RAVINDER KUMAR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) Road rage results in disastrous consequences to both the perpetrator and the target; as the present case demonstrates, which resulted in the murder of one of the assailants and the arraignment of three who were targeted, as accused for the murder. The appellant is the sole accused, out of the three, convicted for the offence under Sec. 302 of the India Penal Code, 1860 ["I.P.C."] and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs.2000.00 (Rupees Two Thousand only) with default clause of rigorous imprisonment for two months, if fine is not paid. The other two accused were acquitted.

(3.) Of the two acquitted; one was acquitted by the Trial Court and one by the Appellate Court. The State had challenged the acquittal by the Trial Court by way of an appeal which also stood rejected by the impugned judgment. As of now, we are only concerned with the appellant-herein who was convicted and sentenced for the offence of murder under Sec. 302 of the I.P.C. At the admission stage, this Court had issued a notice limited to the nature of the offence; whether it falls under Sec. 302 or Sec. 304 of the I.P.C. We are, hence, confining ourselves to this aspect and the sentencing, if a lesser offence is made out.