SHEORAM SINGH Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Arjun Singh (47), his son Sheoram Singh alias Bhure Singh (27), Jagatpal Singh (29), Ganga Deen (29), Ram Nath (39), Sheo Prasad (30) and Jumman (30) were tried in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Unnao for offences under Section 302, Section 302 read with Section 149, Section 307, Section 307 read with S. 149, Section 148 and Section 147 Indian Penal Code and were acquitted. On appeal by the State of Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court convicted Arjun Singh under Section 302, Section 307 read with Section 149, and Section 138 Indian Penal Code, and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life on the first count, rigorous imprisonment for a period of five years on the second count and rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years on the third count. Sheoram Singh was convicted under Section 302 read with Section 149, Section 307 and Section 148 Indian Penal Code, and was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life on the first count, rigorous imprisonment for a period of five years on the second count and rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years on the third count. The remaining accused were convicted under Section 307 read with Section 149, and Section 147 Indian Penal Code, and each of them was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of five years on the first count and rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year on the second count. The sentences in the case of each of the accused were ordered to run concurrently. Arjun Singh, Sheoram Singh and Jumman thereafter applied to this Court under Art. 136 of the Constitution for special leave to appeal against the judgment of the High Court. This Court declined to grant leave to Arjun Singh and dismissed the application in so far as it related to him. Sheoram Singh and Jumman were granted leave "limited to the section under which they can be convicted including the applicability of Sections 34and 149 Indian Penal Code".

(2.) The prosecution case is that Arjun Singh, Jumman, Ganga Deen and Sheo Prasad accused were inimical towards Ram Dularey Singh as he was taking interest in a magisterial enquiry relating to the death in police custody of one Jameel who had been severely beaten by the aforesaid accused in Sirosi before his arrest by the police. On November 4, 1964 at about 4.30 p.m. it is stated, Ram Dularey Singh (PW 4) was sitting in front of his house in village Chilaula. Rampal Singh (PW 1)and his cousin Chandrapal Singh were sitting in the courtyard in front of their house beneath a tree. The houses of Rampal Singh and Ram Dularey Singh are close to each other. The seven accused then came there. Out of them, Arjun Singh and Sheoram Singh were armed with guns, while the remaining accused carried lathis, Arjun Singh the shouted to his companions to kill Ram Dularey Singh. Ram Dyularey Singh raised alarm and rushed towards then house of Rampal Singh and closed the door from inside. Rampal Singh and Chandrapal Singh tried to pacify the accused and asked them not to quarrel on that day as it was a day of Paraiva which follows Deepawali. The accused then stood at a short distance from the house of Ram Dularey Singh. Har Narain Singh deceased, who was brother of Chandrapal Singh was inside the house at that time. Har Narain Singh along with Ram Dularey Singh then went to the eastern roof of the house. Har Narain Singh too asked the accused to abstain from abusing Ram Dularely Singh. Arjun Singh then asked. Har Narain Singh to turn out Ram Dularely Singh from his house. When Har Narain Singh declined, Arjun Singh shouted that it would be bad for him also. On the instigation of the other accused. Arjun Singh then fired his gun at Har Narain Singh. Sheoram Singh immediately thereafter fired at Ram Dularey Singh. Both Har Narain Singh and Ram Dularey Singh fell down on the roof on receipt of gun shot injuries. The accused then ran away. The occurrence, it is stated, was witnessed by Rampal Singh (PW 1), Raghunandan Pandey (PW 2), Gajodhar Singh (PW 6) and Suraj Bali (PW 8). Rampal Singh after getting the door of his house opened went to the roof. Har Narain Singh was found to be lying dead there, while Ram Dularey Singh was groaning with pain. Rampal Singh then went to police station Kotwali at a distance of six miles from the place of occurrence and lodged report at 8.40 p.m. Sub Inspector Sri Ram Sau Chauhan then came to the place of occurrence and took over the investigation of the case. The Sub-Inspector prepared the inquest report relating to the dead body of Har Narain Singh and took into possession various articles. Ram Dularey Singh was got examined from Dr. S. N. Tandon at 12.15 a.m. on November 5, 1964. He was found to have gun shot wounds on the front of the chest, abdomen, right elbow, right forearm and the right palm. Post mortem examination on the dead body of Har Narain Singh was performed by Dr. D. N. De at 3.30 p.m. on November 5, 1964. Gun shot wounds were found in the chest cavity, left shoulder, lower left arm and right arm on the body of Har Narain Singh. A number of ribs were found to have been fractured under the gun shot wounds in the chest cavity. Death of Har Narain Singh, in the opinion of the doctor, was due to shock and hemorrhage.

(3.) At the trial the accused denied the prosecution allegations. The plea of Arjun Singh and Sheoram Singh was that on November 4, 1964 Arjun Singh went at 2.00 or 2.45 p.m. to railway station Magarwara to see of his son Sheoram Singh accused. who had to go to Ferozepur on Duty, Sheoram Singh is employed in the army. Sheoram Singh's train left the railway station at 4.10 p.m. and Arjun Sing returned to his house at about sunset. According further to Arjun Singh, he was asked by the police to come to the police station along with his guns and cartridges. He was thereafter put under arrest. The plea of the remaining accused was denial simpliciter.