CHAMKOR SINGH Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS revision petition has been filed against the judgement dated 6. 1. 1993 passed by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge No. 2, Hanumangarh in Cr. Appeal No. 10/91, whereby he confirmed the conviction and sentence recorded by the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hanumangarh by his judgement dated 21. 7. 1990 for the offences under section 279 & 304-A I. P. C. sentencing the petitioner to two months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 200/- in default to further undergo simple imprisonment for 15 days under the first count and to one year's simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1000/-; in default to further undergo one month's simple imprisonment for the second count. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, however, acquitted the petitioner for the offence under Section 337 I. P. C.

(2.) SUCCINCTLY stated the prosecution case is that on 24. 4 1993 at about 8. 30 p. m. near Kishanpura Addha, tractor No. HRM 1999, which was being driven by Kalu Ram, came to a halt because the bearing of its trolley had broken down. Therefore, that trolley was left near the road and driver Kalu Ram took the said tractor to Hanumangarh for getting the spare parts. At that time Bachan Singh, owner of the tractor, Nirmal Singh and a six year old girl Jaswinder were left at the place, where that trolley was standing. It is alleged that when Bachan Singh was taking out a pin from the tool kit of the trolley, a blue coloured Ford tractor having its trolley attached to it came there. The said Ford tractor was being driven rashly, negligently and with a high speed, which struck the trolley of Bachan Singh. Thereupon the said trolley was pushed forward and hit Bachan Singh, who fell down and sustained injuries and later on expired. Kumari Jaswinder Kaur, who was sitting on the said trolley, also fell down and received injuries. Kalu Ram, driver lodged and oral report at 8. 00 p. m. on the same day to the S. H. O. , Police Station, Hanumangarh. The Investigation Officer inspected the site, prepared memo of the site plan and got conducted the post-mortem examination of the dead body of Bachan Singh. On 3. 5. 1983, the Investigation Officer seized one blue coloured Ford tractor hearing No. PUW 9791 along with its trolley from the possession of its owner Jogendra Singh vide seizure memo Ex. P. 3. It is alleged that 2-3 days after the said incident, Jogendra Singh along with petitioner Chamkor Singh came to Ranjeet Singh and offered to compromise the matter. However, no compromise was made. After investigation, the I. O. submitted the challan against the petitioner in the court. The accused was charged for the offence under section 279, & 337 & 304-A I. P. C. to which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. After trial the learned Addl. Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hanumangarh relying on the alleged extra judicial confession of the petitioner held that the latter was driving the Ford tractor along with its trolley rashly and negligently and found him guilty for the offence under section 279, 337 &304 I. P. C. and sentenced him. However, the learned Additional Sessions Judge did not place any reliance on the alleged extra judicial confession of the petitioner and discarded the same. But, he held that as Jaswindra Kaur was neither medically examined nor sufficient evidence was produced by the prosecution, the offence under Section 337 I. P. C. was not proved. He, accordingly, set aside the conviction and sentence of the petitioner for the offence under section 337 I. P. C. and acquitted him for the said offence. He, however, by his impugned judgment confirmed the conviction and sentence of the petitioner for the offence under sections 279 & 304-A I. P. C. Hence this revision petition.

(3.) THE alleged eye-witnesses P. W. I Kalu Ram, P. W. 2 Nirmal Singh and P. W. 5 Ranjeet Singh have stated that at the time of the alleged incident petitioner Chamkor Singh was driving the offending blue coloured tractor. However, they have clearly admitted that they did not know the petitioner previously. In the F. I. R. Ex. P. 1 lodged by Kalu Ram, the name of petitioner does not find mention. Kalu Ram and Nirmal Singh in their statements recorded under section 161 Cr. P. C. Ex,d-l & Ex. D-2 respectively have also not named the petitioner. It was only on 26. 4. 1983 that Ranjeet Singh in his police statement for the first time stated that he had come to know that the driver of the offending tractor was Chamkor Singh and that the latter along with his father had come to him for compromising the matter. On the basis of Ranjeet Singh's statement the petitioner was apprehended and his driving licence as also the blue Ford tractor bearing No. PUW 9791 were seized. It may be mentioned here that the Investigation Officer did not take any step to get the test identification parade conducted of the petitioner. THE learned Additional Sessions Judge has in most specific terms held that the statements of the prosecution witnesses in respect of the alleged extra judicial confession of the petitioner were evidently false and unreliable. He has, thus disbelieved the factum of the alleged extra judicial confession. Thus, if the extra judicial confession is excluded then there remains no legal evidence worth the name to connect the petitioner with the alleged crime.