Judgment

Reserved on 01/10/2024 Pronounced on 29/11/2024 Per Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati, J:

1. This Criminal Appeal has been preferred by the appellant- State laying a challenge to the judgment dated 27.11.1997 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge No.2, Bikaner in Sessions Case No.16/96 (State Vs. Premaram & Ors.), whereby the learned Trial Court acquitted the accused-respondents of the charges against them under Sections 148, 302 & 302/149 IPC, while giving them the benefit of doubt.

2. The matter pertains to an incident which had occurred in the year 1996 and the present appeal has been pending since the year 1998.

3. Brief facts of the case, as placed before this Court by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-State, are that on 28.02.1996, Bhanwar Singh (PW-2) submitted an oral report before the Reserve ( Aarakshi) Centre, Mahajan, District Bikaner, which, to the extent necessary for the present adjudication, was to the effect that on the said date, when Bhanwar Singh and one Ugam Singh reached near the field of one Poonam Singh at Beed Sangreyo, Roop Singh (son of the complainant), came out from the said field, and informed that the accused-respondent