DHARAM PAL Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment and order dated October 9, 1972 of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh dismissing the appeals preferred by the appellants who were convicted and sentenced by the Sessions Judge, Rohtak, as under :-

(2.) The story as put forth by the prosecution was that an altercation took place at about 7.00 A.M. on July 26, 1971 at village Kehrawar within the jurisdiction of Police Station Sampla in the District of Rohak between Dharam Pal, appellant No. 1 and Hari Ram, P.W. 6 when they were separated by P.W. 7 Singh Ram elder brother of the father of Hari Ram and P. W. 9 Zile Singh, a collateral of Hari Ram's grand-father. While leaving the spot, Dharam Pal held out a threat to Hari Ram that he would tech him a lesson. On the same day at about 3.30 P.M. when Hari Ram, P.W. 6 was getting himself shaved by Suresh Barbar at the shop of the latter, Ram Singh, the father of Dharam Pal, appellant No. 1 armed with a pistol, Dharam Pal, appellant No. 1 armed with a single barrel gun, Surta, appellant No. 2, armed with a Pharsa and Samme Singh, appellant No. 3, armed with a lathi appeared at the shop of Suresh Barbar. On seeing the appellants and their father, Hari Ram, P.W. 6 jumped out of the barber's shop and ran towards the village. He was chased by the appellants and Ram Singh, Surta, appellant No. 2 managed to come in front of Hari Ram and administered a blow with the Pharsa on the head of the latter as a result whereof the fell down. Samme Singh, appellant No. 3 then inflicted lathi blows on the thighs of Hari Ram. At this stage, Singh Ram, P.W. 7, the elder brother of the father of Hari Ram, who was sitting under a neem tree a short distance came running to rescue Hari Ram. Dharam Pal thereupon fired at Singh Ram injuring his left arm. Sardara Singh, son of Chhotu who also came there to rescue Hari Ram was also hit by another shot fired at his neck by Dharam Pal. Brandishing his pistol, Ram Singh told the P. Ws. present on the spot that if any one dared to come forward, he would not be spared. On hearing the alarm, Munshi Ram, father of Hari Ram, Darya Singh Lambardar, P.W. 8, Zile Singh P.W. 9 and Hazari son of Bakhatawar arrived at the scene of the occurrence. Sardara Singh was removed to Rohtak Medical College Hospital while Hari Ram and Singh Ram were taken to Primary Health Centre, Sampla in a bus. At the Medical College Hospital, P.W. 1 Dr. S. K. Moda, Registrar, Casualty examined Sardara Singh at about 5.00 P.M. and found him fully conscious but unable to speak properly due to leakage of air through the wound in his neck. On examining Sardara Singh, the doctor noted the following injury on his person :-

(3.) In the opinion of the doctor, the injury was caused within a probable duration of 6 hours by a bullet. The injured was after his aforesaid examination admitted in Ward No. 6 of the Hospital on the same day at 5.45 P.M. Soon after the arrival of Sardara Singh in the ward, tracheotomy was done on account of which he became unable to speak and succumbed to his injury at 9.15 P.M. on August 7, 1971 while still admitted in the Medical college Hospital, Rohtak. On August 8, 1971, the autopsy on the dead body of Sardara Singh was conducted by P.W. 2 Dr. A. S. Chaudhary who made the following observations :-