To establish the offences of rash and negligent driving under Sections 279 and 304-A of the Indian Penal Code, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the driver was driving rashly or negligently and that such driving caused the accident.

JUDGEMENT

1. The petitioner was the driver of truck No. ORG 1445. He has been convicted under Sections 279 and 304-A Indian Penal Code and has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months and one month respectively, both the sentences to run concurrently. It is alleged that on 9-4-1974 at about 8-30 a.m. the petitioner caused an accident while driving rashly and negligently endangering human life, and in the accident a cyclist was knocked down with injuries. Thereafter the truck dashed against a bullock-cart driven by P.W. 2. Due to such accident the cart-man was also thrown out and was injured. The defence is denial.

2. Both the courts below have relied on the testimony of P.Ws. 1, 2 and 7 and have convicted the petitioner on the ground that as the road was wide but still such an accident took place, it should be presumed that the petitioner was driving rashly and negligently.

3. The truck was burnt by the local people at the spot. So the Motor Vehicle Inspector P.W. 7 could not examine the truck on its mechanical side. P.Ws. 1 and 9 who are said to be eye-witnesses have clearly stated that they have not seen the actual dashing of the truck against the cyclist or against the cart. P.W. 2, the other witness states that the truck dashed against his cart from behind. P.W. 1 has further stated that he was at a distance of 100 to 200 feet from the place of occurrence. A careful scrutiny of the evidence of these witnesses will clearly show that nobody has seen the actual dashing of the truck against the cyclist or against the cart. The witnesses have only seen after the cyclist was injured and the cart got damaged. Practically, there is no eye-witness to the actual dashing of the truck against the cyclist and the cart.

4. It is contended by Mrs. Padhi, the learned counsel for the petitioner, that the conviction under Section 304-A Indian Penal Code is not sustainable, inasmuch as there is no eye-witness to the actual dashing of the truck against the cyclist or cart. Also the conviction under Sections 279 and 304-A I.P.C. is not sustainable inasmuch as there is no evidence of rash and negligent driving.

5. In Trinath Panigrahi v. State (1975) 41 Cut LT 245, it has been held that the onus is on the prosecution to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the truck was being driven in a rash or negligent manner. What is rash or negligent driving would depend upon facts and circumstances of each case. In that very volume at page 158, (Sachidananda Bhitria v. State of Orissa), (1975-41 Cut LT 158) it has been held that the requirements of the Section are that death of a person must have been caused by the accused doing any rash or negligent act. Prosecution must prove that rash or negligent act of the accused was the proximate cause of the death. There must be direct nexus between the death of a person and the rash and negligent act of the accused. The mere fact that a pedestrian had been knocked down and has died, the driver of the motor vehicle that knocked him down cannot be presumed to be guilty of rashness or negligence.

6. In Ladukishore Panigrahi v. State (1971) 37 Cut LT 1142, this Court has further held that merely from the speed of the vehicle, without other considerations of adverse surroundings, situation and circumstances existing at the time of the occurrence, about which there is nothing in the evidence on record it cannot at all be said that the act of the accused amounted to criminal rashness or criminal negligence. This decision had taken note of several decisions of the Supreme Court 3S well as of this Court and other High Courts.

Also In Penu v. State, (1980) 49 Cut LT 337 : (1980 Cri LJ NOC 132 (Ori)), it has been held that to constitute either of the offences under Section 279 or 304-A, Indian Penal Code, proof of criminal rashness or criminal negligence is essential. Accident merely due to error of judgement of the driver or without anything to show that he was conscious of the risk that evil consequences