigating officer on basis of what he has seen and observed -- would be substantive evidence -- part of site plan prepared on information given by witness -- would be admissible if witness is examined. (1996) 8 SCC 199 and (1978) 2 SCC 518 followed. [Para 64]

(6) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 8 -- subsequent conduct -- abscondence - not incriminating circumstance by itself -- innocent person may also abscond under apprehension of false implication. (1993) 2 SCC 684 and (1971) 2 SCC 75 followed. [Para 68]

(7) Evidence Act, 1872 -- Ss. 32 and 60 -- dying declaration -- injured witness survived after recording of dying declaration -- so-called dying declaration not admissible u/s. 32 -- explanation for contradiction given by such witness in her cross-examination -- statement recorded as dying declaration would not dent her evidence. [Para 75]

(8) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- witness aged about 60 years - lost her husband and one child before her -- evidence recorded almost 3 years later - some lapses of minor nature bound to occur -- examination-in-chief and cross-examination recorded in one session -- had no time to improve her version -- witness duly proved that accused shot deceased. [Para 80]

(9) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- appreciation of evidence of witness -- Court is required to consider all circumstances, including trauma witness must have undergone due to incident. [Para 83]

(10) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- contradiction -- only material contradictions make evidence unreliable. (2010) 13 SCC 657 followed. [Para 84]

(11) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 8 -- enmity -- is a relative term - minor differences cannot be termed enmity -- cannot be equated with non-inviting of each other in functions. [Para 88]

(12) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- injured witness -- enjoys special status - injury on body indicates undoubted presence on scene of occurrence. (2017) 13 SCC 585 and (2010) 10 SCC 259 followed. [Paras 91 & 92]

(13) Legal Maxim -- falsus in uno falsus in omnibus -- has no application in India -- disbelieving some part of evidence of witness would not result in discarding his entire evidence -- Court must try to remove grain from chaff -- major part of evidence in consonance with previous version as well as prosecution story and medical evidence -- cannot be discarded only on ground that witness has been disbelieved on some issue. (2003) 7 SCC 749 followed. [Paras 103 & 104]

(14) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 8 -- motive -- case based on direct evidence - absence of motive not material -- motive always remains in mind of wrongdoer - witnesses did not allege motive -- would not make their evidence unreliable. (2016) 10 SCC 663 and (2017) 11 SCC 195 followed. [Paras 107 & 108]

(15) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- incident occurred during family function -- there cannot be function without light -- investigating officer did not show gas petromax in site plan -- trustworthy evidence of prosecution witness cannot be thrown out. (2004) 13 SCC 279 followed. [Para 114]

(16) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 60 -- contradiction -- unless and until contradiction is pointed out to witness, defence cannot take advantage of such discrepancy. (2015) 9 SCC 588 followed. [Para 130 (v)]

(17) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 11 -- plea of alibi -- required to be proved by cogent evidence -- taking of false plea would be additional link to circumstances -- although it cannot be sole criterion to record conviction. (2012) 6 SCC 204, (20012) 5 SCC 201, (2014) 11 SCC 355 and (2009) 14 SCC 415 followed. [Paras 134 & 137]

(18) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 27 -- seizure -- evidence of police personnel -- cannot be discarded only because he is investigating officer or his evidence is not corroborated by independent witnesses. (2012) 5 SCC 777, (2013) 14 SCC 434 and (2020) 10 SCC 120 followed. [Para 146]

(19) Penal Code, 1860 -- S. 34 -- common intention -- all three accused fired indiscriminately -- caused death of four and injured two -- came to place of occurrence with guns -- common intention established. 2020 (1) JLJ 568 (SC) followed. [Para 148]

(20) Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 34 and 149 -- charge framed u/s. 149 -- some accused persons found not guilty -- some found participating in occurrence and sharing common intention -- can be convicted with aid of S. 34 - non-framing of charge u/s. 34 would not cause any prejudice. (2019) 5 SCC 127 and (2006) 9 SCC 307 followed. [Para 149]

(21) Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 34 and 149 -- difference between common intention and common object -- common intention requires pre-oriented minds and concerted plans -- common object has no such requirement -- common intention may also develop during course of occurrence, provided there is clear proof and cogent evidence to prove common intention. [Para 150]

(22) Penal Code, 1860 -- S. 302 r/w Ss. 34 and 149 -- all three appellants came on spot with respective guns -- fired multiple gun shots - injured persons as well as deceased persons suffered injuries -- all three appellants were sharing common intention -- some elements of common intention and common object overlap therefore, due to acquittal of remaining accused, appellants can be convicted with aid of S. 34. [Para 150

(23) Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 302, 307, 302/34 and 307/34 -- alteration of conviction -- accused acquitted by trial Court u/s. 302 -- convicted u/s. 302/34 -- conviction u/s. 302/34 and conviction u/s. 302 stand on different footing -- no prejudice caused to accused by alteration of conviction because specific charge was framed and he faced criminal trial knowing fully well that he is being tried for murder -- even in absence of appeal against acquittal u/s. 302, conviction u/s. 302/34 can be altered to conviction u/s. 302 -- similarly, conviction u/s. 307/34 can be altered to conviction u/s. 307. [Para 151]

¼1½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & ukrsnkj lk{kh & ^^ukrsnkj lk{kh^^ dk lk{; d¢oy ukrsnkjh d¢ vkèkkj ij R;Dr ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¼2018½ 16 ,l lh lh 475] ¼2018½ 10 ,l lh lh 509 rFkk ¼2003½ 2 ,l lh lh 661 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 50½

¼2½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & fgrc) lk{kh iwfoZd 'k=qrk d¢ dkj.k ;k vU; dkj.ko'k vfÒ;qDr d¨ nafMr g¨rs ns[kus esa çR;{k ;k vçR;{k #fp j[kus okyk lk{kh g¨rk gS & vfÒ;qDr d¨ feF;k vkfyIr djus dk çcy gsrqd g¨rk gSA ¼2019½ 19 ,l lh lh 567 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 51 ,oa 52½

¼3½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & lk{kh & lk{kh dh xq.koRrk egRoiw.kZ g¨rh gS] la[;k ughaA ¼1976½ 4 ,l lh lh 369] ¼2013½ 6 ,l lh lh 428] ¼2008½ 13 ,l lh lh 271] ¼2005½ 10 ,l lh lh 369] ¼2017½ 11 ,l lh lh 129 rFkk ¼2016½ 4 ,l lh lh 357 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 59½

¼4½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 8 & gsrqd & 'k=qrk nqèkkjh ryokj g¨rh gS & vfÒ;qDr }kjk vius v©j ifjoknhi{k d¢ eè; 'k=qrk dk nkok & ,slh & 'k=qrk vijkèk djus dk gsrqd Òh g¨ ldrh gSA ¼2014½ 16 ,l lh lh 560 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 60½

¼5½ çFkk ¼nkafMd½ & LFky ekufp= & vUos"k.k vfèkdkjh us t¨ ns[kk v©j le>k mld¢ vkèkkj ij mld¢ }kjk rS;kj fd;k x;k LFky ekufp= dk Òkx & lkjoku~ lk{; g¨xk & lk{kh }kjk nh xà tkudkjh ij vkèkkfjr LFky ekufp= dk Òkx & lk{kh dh ijh{kk fd, tkus ij gh xzkg~; g¨xkA ¼1996½ 8 ,l lh lh 199 rFkk ¼1978½ 2 ,l lh lh 518 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 64½

¼6½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 8 i'pkr~ dk vkpj.k & çiyk;u & vius&vki esa vijkèk esa Qalkus okyh ifjfLFkfr ugha & fun¨Z"k O;fDr Òh feF;k vkfyIr fd, tkus dh vk'kadk ls çiyk;u dj ldrk gSA ¼1993½ 2 ,l lh lh 684 rFkk ¼1971½ 2 ,l lh lh 75 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 68½

¼7½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 32 rFkk 60 & e`R;qdkfyd dFku vfÒfyf[kr fd, tkus d¢ i'pkr~ {kfrxzLr lk{kh thfor jgh & rFkkdfFkr e`R;qdkfyd dFku èkkjk 32 d¢ vèkhu xzkg~; ugha & ,slh lk{kh }kjk viuh çfrijh{kk esa foj¨èkkÒkl dk Li"Vhdj.k fn;k x;k & e`R;qdkfyd dFku d¢ :i esa vfÒfyf[kr dFku ls mldk lk{; çÒkfor ugha g¨xkA ¼iSjk 75½

¼8½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & lk{kh yxÒx 60 o"kZ o; dh & vius lkeus vius ifr v©j ,d larku d¨ [k¨ fn;k & lk{; yxÒx 3 o"kZ i'pkr~ vfÒfyf[kr & x©.k çÑfr dh dqN =qfV;ka g¨axh gh & eq[; ijh{kk v©j çfrijh{kk ,d gh l= esa vfÒfyf[kr & vius o`Rrkar esa lqèkkj djus dk volj ugha feyk & lk{kh us lE;d~:is.k lkfcr fd;k fd vfÒ;qDr us e`rd d¨ x¨yh ekjhA ¼iSjk 80½

¼9½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & lk{kh d¢ lk{; dk ewY;kadu & U;k;ky; }kjk leLr ifjfLFkfr;¨a ij fopkj fd;k tkuk visf{kr gS] ftuesa og ekufld vkÄkr lfEefyr gS t¨ ÄVuk d¢ dkj.k lk{kh d¨ igqapk gh g¨xkA ¼iSjk 83½

¼10½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & foj¨èkkÒkl & d¢oy rkfRod foj¨èkkÒkl¨a ls lk{; vfo'oluh; g¨rk gSA ¼2010½ 13 ,l lh lh 657 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 84½

¼11½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 8 & 'k=qrk ,d lkis{k in gS & x©.k erÒsn¨a d¨ 'k=qrk ugha dgk tk ldrk & ,d nwljs d¨ dk;ZØe¨a esa vkeaf=r ugha djus d¨ 'k=qrk d¢ leku ugha ekuk tk ldrkA ¼iSjk 88½

¼12½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 {kfrxzLr lk{kh & fo'ks"k gSfl;r g¨rh gS & 'kjhj ij {kfr ls ÄVukLFky ij fuLlansg mifLFkfr minf'kZr g¨rh gSA ¼2017½ 13 ,l lh lh 585 rFkk ¼2010½ 10 ,l lh lh 259 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 91 ,oa 92½

¼13½ fofèkd lw= & ,d ckr esa feF;k r¨ lc esa feF;k & Òkjr esa ykxw ugha g¨rk & lk{kh d¢ lk{; d¢ fdlh Òkx ij vfo'okl djus d¢ ifj.kkeLo:i mldk laiw.kZ lk{; R;Dr ugha fd;k tk,xk & U;k;ky; d¨ dke dh ckr fudkyus dk ç;Ru djuk g¨xk & lk{; dk vfèkdre Òkx iwoZrj o`Rrkar d¢ lkFk gh vfÒ;¨tu dgkuh v©j fpfdRlh; lk{; d¢ vuq:i & ek= bl vkèkkj ij R;Dr ugha fd;k tk ldrk fd fdlh fcanq ij lk{kh dk vfo'okl fd;k x;k gSA ¼2003½ 7 ,l lh lh 749 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 103 ,oa 104½

¼14½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 8 & gsrqd & ekeyk çR;{k lk{; ij vkèkkfjr & gsrqd dk vÒko rkfRod ugha & gsrqd lnSo n¨"kdrkZ d¢ eu esa jgrk gS & lkf{k;¨a }kjk gsrqd vfÒdfFkr ugha & mudk lk{; vfo'oluh; ugha g¨ tk,xkA ¼2016½ 10 ,l lh lh 663 rFkk ¼2017½ 11 ,l lh lh 195 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 107 ,oa 108½

¼15½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & ÄVuk ikfjokfjd dk;ZØe d¢ n©jku ÄVh & dk;ZØe çdk'k d¢ fcuk ugha g¨ ldrk & vUos"k.k vfèkdkjh us LFky ekufp= esa xSl isVª¨eSDl ugha n'kkZà vfÒ;¨tu lk{kh dk fo'oluh; lk{; vLohdkj ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¼2004½ 13 ,l lh lh 279 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 114½

¼16½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 60 & foj¨èkkÒkl & tc rd lk{kh d¨ foj¨èkkÒkl crk;k ugha tk,] çfrj{kki{k ,sls QdZ dk Qk;nk ugha mBk ldrkA ¼2015½ 9 ,l lh lh 588 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 130¼5½½

¼17½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 11 & vU;= g¨us dk vfÒokd~ & rdZiw.kZ lk{; }kjk lkfcr fd;k tkuk vko';d feF;k vfÒokd~ ifjfLFkfr;¨a dh ,d vfrfjDr dM+h g¨xk & ;|fi ;g n¨"kflf) vfÒfyf[kr djus d¢ fy, ,dek= ekunaM ugha g¨ ldrkA ¼2012½ 6 ,l lh lh 204] ¼20012½ 5 ,l lh lh 201] ¼2014½ 11 ,l lh lh 355 rFkk ¼2009½ 14 ,l lh lh 415 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 134 ,oa 137½

¼18½ lk{; vfèkfu;e] 1872 & èkkjk 27 vfÒxzg.k & iqfyldeÊ dk lk{; & ek= blfy, R;Dr ugha fd;k tk ldrk fd og vUos"k.k vfèkdkjh gS vFkok mldk lk{; Lora= lkf{k;¨a }kjk laiq"V ugha gSA ¼2012½ 5 ,l lh lh 777] ¼2013½ 14 ,l lh lh 434 rFkk ¼2020½ 10 ,l lh lh 120 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 146½

¼19½ naM lafgrk] 1860 & èkkjk 34 & lkekU; vk'k; & rhu¨a vfÒ;qDr¨a us vaèkkèkqaèk x¨fy;ka pykà & pkj dh e`R;q dkfjr dh v©j n¨ d¨ {kfrxzLr fd;k & ÄVuk LFky ij canwd¨a lfgr vk, & lkekU; vk'k; fl)A 2020 ¼1½ ts ,y ts 568 ¼mPpre U;k;ky;½ vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 148½

¼20½ naM lafgrk] 1860 & èkkjk 34 rFkk 149 & vkj¨i èkkjk 149 d¢ vèkhu fojfpr & dqN vfÒ;qDr O;fDr n¨"kh ugha ik, x, & dqN dh ÄVuk esa lgÒkfxrk v©j lkekU; vk'k; dk fu"d"kZ & èkkjk 34 dh lgk;rk ls n¨"kfl) fd;k tk ldrk gS & èkkjk 34 d¢ vèkhu vkj¨i fojfpr ugha fd, tkus ls çfrdwy çÒko dkfjr ugha g¨xkA ¼2019½ 5 ,l lh lh 127 rFkk ¼2006½ 9 ,l lh lh 307 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 149½

¼21½ naM lafgrk] 1860 & èkkjk 34 rFkk 149 & lkekU; vk'k; rFkk lkekU; mn~ns'; esa varj & lkekU; vk'k; d¢ fy, igys ls vuqdwy fopkj v©j lefUor ;¨tuk,a vko';d & lkekU; mn~ns'; dh ,slh d¨Ã vis{kk ugha & lkekU; vk'k; ÄVukØe d¢ n©jku Òh fodflr g¨ ldrk gS] c'krsZ fd lkekU; vk'k; lkfcr djus d¢ fy, Li"V lcwr v©j rdZiw.kZ lk{; g¨A ¼iSjk 150½

¼22½ naM lafgrk] 1860 & èkkjk 302 lgifBr èkkjk 34 rFkk 149 & rhu¨a vihykFkÊ viuh&viuh canwd¨a d¢ lkFk LFky ij vk, & vusd x¨fy;ka nkxh & {kfrxzLr O;fDr;¨a d¢ lkFk gh e`r O;fDr;¨a d¨ {kfr;ka igqaph & rhu¨a vihykfFkZ;¨a dk lkekU; vk'k; Fkk & lkekU; vk'k; rFkk lkekU; mn~ns'; d¢ dqN rRo vfrO;kih gSa blfy,] 'ks"k vfÒ;qDr¨a dh n¨"keqfDr d¢ dkj.k] vihykfFkZ;¨a d¨ èkkjk 34 dh lgk;rk ls n¨"kfl) fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼iSjk 150½

¼23½ naM lafgrk] 1860 & èkkjk 302] 307] 302@34 rFkk 307@34 & n¨"kflf) esa ifjorZu & fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk vfÒ;qDr èkkjk 302 d¢ vèkhu n¨"keqDr & èkkjk 302@34 d¢ vèkhu n¨"kfl) & èkkjk 302@34 d¢ vèkhu n¨"kfl) rFkk èkkjk 302 d¢ vèkhu n¨"kflf) fÒUu vkèkkj¨a ij g¨rh gSa & n¨"kflf) d¢ ifjorZu ls vfÒ;qDr çfrdwyr% çÒkfor ugha g¨rk D;¨afd fofufnZ"V vkj¨i fojfpr fd;k x;k Fkk rFkk mlus nkafMd fopkj.k dk lkekuk ;g ÒyhÒkafr tkurs gq, fd;k Fkk fd mldk fopkj.k gR;k d¢ fy, fd;k tk jgk gS & èkkjk 302 d¢ vèkhu n¨"keqfDr d¢ fo#) vihy d¢ vÒko esa Òh] èkkjk 302@34 d¢ vèkhu n¨"kflf) d¨ èkkjk 302 d¢ vèkhu n¨"k flf) esa ifjofrZr fd;k tk ldrk gS & blh çdkj] èkkjk 307@34 d¢ vèkhu n¨"kflf) d¨ èkkjk 307 d¢ vèkhu n¨"k flf) esa ifjofrZr fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼iSjk 151½