SOMAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The short question that arises for consideration in these appeals is whether or not the social consequences of a culpable act and its impact on other people can be a relevant consideration for giving a heavier punishment, of course, within the limits fixed by the law. The facts and circumstances in which the question arises may be briefly stated thus. In October 2000, 31 people died, and more than 500 developed serious sicknesses, of which six lost their vision completely as a result of consuming spurious liquor, contaminated with methyl alcohol at different places in Kollam district, Kerala. Cases were initially registered at different police stations, but, later on, all the cases were consolidated into a single case and on the basis of investigations made by the police, 48 accused in all were put on trial. The accused were broadly classified into three groups: one, the maker and manufacturers of the spurious liquor; two, the distributors and suppliers of the killer brew; and third the retail vendors who sold the stuff to the consumers. The appellant who was accused No.41 before the trial court fell in the third category. The prosecution case, insofar as the appellant is concerned, was that he was engaged in the sale of liquor and he received his supplies from accused Nos. 25 & 26.

(2.) Before the trial court the prosecution was able to successfully establish that on October 21, 2000, two days prior to the tragic occurrence, fresh supply was brought to the appellant on a motor cycle. The arrack received by him on that date was sold to various persons and on consuming it, they became very ill and one of them, namely, Yohannan died. The post-mortem report of Yohannan showed that he died of methanol poisoning. At the time of post-mortem his blood and urine samples were taken for chemical analysis and the report (Ext.P1059) showed presence of methyl alcohol in the samples. Further, on the basis of a disclosure statement made by the appellant [Ext.P413(a)] a plastic can (M.O.98) containing the residue of the spirit sold by him was recovered and seized from his shop. On chemical analysis, the contents of the can were found adulterated with methyl alcohol. On the basis of the evidences led before it, the trial court found and held, and quite rightly, that the spirit sold by the appellant that caused the death of Yohannan and sickness to several other persons was spurious, being contaminated with highly injurious and poisonous substances and held him guilty of Sections 55(a) & (i), 57A and 58 of the (Kerala) Abkari Act (hereinafter 'the Act'). The trial court sentenced the appellant to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years on each count and a fine of Rs.One Lakh on each count except under Section 57A and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one year on each count. The trial court also found the appellant guilty under Section 201 of the Penal Code and on that count sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for six months and a fine of Rs.5,000/- with the default sentence of simple imprisonment for one month. The trial court directed that the sentences of imprisonment shall run concurrently.

(3.) Against the judgment and order passed by the trial court, appeals were preferred both by the accused, including the present appellant and the State. The State in its appeal questioned the acquittal of some of the accused and also demanded enhancement of sentence in respect of those who were convicted and sentenced by the trial court. The High Court by its judgment and order dated October 8, 2004 dismissed the appeals of the accused, including the one by the appellant. However, dealing with the question of sentence on the basis of the State's appeal deemed it fit to enhance the appellant's sentence of imprisonment from two years to five years. In this connection, the High Court made the following observations:-