RAM CHANDRA CHAUHAN Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been filed against the judgment of conviction dated 4.9.2003 and order of sentence dated 12.9.2003 passed by the learned the Additional Sessions Judge, F.T.C. I, Bermo at Tenughat in Sessions Case No. 65 of 2000 convicting the appellants under Sections 396 of I.P.C. and sentencing them to undergo R.I. for life. Appellant Khirodhar Mahato and Ram Chandra Chauhan have also been convicted under Section 412 of I.P.C. and have been sentenced to undergo R.I. for 10 years and to pay a fine of Rs. 2,000/-. However, both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

(2.) AFTER hearing learned counsels appearing for the appellants in all the cases and the counsel for the State at length and after going through the records, when we expressed that we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment, it was submitted that at least, the appellants may be heard on the question of sentence.

(3.) AFTER hearing the parties on the question of sentence, we are inclined to reduce the sentence to the minimum period of 10 years under Section 396 and 412 of I.P.C. However, we are not inclined to interfere with the judgment of conviction of the appellants.