CHARAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PW 1 Jawahar Singh injured was going towards the house of Devi Sahai in village Deegh, Police Station Sadar Ballabgarh, District Faridabad for joining the feast arranged by him (Devi Sahai) to celebrate the birth of a grandson to himself. On the way Jawahar Singh wanted to cut short the distance by passing in front of the house of Charan Singh accused. On seeing him doing so Charan Singh told Jawahar Singh to go via the passage and not trespass through the vacant land in front of his house. Jawahar Singh insisted on doing so whereupon Charan Singh raised a Lalkara that the enemy had come, was within their reach and should therefore, be done away with. On hearing it his two sons named Jeet Ram and Ranjit came there. Jeet Ram was armed with a Pharsa and Ranjit carried a Lathi. Jeet Ram gave Jawahar Singh a Pharsa blow on his head and Ranjit gave him a lathi blow at his hand resulting in following injuries on his person :-

(2.) THEREAFTER remaining three accused named Gir Raj, Budhi and Babu also arrived there and inflicted simple injuries on the two prosecution witnesses in Sumer and Kastoori with the weapons of offence carried by them. They were held liable for the commission of the offence under Section 323 of Indian Penal Code for the infliction of those injuries on the two witnesses aforesaid. Strangely enough the remaining four accused besides jeet Ram and Ranjit were, also made vicariously liable under Sections 326/34 and 325/34 of Indian Penal Code for the injuries inflicted by jeet Ram and Ranjit on the person of Jawahar Singh PW 1. The relevant observations read, "In view of the above discussion, it is field that the prosecution has been able to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The blows given by Jeetu and Ranjit were found to have caused grievous injuries on the person of Jawahar Singh. Accused shall, thus stand convicted under Section 326 Indian Penal Code for having caused the grievous injuries with a Pharsa on the head of Jawahar Singh. In so far as accused injuries Ranjeet is concerned, the statement of Jawahar PW 1 is that he gave him a lathi blow on his left hand. Accused Ranjeet shall, thus stand convicted under Section 325 Indian Penal Code. In so far as the other accused namely Charan Singh, Budhi, Giraj and Babu are concerned, they are vicariously liable for the above offences and all of them stand convicted under Sections 326/34 and 325/34 Indian Penal Code. As far as the accused (other than Jeetu (are concerned, they caused simple injuries to injured PWs. Accused Girraj caused injuries to Jawahar with a ballam using it as a lathi. All the said accused are thus, liable under Section 323 Indian Penal Code. For those injuries, accused Jeetu shall be vicariously liable under Section 323/34 I.P.C."

(3.) LEARNED trial Court, therefore, erred in presuming that all three of them together or any one of then; three singly shared any common intention with Jeet Ram and Ranjit to inflict Injuries upon Jawahar Singh PW 1. None of them three could, therefore, be held liable for offences under Sections 326/34 or 325/34 of Indian Penal Code upon this Court. Their conviction as also the sentence of substantive imprisonment awarded to every one of them three on this score are both set aside. Charan Singh is attributed Lalkara only. He is also held liable for it only under Section 323/34 of the Indian Penal Code. Conviction of Charan Singh under Sections 326/34 and 325/34 Indian Penal Code and the sentence awarded to him on this score are also both set aside as aforesaid. Conviction of Jeet Ram under Section 326 Indian Penal Code is, however, maintained but the sentence awarded to him for it is reduced to ten months period already undergone because the injured stayed in the hospital for six days only. Like Ranjeet who was released on probation by the learned trial Court, remaining four accused in Charan Singh, Babu, Girraj and Budhi are also ordered to be released on their individually furnishing before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Faridabad within three months from today a bond with one surety in the sum of Rs. 3,000/- each for a period of one year from the date of filing it, to appear and receive the sentence as and when called upon to do so during that period and in the meantime to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. Learned counsel for the accused-appellant undertakes to deposit the fine imposed upon them by the learned trial court within three months from today. The amount of fine when realised would be distributed between Jawahar Singh, Sumer and Kastoori the three injured in such a way that Jawahar Singh gets half of it and the remaining half is shared by Sumer and Kastoori in equa shares.