SONI Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Special leave granted.

(2.) After hearing counsel on either side we are satisfied that the conviction of the appellant for the offence of dacoity is difficult to sustain. The conviction rests purely upon his identification by five witness, Smt. Koori pritam Singh, Kewal, Chaitoo and Sinru, but it cannot be forgotten that the identification parade itself was held after a lapse of 42 days from the dare of the arrest of the appellant. This delay in holding the identification parade throws a doubt on the genuineness thereof apart from the fact that it is difficult that after lapse of such a. long time the witnesses would be remembering the racial expressions of the appellant. If this evidence cannot be relied upon there is no other evidence which Can sustain the Conviction of the appellant. We therefore allow the appeal and acquit the appellant.