POORAN MAL Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this appeal, the appellants, six in number, have impugned the judgment dated August 6, 2003 of the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track) No. 1, Jaipur District Jaipur whereby the appellants were convicted and sentenced as under:- Pooran Mal, Pappu Ram, Dholu @ Ramphool, Dhanna, Bhagirath @ Bhagrata and Rajendra: u/s. 302/149 IPC: Each to suffer imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 1000/- , in default to further suffer simple imprisonment for one month. u/s. 148 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for one year and fine of Rs. 500/-, in default to further suffer simple imprisonment for one month. u/s. 341 IPC: Each to suffer simple imprisonment for one month. u/s. 323/149 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for six months. u/s. 325/149 IPC: Each to suffer rigorous imprisonment for three years and fine of Rs. 1000/ -. IN default of payment of fine each to suffer imprisonment for six months. The substantive sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Co-accused Bhonri Devi died during the course of trial and Mahadev and Ganga Ram were however acquitted of all the charges.

(2.) THE prosecution case is as under:- On August 18, 2000 informant Bhagwan Sahai (PW. 6) submitted a written report (Ex. P. 27) at Police Station Shivdaspura stating therein that on the said day around 7. 30 AM while Sanwta, Hanuman, Jairam and Sheo Narayan were going on a tractor to purchase Diesel, 10-15 persons including women armed with Sword, Gandasi, Axe, Rod and lathis surrounded the tractor and made assault. THE names of assailants were Mahadev, Ganga Ram, Pooran, Bhagirath, Chhotu, Gopal, Gangaram, Dholya, Raju, Pappu, Dhannna, Rampyari, Rajanti, Bhonri, Gyarsi, Lalli, Bacchi and Laxma and they were inhabitants of Devgaon. As a result of assault Sanwta and Hanuman died on the spot. Both the hands of Jairam were cut in the incident. On that report case under sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 341, 447 and 302 IPC was registered and investigation commenced. After usual investigation charge sheet was filed. In due course the case came up for trial before the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track) No. 1, Jaipur District Jaipur. Charges under Sections 148, 341, 323/149, 325/149, 326/149 and 302/149 IPC were framed against the accused, who denied the charges and claimed trial. THE prosecution in support of its case examined as may as 28 witnesses. Learned trial Court in addition to prosecution witnesses also examined six Court Witnesses. In the explanation under Sec. 313 Cr. P. C. , the appellants claimed innocence. Three witnesses in defence were produced. Learned trial Judge on hearing final submissions convicted and sentenced the appellants as indicated herein above.

(3.) BEFORE analysing the evidence of injured eye witnesses viz. Jai Ram (PW. 7) and Sheo Narayan (PW. 10) and other material on record we deem it appropriate to consider as to what is the doctrine of private defence. Right of private defence has been regulated and circumscribed by several principles and limitations. The most salient of them are as under:- (i) There is no right of private defence against an act which is not in itself an offence under the Code. (ii) The right avails only against a danger imminent, present and real. (iii) It is defensive and not a punitive or retributive right and, therefore, the injury which is inflicted by the person exercising the right should be commensurate with the injury with which he is threatened. At the same time, it is difficult to expect from a person exercising this right in good faith, to weigh `with golden scales' what maximum amount of force is necessary to keep within the right. Every reasonable allowance should be made for the bona fide defender if he with the instinct of self preservation strong upon him, pursues his defence a little further than may be strictly necessary in the circumstances to avert the attack. It would be wholly unrealistic to expect of a person under assault, to modulate his defence his defence step by step according to the attack. (iv) A person who is in imminent and reasonable danger of losing his life or limb may in the exercise of the right of self- defence inflict any harm, even extending to death on his assailant either when the assault is attempted or directly threatened. This principle is also subject to the preceding rule that the harm or death inflicted to avert the danger is not substantially disproportionate to and incommensurate with the quality and character of the perilous act or threat intend to be repelled. (v) There must be no safe or reasonable mode of escape by retreat for the person confronted with an impending peril to life or of grave bodily harm, except by inflicting death on the assailant. (vi) The right does not accrue and avail where there is "time to have recourse to the protection of the public authorities. "