Equivalent Citation: AIR1957SC589, [1957]1SCR854

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Decided On: 02.04.1957 Appellants: Bhagwan a! "!# Resp ndent: The State o$ Ra%a!than Hon&'le (u ge!: !.". #ap$% and &'a()ati, !!. Su'%e)t: C*i+inal A)t!,Rule!,O* e*!: Indian *enal C de, 18+0 , Secti ns -4 and -02 Citing Re$e*en)e: S$nda%lal .. /'e State 0 1ad'2a *%ades' MANU/SC/0096/1952 Disc$ssed Step'en Sene.i%atne .. /'e #in MANU/MH/0107/1936 1enti ned S$%a3pal Sin(' .. State MANU/SC/0033/1951 1enti ned A34e% Sin(' .. /'e State 0 *$n3a5 1enti ned A'e% Ra3a #'i4a .. /'e State 0 Sa$%as't%a 1enti ned Ca!e Note!: The )a!e i!)u!!e the !ituation un e* whi)h the High Cou*t )oul inte*$e*e in an a--eal again!t the a)quittal o$ the a))u!e an al!o. que!tione whethe* the Su-*e+e Cou*t ha! a *ight to inte*$e*e with the $in ing! *ega* ing the $in ing! o$ the High Cou*t / It wa! hel that the High Cou*t !houl not !et a!i e an a)quittal unle!! the*e woul 'e !u'!tantial an )o+-elling *ea!on! $o* oing !o 0 It wa! $u*the* !tate that the Su-*e+e Cou*t woul not inte*$e*e with the $in ing! o$ the High Cou*t 'e)au!e it! )on)lu!ion! *ega* ing the o$$en)e )au!e '1 the a))u!e woul 'e i$$e*ent $*o+ that o$ the High Cou*t (UD2MENT 3a-u*. (# 1. &'a()andas and 6et%a4 a%e t) 5% t'e%s )' al n( )it' 1t. Ra4es')a%i, a da$('te% 0 t'e 0 %4e%, )e%e t%ied 52 t'e Sessi ns !$d(e 0 7an(ana(a% 0 % an 00ence $nde% s. 302 0 t'e Indian *enal C de 5$t )e%e ac8$itted. On appeal t t'e 9i(' C $%t 0 Ra3ast'an, t'e %de% 0 ac8$ittal 0 &'a()andas and 6et%a4 )as %e.e%sed and t'e2 )e%e c n.icted $nde% s. 302 %ead )it' s. 34 and sentenced t t%ansp %tati n 0 % li0e. /'e %de% as t 1t. Ra4es')a%i )as a00i%4ed and s'e )as ac8$itted. /'e c n.icted pe%s ns 'a.e 5tained Special "ea.e t appeal $nde% A%t. 136 0 t'e C nstit$ti n. 2. /'e appeal is 0 $nded n t) (% $nds : :1; t'at t'e%e )as n e.idence a(ainst t'e appellants s$00icient t )a%%ant a c n.icti n and :2; t'at t'e%e )e%e n c 4pellin( %eas ns 0 % %e.e%sal 0 t'e 3$d(4ent 0 ac8$ittal. -. Acc %din( t t'e p% sec$ti n t'e canal a0te% a te4p %a%2 cl s$%e %esta%ted 0l )in( n 1a2 5, 195-. And alt' $(' it )as n t 'is t$%n 0 )ate% t'e deceased S'i.lal )as all )ed t ta<e t'e )ate% t i%%i(ate 'is 0ields. On 1a2 + t'e canal )as 0l )in( t its 0$ll capacit2 and S'i.lal )as t ta<e 'is t$%n 0 )ate% )'ic' )as 0 + ' $%s d$%ati n 0% 4 8 a.4. t 2 p.4. 5$t 'e )ate%ed 'is lands 0% 4 8 a.4. t 10,-0 a.4. 5eca$se t'e .illa(e di((i :p nd; )'ic' )as e4pt2 'ad t 5e 0illed $p. 1i%a5 Ra4 #a%an *.=. 1 )it' t'e c nsent 0 S'i.lal di.e%ted t'e )ate% 0 % t'e p$%p se 0 0illin( $p t'e di((i, p% 4isin( 'i4 :S'i.lal; t (et 'i4 t'e %est 0 'is t$%n 0 )ate%, i.e. 0 % - 1>2 ' $%s a0te% t'e di((i 'ad 5een 0illed $p. /'e di((i )as 0illed $p 52 1 p.4. n t'e 7t'. S'i.lal t'en )anted t di.e%t t'e )ate% int 'is 0ield 5$t &'a()andas p%e.ented 'i4 0% 4 d in( s clai4in( t'e t$%n t 5e 'is. Acc %din( t Ra4 #a%an 1i%a5 *.=. 1 t'e t$%n 0 &'a()andas )as a0te% S$%ta )' se t$%n )as ne?t t t'at 0 S'i.lal.

4. As S'i.lal )as p%e.ented 0% 4 ta<in( 'is t$%n 0 )ate% 'e sta%ted )al<in( t )a%ds t'e .illa(e sa2in( t'at 'e ) $ld ( and spea< t 1i%a5. &'a()andas t'e%e$p n s' $ted t'at @t'e ene42 )as ( in(@ and 'it S'i.lal n t'e 'ead )it' a <assi. 5. 6et%a4 t'en 'it S'i.lal )it' lat'i as a %es$lt 0 )'ic' 'e 0ell d )n and t'en 5 t' 5eat S'i.lal, and 1t. Ra4es')a%i als , it )as alle(ed, 3 ined in t'is 5eatin( )it' a ) den 'andle 0 a <assi. /'is cc$%%ence )as )itnessed 52 9aAa%i *.=. - )' )as (%aAin( 'is ca4els in t'e 0ield 0 S$%ta. 9e )ent $p t t'e place )'e%e t'e 5eatin( )as ( in( n and s' $ted t t'e assailants )' @)ent a)a2@ lea.in( t'ei% <assi 5e'ind. 9aAa%i 0 $nd S'i.lal se%i $sl2 in3$%ed and $nc nsci $s. 9e sp%in<led s 4e )ate% n 'is 0ace )'ic' %e.i.ed S'i.lal and t'e latte% as<ed 9aAa%i t ta<e 'i4 t t'e /'ana 5$t 9aAa%i 'elped 'i4 t )al< $p t t'e #'ala :t'%es'in( 0l %; 0 9$<4a )'ic' )as at a s' %t distance 0% 4 t'at place. 9aAa%i *.=. - 'as stated t'at 'e le0t S'i.lal )it' ! %a, !a(4al, &' (a%, &e(a%a4 and &in3a, and n t'ei% as<in( 'i4 'e :9aAa%i; t ld t'e4 )'at 'e 'ad seen. S'i.lal )as t'en ta<en t Raisin('na(a% 52 &'a(($ and !a(4al n a s'e,ca4el t t'e s' p 0 72ani Ra4 *.=. 4. /'e%e S'i.lal t ld 72ani Ra4 als t'at &'a()andas, 6et%a4 and Ra4es')a%i 'ad assa$lted 'i4 5eca$se 0 t'e )ate% disp$te and als as<ed 72ani Ra4 t send 0 % 'is s n Ra4 *%atap and 'is A%t2a :C 44issi n A(ent; Is'a%das. Ra4 *%atap ca4e at a5 $t + p.4. S'i.lal %epeated t'e st %2 t 'i4 and )as t'en ta<en t t'e ' spital 52 !a(4al, &'a(($ and t'e%s. At t'e ' spital 'e )as t%eated 52 t'e d ct % *.=. 11 5$t died t'e 0 ll )in( da2 :8t'; at 8,15 a.4. +. /'e Bi%st In0 %4ati n Rep %t )as 5ased n a )%itten %ep %t C?. *,1 52 Ra4 *%atap s> S'i.lal. It )as %ec %ded n 1a2 7 at a5 $t 7,-0 p.4. /'e p% sec$ti n s$pp %ted t'ei% case 52 t'e e.idence 0 t) e2e )itnesses, d2in( decla%ati ns 4ade t - pe%s ns and n t'e %ec .e%2 0 t'e <assi. /'e2 p% d$ced t) e2e )itnesses &e(a%a4 *.=. 2 and 9aAa%i *.=. -. /'e d2in( decla%ati ns )e%e 4ade t t'%ee pe%s ns 0i%st t ! %a *.=. 7, late% t 72ani%a4 *.=. 4 at 'is s' p and lastl2 t Ra4 *%atap *.=. 5 )' a%%i.ed at t'e s' p at + p.4. I0 t'e d2in( decla%ati n )as 4ade t t'is )itness it 4$st 'a.e 5een at t'at ti4e. 7. Acc %din( t t'e d ct %Ds e.idence S'i.lal )as $nc nsci $s )'en 'e )as 5% $('t t t'e ' spital at 5 p.4. 9e 'ad 15 in3$%ies n 'is 5 d2, $t 0 )'ic' in3$%2 6 . 1 )as )it' a s'a%p,ed(ed )eap n and in3$%2 6 . 2 )it' a 5l$nt )eap n and 5 t' t'ese in3$%ies )e%e (%ie. $s and )e%e @indi.id$all2 and c llecti.el2 0atal s$00icient t ca$se deat'.@ 8. /'e lea%ned Sessi ns !$d(e dis5elie.ed t'e )' le e.idence and ac8$itted t'e acc$sed. 9e )as 0 t'e pini n t'at t'e e.idence p% d$ced 52 t'e p% sec$ti n )as n t @0%ee 0% 4 s$spici n and n t s$00icient t c n.ict t'e4@. &e(a%a4 *.=. 2 )as dis5elie.ed 5 t' 52 t'e Sessi ns !$d(e and t'e 9i(' C $%t. /'e lea%ned Sessi ns !$d(e desc%i5ed 9aAa%i as a @0acile 0l$ent lia%@ 5$t 'is testi4 n2 )as accepted 52 t'e 9i(' C $%t. & t' c $%ts %e3ected t'e state4ent 0 Ra4 *%atap 5$t t'e state4ents 0 72ani%a4 and ! %a )e%e accepted 52 t'e 9i(' C $%t alt' $(' t'e2 )e%e %e3ected 52 t'e Sessi ns !$d(e. 9. /'e 9i(' C $%t 'as %elied $p n t'e testi4 n2 0 ne e2e )itness 9aAa%i *.=. - and t) )itnesses 5e0 %e )' 4 S'i.lal is alle(ed t 'a.e 4ade t) d2in( decla%ati ns. /'e%e a%e appa%ent c nt%adicti ns 5et)een t'e testi4 n2 0 9aAa%i and &e(a. /'e lea%ned 9i(' C $%t !$d(es disp sed 0 t'is 52 sa2in( t'at &e(aDs p%esence. @ n t'e sp t is pen t (%a.e d $5ts. As s$c' it is, in $% pini n, n t p% pe% t c nt%adict t'e state4ent 0 a 4an )' )as p%esent n t'e sp t 52 $sin( t'e state4ent 0 an t'e% 4an )' )as in all p% 5a5ilit2 n t t'e%e.@ 10. /'e lea%ned !$d(es 'a.e 4ade t'e 0 ll )in( si(ni0icant 5se%.ati n in %e(a%d t 9aAa%i : @It see4s t $s t'at 9aAa%i 'ad said t'is 5eca$se t'e p% sec$ti n )as p% d$cin( &e(a, and 'e 4$st 'a.e 5een as<ed t sa2 t'at &e(a )as als p%esent. S 0a% as t'e st %2 0 9aAa%i a5 $t t'e incident itsel0 is c nce%ned, n t'in( 'as 5een 5% $('t $t in 'is c% ss,e?a4inati n t t'% ) d $5ts n t'is pa%t 0 'is state4ent.@ 11. /'e2 als p inted $t, 5$t attac'ed n i4p %tance, t t'e% c nt%adicti ns in t'e state4ents 0 9aAa%i 4ade 5e0 %e t'e t%ial c $%t and 5e0 %e t'e * lice. I0 as 5se%.ed 52 t'e lea%ned !$d(es 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t, 9aAa%i 'ad 4enti ned t'e p%esence 0 &e(a 4e%el2 5eca$se t'e lette% )as t 5e p% d$ced as a p% sec$ti n )itness and 5eca$se 'e :9aAa%i; 'ad 5een as<ed t 4enti n it, t'en it ) $ld det%act s 4ate%iall2 0% 4 'is %elia5ilit2 t'at it ) $ld 5e dan(e% $s t accept 'is testi4 n2 as 5ein( 0 an2 (%eat .al$e )'ic' is still 4 %e di4inis'ed 52 t'e 0indin( as t t'e inn cence 0 1t. Ra4es')a%i. 12. /'e t'e% piece 0 e.idence )'ic' t'e p% sec$ti n %elied $p n )as t'e t) d2in( decla%ati ns 4ade 52 S'i.lal t 72ani%a4 *.=. 4 and ! %a *.=. 7. &esides t'e in0i%4ities )'ic' t'e testi4 n2 0 t'ese t) )itnesses :72ani%a4 *.=. 4 and ! %a *.=. 1; s$00e%ed 0% 4 d$e t 4ate%ial c nt%adicti ns in t'ei% %especti.e state4ents 4ade at .a%i $s sta(es 0 t'e case and )'ic' 'a.e 5een p inted $t 52 t'e lea%ned Sessi ns !$d(e )' said a5 $t 72ani%a4 :

@In s$c' a state 0 a00ai%s I %e0$se t p$t an2 )ei('t and .al$e t t'e state4ent 0 72ani%a4...............@ t'ei% e.idence cann t 5e a s$%e 0 $ndati n 0 % 4aintainin( t'e c n.icti n i0 t'e state4ent 0 9aAa%i t'e s le e2e )itness is dis%e(a%ded, as it 4$st 5e dis%e(a%ded in t'is caseE 5eca$se %dina%il2 a d2in( decla%ati n 0 t'e <ind )'ic' t'e p% sec$ti n 'as %elied $p n is 52 itsel0 ins$00icient 0 % s$stainin( a c n.icti n n a c'a%(e 0 4$%de%. 1-. /'e lea%ned Sessi ns !$d(e )as 0 t'e pini n t'at t'e e.idence 0 t'e d ct % *.=. 11 4ade t'e st %2 t'at S'i.lal c $ld )al< 0 % a little distance $p n t'e #'ala 0 9$<4a % )as a5le t tal< s as t 4a<e a d2in( decla%ati n, i4p% 5a5le. &$t t'e lea%ned !$d(es 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t disp sed 0 t'is 4atte% 52 sa2in( t'at t'e d ct % )as c 4pa%ati.el2 2 $n( and t'at 'is state4ent )as n t in acc %d )it' t'e pini n e?p%essed in 5 <s n 1edical !$%isp%$dence 52 a$t' %s li<e 1 di and "2 n. &$t it cann t 5e said t'at t'e pini ns 0 t'ese a$t' %s )e%e (i.en in %e(a%d t ci%c$4stances e?actl2 si4ila% t t' se )'ic' a% se in t'e case n ) 5e0 %e $s n % is t'is a satis0act %2 )a2 0 disp sin( 0 t'e e.idence 0 an e?pe%t $nless t'e passa(es )'ic' a%e s $('t t disc%edit 'is pini n a%e p$t t 'i4. /'is C $%t in S$nda%lal .. The State of Madhya Pradesh MANU/SC/0096/1952 : AIR1954SC28 disapp% .ed 0 !$d(es d%a)in( c ncl$si ns ad.e%se t t'e acc$sed 52 %el2in( $p n s$c' passa(es in t'e a5sence 0 t'ei% 5ein( p$t t 4edical )itnesses. /'e lea%ned !$d(es 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t )e%e, t'e%e0 %e, in e%% % in acceptin( t'e testi4 n2 0 t'ese )itnesses in s$pp %t 0 t'e c %%ectness 0 t'e t) d2in( decla%ati ns n % c $ld t'e state4ent 0 t'e deceased alle(ed t 'a.e 5een 4ade in t'e ci%c$4stances 0 t'is case 5e c nside%ed s$00icient t s$pp %t t'e c n.icti n 0 t'e acc$sed. /'e %ec .e%2 0 t'e <assi is a )' ll2 ne$t%al ci%c$4stance 5eca$se it 'as n t 5een p% .ed t'at it 5el n(ed t &'a()andas. 14. Alt' $(' t'is C $%t )ill n t inte%0e%e )it' t'e 0indin(s 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t 5eca$se its c ncl$si ns n t'e e.idence as t t'e ($ilt % inn cence 0 t'e acc$sed di00e% 0% 4 t'at 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t, 2et )'e%e t'e e.idence is s$c' t'at n /%i5$nal c $ld le(iti4atel2 in0e% 0% 4 it t'at t'e acc$sed is ($ilt2 t'is c $%t ) $ld set aside t'e c n.icti n. /'e !$dicial C 44ittee 0 t'e *%i.2 C $ncil in Step'en Sene.i%atne .. /'e #in( A.I.R. 19-+ *.C. 289 in settin( aside an %de% 0 c n.icti n said : @........t'e%e a%e 'e%e n (% $nds n t'e e.idence, ta<en as a )' le, $p n )'ic' an2 /%i5$nal c $ld p% pe%l2, as a 4atte% 0 le(iti4ate in0e%ence, a%%i.e at a c ncl$si n t'at t'e appellant )as ($ilt2........@ 15. In $% .ie) t'e e.idence in t'e p%esent case is 0 s$c' 8$alit2 and n le(iti4ate in0e%ence 0 ($ilt 0 t'e acc$sed c $ld p% pe%l2 5e d%a)n. 1+. /'e sec nd p int n )'ic' t'e 3$d(4ent 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t is assailed is t'e lac< 0 c 4pellin( %eas ns 0 % settin( aside t'e 3$d(4ent 0 ac8$ittal. 17. /'is c $%t 'as 'eld t'at t'e 9i(' C $%t s' $ld n t set aside an ac8$ittal $nless t'e%e a%e @s$5stantial and c 4pellin(@ %eas ns 0 % d in( s . S$%a3pal Sin(' .. State MANU/SC/0033/1951 : 1952C%i"!--1 , A34e% Sin(' .. The State of Pu !a" MANU/SC/0042/1952 : 195-C%i"!521 , A'e% Ra3a #'i4a .. The State of Saurashtra MANU/SC/0040/1955 : 195+C%i"!42+ . /'e 3$d(4ent 0 t'e 9i(' C $%t d es n t discl se an2 s$c' %eas ns 3$sti02in( inte%0e%ence )it' t'e 0indin(s 0 t'e t%ial C $%t. 18. =e ) $ld, t'e%e0 %e, all ) t'is appeal, set aside t'e 3$d(4ent 0 t'e Ra3ast'an 9i(' C $%t, %est %e t'at 0 t'e Sessi ns !$d(e and t'e% t'e ac8$ittal 0 t'e acc$sed. 19. Appeal all )ed.