IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2026 (@ SLP(CRL.) No.1357/2026)

BHAIYALAL ADIVASHI APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH RESPONDENT(S)

O R D E R

1. Leave granted.

2. The appellant was charged for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 323 and 294 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘the IPC’).

3. The Trial Court, after considering the evidence available on record, was pleased to convict the appellant for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 323 of the IPC and acquit him for the offence punishable under Section 294 of the IPC. He was, accordingly, sentenced to life imprisonment by the Trial Court. Aggrieved by Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by SWETA BALODI the same, the appellant filed an appeal before Date: 2026.02.27 Reason:

the High Court. The High Court, in turn, was pleased to modify the conviction from one under Section 302 to Section 304 Part-II IPC, while maintaining the conviction under Section 323 IPC. He was, accordingly, sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. Aggrieved, the appellant is before us.

4. We have issued a limited notice with respect to the quantum of sentence alon