SURJAN Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by special leave against the judgment of the High Court of Rajasthan, whereby a number of accused who were acquitted by the Sessions Judge at the trial were convicted and sentenced on appeal by the High Court.

(2.) The case arose out of an incident in the village of Dadoosan at or about 10. A. M. on 15-3-1949, between two rival groups. The village was a Jagir village belonging to a Jagirdar by name Thakore Bakhat Singh. The cultivating class in the village were mostly Bisnois and appear to have been split into two groups in connection with certain demands of the Jagirdar against the tenants, viz., the payment of hasal of Guar.

(3.) 15-3-1949 was the day next to the Holi called the Dhulehandi day. On this day it was usual for the Bisnois to observe a ceremony called Pal at which all the Bisnois collect and take charanamrut from a Sad (who performs in Puja). In view of the existence of groups in the Bisnois of the village, the two groups had their Pal ceremony on that day separately.