RATAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been filed by Ratan s/o Mohan Lal and by Bhagwan Das, s/o Harnaam Singh, r/o Village Ram Nagar, P.S. Ram Nagar, Distt. Nainital, Ratan was charged for offences punishable under Section 302, I.P.C. and Section 307, I.P.C. read with Section 34, I.P.C. Bhagwan Das was charged for offences punishable under Section 302, I.P.C. read with Section 34, I.P.C. and under Section 307, I.P.C. Bhagwan Das died during pendency of this appeal.. Hence, the appeal to that extent abates. Ratan has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302, I.P.C. for the murder of Ram Chandra (since deceased) and he has been sentenced to undergo life imprisonment under Section 302, I.P.C. by the impugned judgment dated 19th July, 1982 by first Addl. Session Judge, Nainital. Being aggrieved Ratan has come in appeal.

(2.) THE case of the prosecution, briefly, was as follows :

(3.) HEARD Smt. Pushpa Joshi, learned counsel for the appellant -Ratan, and Shri S.P.S. Panwar, learned Govt. Advocate for the State.