SATPAL SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal against the judgment of Additional Sessions Judge (Adhoc) Fast Track Court, Faridkot convicting Satpal Singh under Section 302 IPC and sentencing him to undergo life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.2000/-, in default to undergo further R.I. for four months.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is unfolded by the statement Ex.PC of Sukhchain Singh to S.I. Rajan Parminder Singh. Sukhchain Singh stated that he has two brothers. Eldest being Baldev Singh and younger to him is Dev Singh. All the three brothers are married. Satpal Singh son of Mahla Singh lives in his neighbourhood. About two years ago, Pal Singh brother of Satpal Singh died. About 6/7 months ago, Dev Singh developed illicit relations with Pal Singh's wife Charanjit Kaur. This was not liked by Satpal Singh. At that time the respectables of the village intervened and effected a compromise between Dev Singh and Satpal Singh. At about 9 P.M. on 23.8.1999 Mukand Singh son of Isher Singh came to the house of Sukhchain Singh and asked Dev Singh to accompany him, as he had to irrigate the land. Nasib Kaur wife of Dev Singh, who had given birth to a child 2/3 days earlier, tried to stop Dev Singh to go out of the house. Mukand Singh put pressure on Dev Singh and took him along. After taking their meals, Sukhchain Singh went to the roof of his house to sleep.

(3.) At about 11 P.M. he heard the shout 'killed killed'. Nasib Kaur and Sukhchain Singh rushed to the house of Charanjit Kaur. Electric bulb was illuminating the court-yard of the house of Charanjit Kaur. Satpal Singh armed with a gandasa shouted that he would teach Dev Singh a lesson for his coming daily to his brother's wife in their house. Within their sight, he gave two gandasa blows on the head of Dev Singh from the sharp side. Dev Singh fell down. Thereafter Satpal Singh fled away. On the basis of this statement, FIR Ex.PC/2 was recorded on 24.8.1999 at 8.10 A.M. at Police Station Lambi. Special report reached the Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Malout on the same day at 10 A.M.