DEVINDER SINGH Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This judgement will dispose of Criminal Appeal No. 9 of 1968 and Murder Reference No. 3 of 1968. Devinder Singh, appellant in the said Crimianal Appeal, was convicted for an offence under Section 302, Indian Penal Code, by Shri Rajinder Nath Aggarwal, Sessions Judge, Sirmur, Bilaspur and Simla Districts, and was sentenced to death, by his judgment, dated 27-3-1968. It is against that judgment that the Appeal has been preferred by Devinder Singh, and the learned Sessions Judge has made the Reference to this Court regarding the confirmation of the sentence passed by him.

(2.) The appellant, Devinder Singh, aged about 22/23 years was committed to the Court of Sessions to stand his trial on a charge under Section 302, Indian Code, by the Magistrate, I Class, Bilaspur, by an Order, dated 6-7-1967. The charge framed against Devinder Singh was as follows :

(3.) (After stating the prosecution case in detail and discussing prosecution evidence, His Lordship proceeded:) As regards the evidence that his father demanded Rs. 500.00 from Beant Kaur but she expressed her inability to pay the amount, he stated that the said evidence was incorrect. He stated that he will not produce any evidence in defence. Lastly, when he was asked as to whether he wished to say anything else, he stated as follows :