RANJIT SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted.

(2.) The only point urged in Supplort of the appeal was that the appellant was a juvenile at the time of commission of the offence and, therefore, the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (in short "the Act") had application to the facts of this case.

(3.) It is not necessary to go into the factual aspects in detail in view of the limited controversy raised. The appellant along with three co-accused persons faced trial for alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 452/302 and 323 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short IPC) for the murder of one Wazir Singh (hereinafter referred to as deceased) on 1-8-1993. Learned Additional Sessions Judge, Rohtak, Haryana, convicted accused Ranjit Singh and Jai Singh for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 302 and 452 of IPC and each accused was sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous imprisonment of one year under Section 302, IPC, and also to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 452, IPC. Accused Sher Singh was also convicted under Sections 323 and 452, IPC. He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 452, IPC and also to undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months and to pay a fine of Rs. 500/- and in default of payment of fine to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for one month under Section 323, IPC. All the sentences were directed to run concurrently. Accused Banto alias Satyawati was acquitted of all the charges by giving her the benefit of doubt.