2022 Supreme(Online)(HP) 2228
HIMACHAL PRADESH HIGH COURT
Anoop Chitkara, J.
State of Himachal Pradesh v. Salpur
Trial Court Case No.93/2 of 2009
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Ram Lal Thakur
For the Respondents: Mr. V.S. Chauhan, Mr. Rajul Chauhan
Prosecution must establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; contradictions in witness accounts weaken the case.
Headnote:The present case arises from FIR No. 84/08, registered under Sections 341, 323, and 325 IPC, concerning injuries sustained by a child during an incident involving the accused. The trial court acquitted the accused based on evidence that lacked conclusive proof of guilt. The court framed issues around the validity of eyewitness testimony and contradictions in statements regarding the incident, leading to a determination that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed, and the appeal is dismissed.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. facts summarizing the initiation of prosecution and trial proceedings. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. arguments presented by both sides regarding the incidents leading to injuries. (Para 6 , 7) |
| 3. court's evaluation of eyewitness testimony and identification of contradictions. (Para 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13) |
| 4. final decision affirming trial court's ruling and dismissing the appeal. (Para 14 , 15) |
1. FIR Number 84/08, dated 26.11.2008, Police Station Chirgaon, District Shimla, H P., under S.341, S.323, S.325 of IPC.
Trial Court Case No.93/2 of 2009, decided on 23.03.2010, by learned Judicial CASE NO. Magistrate First Class, Court No.2, Rohru, District Shimla.
CHARGES and TRIAL COURT'S VERDICT
Accused Salpur S.341, S.323, accused acquitted 325, IPC
The case of the prosecution, based upon the investigation conducted and as testified by PW - 10, investigator HC Kewal Ram is as follows.
" On 26 December, 2008, Smt. Twar Mani (PW - 1), visited police station and lodged a complaint. She alleged that her son Mukesh Kumar (PW - 2) was stopped by Salpur accused and he threw a stick on him and made him fall on a stone due to which his six front teeth broken. Based on such information FIR Ex.PW - 1 / A captioned above was registered."
2. The investigator conducted the investigation and prepared a spot map Ex.PW - 10 / A. He also took photographs of the spot on official camera, which were tendered in evidence Exs.PA - 1 to PA - 3. The investigator also seized the shirt worn by Mukesh PW - 2. The investigator noticed that blood had oozed out from his mouth, which was cleaned by a white coloured cloth. Such cloth was also taken into possession and later on tendered in evidence as Ex.PX. The investigator also procured Medico - Legal Certificate Ex.PW - 8 / A, X - ray Ex.PW - 8 / B and opinion of the dentist Ex.PW - 9 / A. After completion of the investigation, Shri Ram Fal Yadav, approved the challan and launched prosecution against the accused Salpur.
3. Vide order dated 30 July, 2009, learned Judicial Magistrate 2 Class, Court No.2, Rohru, District Shimla framed charge against the accused for commission of offences under S.341, S.323, S.325, IPC. The accused did not plead guilty and claimed trial.
4. During the trial, the prosecution examined accused Mukesh Kumar, as PW - 2, who at that time was a child aged 11 years, his mother Smt. Twar Mani as PW - 1, doctors, who had examined him, other witnesses of the spot and the investigator. After completion of the evidence, the incriminating circumstances appearing against the accused were put to him under S.313, Cr.P.C. The accused denied all the allegations as incorrect and explained that the witnesses were interested. He further made a statement that the child had fallen on his own when he tried to run away from the spot.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and gone through the record.
6. Mr. Ram Lal Thakur, learned Assistant Advocate General has based his arguments on paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of the grounds of appeal. He further argued that PW - 1, Twar Mani was witness of the incident and learned Court below has not appreciated the evidence in a proper way.
7. Mr. VS. Chauhan, learned senior ddvocate assisted by Mr. Rajul Chauhan, advocate appearing for the respondent argued that the child had sustained injuries due to a fall, as a result of which his first set of teeth got broken. Learned counsel stated that the injured did not fall because of any role of the accused.
8. ANALYSIS AND REASONINGS.
The injured appeared in the Court as PW - 2. Learned Court tried to ascertain his mental caliber and took his statement on oath. The injured Mukesh PW - 2 along with his younger brother Ashish and sister Hem Lata were playing with Suresh Kumar, who is son of the accused. Suresh Kumar slapped Ashish and also hit him with stone. Ashish complained about this to Mukesh and then Mukesh slapped Suresh. After that Suresh went to his father and he came at the spot carrying a stick with him and gave him bea