Rafiq Ahmed @ Rafi Vs.
State of U.P.
J U D G M E N T
Swatanter Kumar, J.
1. Fine distinctions
of law, if discerning, should normally be recognized and permitted to operate
in their respective fields. With the development of criminal jurisprudence, the
law has recognized the concept of cognate charges besides alternative charges. The
differentiation between the offences from the same family in contradistinction to
the offences falling in different categories have persuaded the courts to apply
the principle of `cognate offences' and punish the offender of a less grave offence
because the offence of greater gravity has not been proved beyond reasonable
doubt. This principle is to be applied keeping in view the facts and
circumstances of a given case and notwithstanding the fact that no charge for
such less grave offence had been framed against the offender. In the case in
hand, we are concerned with a similar question which arises from the following
facts:
All the five accused,
namely, Rafiq Ahmad, Ahsan, Imamuddin, Arun Kumar and Yashwant Singh, according
to the prosecution, in the intervening night of 30th September, 1977 and 1st October,
1977 committed dacoity in Ambassador Car No.UPS 7293 belonging to Rafiq Ahmad. While
the car was going on the pucca road from Nehtaur to Dhampur within the
jurisdiction of thana Nehtaur, the accused had committed the murder of Jagdish Prasad
@ Jagdish Chandra @ Jagdish Babu and thereafter thrown his body in a sugarcane field
of one Ikrar Ahmad situated in Village Kashmiri, thana Nehtaur with the intention
of screening themselves from punishment for committing any offence. Shri Krishna
Garg, uncle of the deceased was carrying on the wholesale business of sugar,
Khandsari, flour, food grains etc. under the name of M/s. Badri Prasad Sunder Lal
in Mohalla Bari Mandi, Dhampur (Bijnor).
This firm had branches
in the name of `Garg Brothers'. The firm used to sell the above products on
credit to the customers at Dhampur, Nagina, Sherkot, Sheohara, Haldaur and
Nehtaur and the deceased, Jagdish Prasad, used to go to Nehtaur every Friday to
realize money from them. On Friday, 30th September, 1977, also he left for
Nehtaur to collect money. Ordinarily, he used to return home between 9.00 p.m.
and 10.00 p.m. with collections roughly upto `10,000/-. Though, Jagdish Prasad,
on that day also had collected more than ` 8,000/- from the customers, but he did
not return home that night.
The next morning, Shri
Krishna Garg sent his Munim, Ramesh Chandra to Nehtaur to enquire about Jagdish
Prasad. The Munim returned and disclosed to Shri Krishna Garg the above facts. After
arrival of the Munim, Shri Krishna Garg left Dhampur for Nehtaur along with
Pyare Lal, Surendra Kumar, Har Kishan and Kamlesh to enquire about Jagdish Prasad.
From the enquiries, it
came to light that at about 8.00 p.m., the deceased Jagdish Prasad had occupied
a taxi, in which some persons were already sitting, at the Agency Chauraha, Nehtaur.
The matter was reported and after making an entry in the GD on 1st October,
1977 at 2.30 p.m., SI K.L. Verma started investigation and interrogated a
number of persons including Shri Krishna Garg and Pyare Lal. Thereafter, a case
was registered under Section 364 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). On 2.10.1977,
the investigation was taken up by Station Officer (S.O.) Raj Pal Yadav and both
Mr. Verma and Mr. Yadav left the police station together for investigation and reached
P.S. Dhampur.
At about 9.00 pm,
accused Rafiq Ahmad was arrested by the police along with his taxi No.UPS 7293.
His arrest led to recovery of the taxi which was made in presence of Pyare Lal and
Surendra Kumar. During the course of the investigation, the accused Rafiq Ahmad
also made a confessional statement before the investigating officer in presence
of Surendra Kumar and Pyare Lal that the dead body of the deceased was lying in
the sugarcane fields near village Kashmiri.
The body of the
deceased was, thus, recovered and identified by Pyare Lal. SI K.L Verma (PW9) prepared
the inquest report and the body was subjected to post mortem by Dr. R.B. Saxena
(PW8), the 5Medical Officer. On 3rd October, 1977, the accused Ahsan and his
brother Imamuddin were arrested with the help of Zamal Ahmad @ Khan Zamaloo and
Sattar. A gold ring was recovered from the possession of Ahsan. These arrests were
effected at about 9.00 pm. Similarly, the accused Yashwant Singh was arrested
by the police from the railway platform at 1.00 am on 2nd October, 1977. We may
refer to the post-mortem report and the ante-mortem injuries found by Dr.
Saxena (PW8) on the body of the deceased which are as follows :
"1. Incised wound
with chopping of left ear vertically oblique with = part of ear missing.
2. Incised wound oblique
from above down wards below left side angle of jaw to upper neck
1/1/4"X>"X<".
3. Incised wound
6"X1"X bone deep at front of neck just above Adam's cartilage.
4. Abrasion <"
X <" on back of both shoulders.
5. Abrasion 1/8"
X <" on back of right elbow joint.
6. Abrasion
<" X <" on outer side and back of left elbow. In the opinion of
Dr. Saxena, death was caused on account of respiratory failure and hemorrhage resulting
from severing of trachea." The investigation was completed and the
charge-sheet in accordance with the provisions of Section 173 of the Criminal
Procedure Code (for short `Cr.P.C.') was filed before the court of competent
jurisdiction. The accused were committed to the Court of Sessions and tried in
accordance with law. The learned Trial Court having considered the material and
the report submitted to it in terms of Section 173 of the Cr.P.C. and vide
order dated 11th September, 1979 framed the following charge against all the
accused, including the present appellant, Rafiq Ahmad: " S.T. No.3/78 State
VS. Rafiq Etc. Charge I Jawant singh III additionaL Sessions Judge, Bijnour hereby
charge you Rafiq, Ahsan, Imamuddin, Arun Kumar and Yashwant Singh accused as
follows: -
7 That you in the night
of 30-9-77 committed dacoity in Taxi No. UPS 7273 while it was running on
Nehtaur to Dhampur road and that in the commission of said dacoity murder was committed
by you of one jagdish prashad and that you thereby committed an offence punishable
u/s 396 IPC and within my cognizance And I hereby direct that you be tried by
me on the said charge. Dt.11-9-79 Sd/- Judge Charge read over and explained in
Hindi to the accused who pleaded not guilty. Sd/- Judge Sd/- Rafiq, Sd/- Ahsan,
Sd/- Imamuddin, Sd/- Arun Kumar Sd/- Yashwant Singh" This charge came to be
amended by the learned Trial Court and the amended charge read as under: "
S.T. No. 3/78 State VS. Rafiq Etc. Amended Charge I Jaswant singh III
additional Sessions Judge, Bijnour hereby charge you Rafiq, Ahsan, Imamuddin,
Arun Kumar and Yashwant Singh accused as follows: -
Firstly that you
along with one another during the night of 30-9-77 and 1-10-77 committed dacoity
in Ambassador Car No. UPS 7293 8belonging to rafiq accused while it was going
from Nehtaur to Dhampur on the pucca road within the circle of P.S. Nahtaur District
Bijnaur and that in the commission of the said dacoity, murder of jagdish prashad
was committed by you and that you thereby committed an offence punishable under
Section 396 IPC and within the cognizance of this court.Secondly - that you along
with one another during the night of 30-09-77 and 1-10-77 in the area of
village Kashmiri P.S. Nehtaur Dist. Bijnore knowing or having reason to believe
that an offence U/s 396 IPC punishable with death or imprisonment for life has been
committed did cause evidence of the said offence to disappear by secreting the dead
body of jagdish prashad in the sugar cane field of Ikrar Ahmad with the
intention of screening yourself from legal punishment and thereby committed an
offence punishable u/s 201 IPC and with the cognizance of this court.And I hereby
direct that you be tried by this court on the said charge25-2-80 Sd/-
JudgeCharge read over and explained in Hindi to the accused who pleaded not
guilty. Sd/- JudgeSd/- Rafiq,Sd/- Ahsan, Sd/- Imamuddin, Sd/- Arun Kumar Sd/-
Yashwant Singh"
The prosecution examined
as many as 12 witnesses to prove its case. Besides the statement of these witnesses,
prosecution had also placed reliance on Exhibits Ka-1 to Ka-23. Incriminating evidence
against the accused which came on record during the course of the trial was put
to the accused whose statement under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. was recorded by
the Court on 20th February, 1981. It may be stated here that in his statement,
accused Rafiq Ahmad denied his presence at the place of occurrence and stated that
the witnesses being the relatives of the deceased were deposing against the
appellant. The accused had also led defence and examined two witnesses, namely,
Naik Singh (DW1) and Shri J.P. Singh (DW2) and placed number of documents on
record. The Trial Court, by a detailed judgment dated 17th August, 1981, came to
the conclusion that Rafiq Ahmad was guilty of charge under Sections 302 and 201
IPC under which the accused was liable for conviction and punishment.
The Court further held
that Ahsan was guilty of a charge under Section 411 IPC but acquitted him and the
three other accused, namely, Imamuddin, Arun Kumar and Yashwant Singh under
Section 396 IPC by giving them benefit of doubt. The Court awarded rigorous imprisonment
for life to Rafiq Ahmad under Section 302 IPC and seven years rigorous
imprisonment under Section 201 IPC. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
The Trial Court ordered the accused Ahsan to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a
period of one year and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- under Section 411, IPC and in default
to undergo imprisonment for further period of six months.
Rafiq Ahmad, dissatisfied
with the judgment of the Trial Court, preferred an appeal before the High Court.
Ahsan also challenged his conviction and sentence. Both these appeals were heard
and disposed of by the High Court by a common judgment. The appeal filed by
Rafiq Ahmad was dismissed. His conviction and sentence was maintained while the
appeal preferred by Ahsan was accepted and he was acquitted even of the charge
under Section 411 IPC. 11 Rafiq Ahmad, in the present appeal, has impugned the
judgment of the High Court.2. The entire emphasis of the submissions made on behalf
of the appellant is primarily founded on determination of a question of law,
which, if answered in favour of the appellant, according to the learned counsel
appearing for the appellant, would entitle the appellant to an order of acquittal.
The argument is that the
appellant was charged for an offence under Section 396 IPC and without
reformulation/alteration of the charge, the appellant has been convicted for an
offence under Section 302 IPC. This according to the learned counsel, has
deprived the appellant of a fair opportunity of defence and has caused him
serious prejudice. Section 302 IPC is a graver offence than an offence punishable
under Section 396 of the IPC and as such the entire trial and conviction of the
appellant is vitiated in law. 3. It is also contended that the learned trial
court as well as the High Court have erred in fact and in law, have failed to
appreciate the evidence in its correct perspective and also that 12there are
serious contradictions between the statements of the witnesses.
It is also urged that
this being a case of circumstantial evidence, the prosecution has failed to prove
the chain of events, pointing towards the guilt of the accused. Therefore, the judgments
of the courts below are liable to be set aside.4. On the contra, it is
contended on behalf of the State that despite the present case being a case of circumstantial
evidence, the prosecution has been able to establish its case beyond any
reasonable doubt. The appellant has suffered no prejudice, whatsoever, because
of his conviction under Section 302 of the IPC. 5. Before we proceed to examine
the merit or otherwise of the above rival contentions, it will be important for
us to refer to the relevant provisions of the IPC at this stage itself.
The relevant
provisions read as under:- "302.Punishment for murder.-Whoever commits
murder shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be
liable to fine. 13 396. Dacoity with murder.-If any one of five or more persons,
who are conjointly committing dacoity, commits murder in so committing dacoity,
every one of those persons shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life,
or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall
also be liable to fine."6. As is evident from the amended charge reproduced
earlier, the appellant was charged with an offence under Sections 396 and 201
of the IPC. It is not necessary for us to examine the charge framed against the
other co-accused as all of them have been acquitted and the judgment of
acquittal has not been challenged before this Court.7. Section 391 IPC explains
the offence of `dacoity'.
When five or more
persons conjointly commit or attempt to commit a robbery, or where the whole number
of persons conjointly committing or attempting to commit a robbery, and persons
present and aiding such commission and attempt amount to five or more, every
person so committing, attempting or aiding, is said to commit `dacoity'. Under
Section 392 IPC, the offence of `robbery' simplicitor is punishable with rigorous
imprisonment which may extend to ten years or 14 years 14depending upon the facts
of a given case. Section 396 IPC brings within its ambit a murder committed along
with `dacoity'. In terms of this provision, if any one of the five or more
persons, who are conjointly committing dacoity, commits murder in so committing
dacoity, every one of those persons shall be punished with death or imprisonment
for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and
shall also be liable to fine.
8. On a plain reading
of these provisions, it is clear that to constitute an offence of `dacoity',
robbery essentially should be committed by five or more persons. Similarly, to
constitute an offence of `dacoity with murder' any one of the five or more
persons should commit a murder while committing the dacoity, then every one of such
persons so committing, attempting to commit or aiding, by fiction of law, would
be deemed to have committed the offence of murder and be liable for punishment provided
under these provisions depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case. 159.
Section 299 defines `culpable homicide'.
Whoever causes death
by doing an act with the intention of causing death, or with the intention of
causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, or with the knowledge that
he is likely by such act to cause death, commits the offence of culpable homicide.
Except the exceptions provided under Section 300 IPC, culpable homicide is murder
if the act by which death is caused is done with the intention of causing death.
The intention to cause death is the primary distinguishing feature between these
two offences.
It is a fine but clear
line of distinction. 10. In terms of Section 300 IPC, except in the cases
stated in that provision, culpable homicide is murder if the act by which the
death is caused is done with the intention of causing death or in terms of any of
the circumstances stated secondly, thirdly and fourthly respectively. The law clearly
marks a distinction between culpable homicide amounting to murder and culpable homicide
not amounting to murder. Another distinction between Sections 302 and 396 is that
under the latter, wide discretion is vested in the courts in relation 16awarding
of punishment. The court, in exercise of its jurisdiction and judicial discretion
in consonance with the established principles of law can award sentence of ten
years with fine or even award sentence of life imprisonment or sentence of death,
as the case may be while under Section 302, the court cannot, in its
discretion, award sentence lesser than life imprisonment.
11. The ingredients of
both these offences, to some extent, are also different inasmuch as to complete
an offence of `dacoity' under Section 396 IPC, five or more persons must
conjointly commit the robbery while under Section 302 of the IPC even one person
by himself can commit the offence of murder. But, as already noticed, to attract
the provisions of Section 396, the offence of `dacoity' must be coupled with
murder. In other words, the ingredients of Section 302 become an integral part of
the offences punishable under Section 396 of the IPC. Resultantly, the distinction
with regard to the number of persons involved in the commission of the crime loses
its significance as it is possible that the offence of `dacoity' may not be proved
but still the offence of 17murder could be established, like in the present case.
Upon reasonable analysis
of the language of these provisions, it is clear that the Court has to keep in
mind the ingredients which shall constitute a criminal offence within the meaning
of the penal section. This is not only essential in the case of the offence charged
with but even where there is comparative study of different penal provisions as
the accused may have committed more than one offence or even offences of a
graver nature. He may finally be punished for a lesser offence or vice versa, if
the law so permits and the requisite ingredients are satisfied.12. So far the judicial
pronouncements show a consistent trend that wherever an accused is charged with
a grave offence, he can be punished for a less grave offence finally, if the grave
offence is not proved.
For example, a person
charged with an offence under Section 302 of the IPC may finally be convicted
only for an offence under Section 304 Part II where the prescribed punishment is
lesser and the consequences of conviction are less serious in comparison to a
conviction under Section 302. But even in those cases, the 18Court has to be cautious
while examining whether the ingredients of the offences are independently
satisfied. If the ingredients even of a lesser offence are not satisfied then it
may be difficult in a given case for the court to convict the person for an offence
of a less grave nature. There can be cases where it may not be possible at all
to punish a person of a less grave offence if its ingredients are completely different
and distinct from the grave offence.
To deal with this aspect
illustratively, one could say that a person who is charged with an offence
under Section 326 may not be liable to be convicted for an offence under
Section 406 IPC because their ingredients are entirely distinct, different and have
to be established by the prosecution on its own strength. In other words, the
accused has to be charged with a grave offence which would take within its
ambit and scope the ingredients of a less grave offence. The evidence led by the
prosecution for a grave offence, thus, would cover an offence of a less grave nature.
But it is essential that the offence for which the Court proposes to punish the
accused, is established beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution.
13. A Constitution Bench
of this Court in the case of Willie (William) Slaney v. State of Madhya Pradesh
[AIR 1956 SC 116] dealt with a question as to whether omission to frame a
charge was a curable irregularity. In that case the accused was charged for committing
an offence punishable under Section 302 IPC but the Court finally convicted him
of an offence punishable under Section 304, Part II. The Court, while examining
if the accused had been prejudiced in his defence and the validity of his
conviction, held as under: "6. Before we proceed to set out our answer and
examine the provisions of the Code, we will pause to observe that the Code is a
code of procedure and, like all procedural laws, is designed to further the ends
of justice and not to frustrate them by the introduction of endless technicalities.
The object of the
Code is to ensure that an accused person gets a full and fair trial along certain
well- established and well-understood line that accord with our notions of natural
justice. If he does, if he is tried by a competent court, if he is told and
clearly understands the nature of the offence for which he is being tried, if the
case against him is fully and fairly explained to him and he is afforded a full
and fair opportunity of defending himself, then, provided there is substantial compliance
with the outward forms of the law, mere mistakes in procedure, mere
inconsequential errors and omissions in the trial are regarded as venal by the
Code and the trial is not vitiated unless the accused can show substantial
prejudice.
That, broadly speaking,
is the basic principle on which the Code is based.7. Now here, as in all procedural
laws, certain things are regarded as vital. Disregard of a provision of that
nature is fatal to the trial and at once invalidates the conviction. Others are
not vital and whatever the irregularity they can be cured; and in that event the
conviction must stand unless the Court is satisfied that there was prejudice. Some
of these matters are dealt with by the Code and wherever that is the case full
effect must be given to its provisions.
The question here is,
does the Code deal with the absence of a charge and irregularities in it, and if
so, into which of the two categories does it place them ? But before looking into
the Code, we deem it desirable to refer to certain decisions of the Privy Council
because much of the judicial thinking in this country has been moulded by their
observations. In our opinion, the general effect of those decisions can be
summarised as follows. XXX XXX XXX17. It is possible (though we need not so
decide in this case) that the recent amendment to section 537 in the Code of
Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act XXVI of 1955, where mis-joinder of 21charges
has been placed in the curable category, will set at rest the controversy that has
raged around the true meaning of N. A. Subramania Iyer v. King-Emperor. In any case,
our opinion is that the real object of the Code is to leave these matters to
the discretion and vigilance of the courts. Slightly to alter the language of the
Privy Council in Babulal Choukhani v. The King-Emperor [1938] L.R. 65 IndAp
158, we would say –
"It must be hoped,
and indeed assumed, that magistrates and judges will exercise their
jurisdiction fairly and honestly. Such is the implied condition of the exercise
of judicial power. It they do not, or if they go wrong in fact or in law, the accused
has prima facie a right of recourse to the superior courts by way of appeal or revision;
and the cases show how vigilant and resolute the High Courts are in seeing that
the accused is not prejudiced or embarrassed by unsubstantial departures from the
Code and how closely and jealously the Supreme Court guards the position of the
accused. These safeguards may well have appeared to the Legislature to be sufficient
when they enacted the remedial provisions of the Code and have now left them substantially
unaltered in the new Code recently introduced". This, we feel, is the true
intent and purpose of section 537(a) which covers every proceeding taken with jurisdiction
22in the general phrase "or other proceedings under this Code".
It is for the Court in
all these cases to determine whether there has been prejudice to the accused;
and in doing so to bear in mind that some violations are so obviously opposed to
natural justice and the true intendment of the Code that on the face of them and
without anything else they must be struck down, while in other cases a close examination
of all the circumstances will be called for in order to discover whether the
accused has been prejudiced. XXX XXX XXX
In adjudging the
question of prejudice the fact that the absence of a charge, or a substantial mistake
in it, is a serious lacuna will naturally operate to the benefit of the accused
and if there is any reasonable and substantial doubt about whether he was, or
was reasonably likely to have been, misled in the circumstances of any particular
case, he is as much entitled to the benefit of it here as elsewhere; but if, on
a careful consideration of all the facts, prejudice, or a reasonable and substantial
likelihood of it, is not disclosed the conviction must stand; also it will
always be material to consider whether objection to the nature of the charge, or
a total want of one, was taken at an early stage. If it was not, and
particularly where the accused is defended by `AIR 1930 PC 57 (2) at p.58
(G)', it may in a
given case be proper to conclude that the accused 23 was satisfied and knew
just what he was being tried for and knew what was being alleged against him and
wanted no further particulars, provided it is always borne in mind that "no
serious defect in the mode of conducting a criminal trial can be justified or cured
by the consent of the advocate of the accused" `AIR 1927 PC 44 at pp.46-47
& 49
(F)'. But these are matters
of fact which ill be special to each different case and no conclusion on these questions
of fact in any one case can ever be regarded as a precedent or a guide for a conclusion
of fact in another, because the facts can never be alike in any two cases however
alike they may seem.
There is no such thing
as a judicial precedent on facts though counsel, and even judges, are sometimes
prone to argue and to act if there were."
14. The Court, while
laying down the above law, significantly noticed that the Code is a code of procedure
and like all procedural laws is designed to further the ends of justice and not
to frustrate them by the introduction of endless technicalities. The object of the
code is to ensure that an accused person gets a full and fair trial along with certain
well-established and well-understood canons of law that accord with the notions
of natural justice.
15. In the case of Iman
Ali & Anr. v. State of Assam, [AIR 1968 SC 1464], the Court had the occasion
to explain the distinction between the scope, liability and punishment for an
offence under Section 396, as opposed to Section 302 IPC. The Court noticed
that the offence under Section 396 was no less heinous than an offence under
Section 302 though in the latter case, it was obligatory on the part of the
Court to record reasons for not awarding death sentence.
The Court while
sustaining the enhancement of punishment from sentence of life imprisonment to sentence
of death by the High Court on the ground that there was a direct evidence to show
that the accused had committed the alleged murder, held as under: "Learned
counsel for the appellants, in challenging the justification for the order of enhancement
of sentence by the High Court, relied on the principle laid down by this court in
Dalip Singh v. State of Punjab, 1954 SCR 145 at p.156 = (AIR 1953 SC 364 at pp.
367-368) which was explained in the following words:- "In a case of murder,
the death sentence should ordinarily be imposed unless the trying Judge for reasons
which should normally be recorded considers it proper to award the lesser penalty.
But the 25 discretion is his and if he gives reasons on which a judicial mind could
properly be found, an appellate court should not interfere.
The power to enhance a
sentence from transportation to death should very rarely be exercised and only
for the strongest possible reasons. It is not enough for an appellate court to say,
or think, that if left to itself it would have awarded the greater penalty because
the discretion does not belong to the appellate court but to the trial Judge and
the only ground on which an appellate court can interfere is that the discretion
has been improperly exercised, as for example, where no reasons are given and
none can be inferred from the circumstances of the case, or where the facts are
so gross that no normal judicial mind would have awarded the lesser
penalty."
It appears to us, however,
that, in the present case, this principle is of no assistance to the appellants
for challenging the step taken by the High Court. This court cautioned the
appellate court against interfering if the discretion of the trying Judge is exercised
for reasons recorded by him and if it appears from the reasons that he had
exercised a judicial mind in not awarding the sentence of death. In the present
case, as mentioned by the High Court and as is apparent from the judgment of
the Court of Session, the trial court awarded the sentence of imprisonment for
life without giving any reasons at all for adopting that course.
It is true that the
appellants were not convicted in the present case for the offence of murder simpliciter
under Section 302 IPC; but that, in our opinion, is immaterial. The conviction of
the appellants under section 396 IPC, was not based on constructive liability as
members of the gang of dacoits. There was clear finding by the court of Session
which has been upheld by the High Court that each of these appellants committed
a cold-blooded murder by shooting two inmates of the house simply with the
object of facilitating commission of dacoity by them.
Those persons were
shot and killed even though they had not even tried to put up any resistance. The
offence under Section 396 IPC, was therefore, no less heinous than an offence
under Section 302 IPC. In these circumstances, when the court of Session gave
no reason at all for not awarding the sentence of death and for sentencing them
to imprisonment for life only, it cannot be held that the High Court was not
justified in interfering with that order. Learned counsel in this connection
refereed us to a decision of a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court in
Lal Singh v. Emperor A.I.R. 1938 Alld. 625, where it was held : "We do not
consider that as a general rule a sentence of death should necessarily follow a
conviction under s. 396, I.P.C., and this Section differs from s. 302, I.P.C., in
that respect. The rule is 27 under s. 302, that a sentence of death should follow
unless reasons are shown for giving a lesser sentence.
No such rule applies
to s. 396, I.P.C." Again, we do not think that the learned Judges of the Allahabad
High Court intended to lay down that, even in cases where a person is convicted
for the offence under s. 396, I.P.C., and there is clear evidence that he himself
had committed a cold-blooded murder in committing the dacoity, a sentence of death
should not follow. Clearly, the view expressed was meant to apply to those cases
where there could be no definite finding as to which person committed the murder
and all the members of the gang are held constructively guilty of the offence
punishable under s. 396, I.P.C. A principle enunciated for such a situation cannot
be applied to a case where there is direct evidence that a particular accused committed
the murder himself, as is the finding in the present case."17. With the passage
of time more and more such cases came up for consideration of this Court as well
as the High Courts.
The development of law
has not changed the basic principles which have been stated in the judgments afore-referred.
Usually an offence of grave nature includes in itself the essentials of a
lesser but cognate offence. In other words, there are classes of offences like offences
against the human 28body, offences against property and offences relating to
cheating, misappropriation, forgery etc. In the normal course of events, the
question of grave and less grave offences would arise in relation to the offences
falling in the same class and normally may not be inter se the classes. It is
expected of the prosecution to collect all evidence in accordance with law to
ensure that the prosecution is able to establish the charge with which the
accused is charged, beyond reasonable doubt.
It is only in those cases,
keeping in view the facts and circumstances of a given case and if the court is
of the view that the grave offence has not been established on merits or for a
default of technical nature, it may still proceed to punish the accused for an
offence of a less grave nature and content.18. In the case of Anil @ Raju Namdev
Patil vs. Administration of Daman & Diu and Anr. [2006 Suppl. (9) SCR 466],
the Court had to deal with a situation where the accused, a car driver had kidnapped
a child of five years for the purpose of demanding ransom and later killed the child.
The accused had been charged for an offence punishable under Sections 364, 302 and
201 IPC, but was finally convicted for an offence punishable under Section 364-A
and was awarded sentence of death.
This Court held that there
was prejudice caused to the appellant and the sentence was modified from death to
rigorous imprisonment for life with conviction under Section 364 IPC. The Court,
besides recording the above findings on the merits of the case noticed the precedents
in relation to non-framing of charge. The Bench referred to various judgments
of this Court in K. Prema S. Rao and Anr. v. Yadla Srinivasa Rao and Ors.
[(2003) 1 SCC 217], Kammari Brahmaiah and Ors. v. Public Prosecutor, High Court
of A.P. [(1999) 2 SCC 522], Dalbir Singh v. State of U.P. [(2004 5 SCC 334], Kamalanantha
and Ors. v. State of T.N. [(2005 5 SCC 194], Harjit Singh v. State of Punjab [(2006
1 SCC 463] and recapitulated the principles of law stated in these judgments and
stated the following precepts of law which would govern such cases:
"The propositions
of law which can be culled out from the aforementioned judgments are: (i) The appellant
should not suffer any prejudice by reason of misjoinder of charges. 30 (ii) A conviction
for lesser offence is permissible. (iii) It should not result in failure of justice.
(iv) If there is a substantial compliance, misjoinder of charges may not be fatal
and such misjoinder must be arising out of mere misjoinder to frame charges.The
ingredients for commission of offence of Section 364 and 364-A are different.
Whereas the intention
to kidnap in order that he may be murdered or may be so disposed of as to be put
in danger as murder satisfied the requirements of Section 364 of the Indian
Penal Code, for obtaining a conviction for commission of an offence under
Section 364-A thereof it is necessary to prove that not only such kidnapping or
abetment has taken place but thereafter the accused threatened to cause death
or hurt to such person or by his conduct gives rise to a reasonable
apprehension that such person may be put to death or hurt or causes hurt or
death to such person in order to compel the government or any other person to
do or abstain from doing any act or to pay a ransom. It was, thus, obligatory on
the part of the learned Sessions Judge, Daman, to frame a charge which would answer
the description of the offence envisaged under Section 364-A of the Indian Penal
Code.
It may be true that
the kidnapping was done with a view to get ransom but the same should have been
put to the appellant while framing a charge. The prejudice to the appellant is apparent
as the ingredients of a higher offence had not been put to him while framing any
charge. It is not a case unlike Kammari Brahmaiah (supra) where the offence was
of a lesser gravity, as has been observed by Shah, J."19. In light of the above
principles, let us now examine the meaning of `prejudice'. The expression has been
defined in Black's Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition), as follows: "prejudice,
1. Damage or detriment to one's legal rights or claims. See dismissal with prejudice,
dismissal without prejudice under DISMISSAL. Legal prejudice.
A condition that, if shown
by a party, will usu. defeat the opposing party's action: esp. a condition that,
if shown by the defendant, will defeat a plaintiff's motion to dismiss a case without
prejudice. The defendant may show that dismissal will deprive the defendant of
a substantive property right or preclude the defendant from raising a defense that
will be unavailable or endangered in a second suit. Undue prejudice. The harm resulting
from a fact-trier's being exposed to 32 evidence that is persuasive but inadmissible
(such as evidence of prior criminal conduct) or that so arouses the emotions
that calm and logical reasoning is abandoned. 2. A preconceived judgment formed
without a factual basis; a strong bias" 20. When we speak of prejudice to
an accused, it has to be shown that the accused has suffered some disability or
detriment in the protections available to him under the Indian criminal jurisprudence.
It is also a settled canon
of criminal law that this has occasioned the accused with failure of justice. One
of the other cardinal principles of criminal justice administration is that the
courts should make a close examination to ascertain whether there was really a
failure of justice or whether it is only a camouflage, as this expression is
perhaps too pliable. With the development of law, Indian courts have accepted
the following protections to and rights of the accused during investigation and
trial : (a) The accused has the freedom to maintain silence during investigation
as well as before the Court.
The accused may choose
to maintain silence or make complete denial even when his statement under
Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is being recorded, of course, the
Court would be entitled to draw inference, including adverse inference, as may be
permissible to it in accordance with law; (b) Right to fair trial (c) Presumption
of innocence (not guilty) (d) Prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable
doubt.
21. Prejudice to an
accused or failure of justice, thus, has to be examined with reference to these
aspects. That alone, probably, is the method to determine with some element of
certainty and discernment whether there has been actual failure of justice. `Prejudice'
is incapable of being interpreted in its generic sense and applied to criminal jurisprudence.
The plea of prejudice
has to be in relation to investigation or trial and not matters falling beyond their
scope. Once the accused is able to show that there is serious prejudice to
either of these aspects and that the same has defeated the 34rights available
to him under the criminal jurisprudence, then the accused can seek benefit
under the orders of the Court.22. Right to fair trial, presumption of innocence
until pronouncement of guilt and the standards of proof, i.e., the prosecution
must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt are the basic and crucial tenets of
our criminal jurisprudence.
The Courts are required
to examine both the contents of the allegation of prejudice as well as its
extent in relation to these aspects of the case of the accused. It will neither
be possible nor appropriate to state such principle with exactitude as it will
always depend on the facts and circumstances of a given case. Therefore, the Court
has to ensure that the ends of justice are met as that alone is the goal of criminal
adjudication.
Thus, wherever a plea
of prejudice is raised by the accused, it must be examined with reference to
the above rights and safeguards, as it is the violation of these rights alone that
may result in weakening of the case of the prosecution and benefit to the accused
in accordance with law. 35 During conduct of trial, framing of a charge is an
important function of the court. Sections 211 to 224 of Chapter XVII of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, 1973 have been devoted by the Legislature to the various
facets of framing of charge and other related matters thereto. Under Section 211,
the charge should state the offence with which the accused is charged and should
contain the other particulars specified in that section.
In terms of Section
214, in every charge words used in describing an offence shall be deemed to have
been used in the sense attached to them respectively by the law under which such
offence is punishable.
Another significant provision
is Section 215 which states that no error in stating either the offence or the
particulars required to be stated in the charge, and no omission to state the offence
or those particulars, shall be regarded at any stage of the case as material unless
the accused was in fact misled by such error or omission, and it has occasioned
a failure of justice. Further, the court has been vested with the power to
alter the charge. There could be trial of more than one offence together and
there could even be 36joint trial of the accused.
We have referred to
these provisions primarily to indicate that the purpose of framing of a charge
is to put the accused at notice regarding the offence for which he is being tried
before the court of competent jurisdiction. For want of requisite information
of offence and details thereof, the accused should not suffer prejudice or there
should not be failure of justice, as held by this Court in the case of
Shamnsaheb M. Multtani v. State of Karnataka [(2001) 2 SCC 577]. The
requirements of putting the accused at notice and there being a charge containing
the requisite particulars, as contemplated under Section 211, has to be read
with reference to Section 215 of the Code.
Every omission would
not vitiate the trial. This Court has settled this position in the case of
Willie (William) Slaney v. State of Madhya Pradesh [AIR 1956 SC 116] wherein
the Court held as under : "36. Sections 222 to 224 deal with the form of a
charge and explain what a charge should contain. Section 225 deals with the effect
of errors relating to a charge. Sections 233 to 240 deal with the joinder of
charges. Sections 535 and 537 are in the Chapter that deals with irregularities
generally and these two sections deal specifically with the charge 37 and make it
clear that an omission to frame a charge as well as irregularities, errors and omission
in a charge are all irregularities that do not vitiate or invalidate a conviction
unless there is prejudice.
37. But, apart from that,
if we examine the learned counsel's contention more closely, the fallacy in his
argument becomes clear. Sections 237 and 238 deal with cases in which there is a
charge to start with and then they go on to say that in certain cases the trial
can proceed beyond the matter actually charged and a conviction for an offence
disclosed in the evidence in that type of case will be good despite the absence
of a charge in respect of it.
But what are those cases?
Only those in which the additional charge or charges could have been framed
from the start; and that is controlled by Sections 234, 235 and 239 which set
out the rules about joinder of charges and persons." Dinesh Seth v. State of
NCT of Delhi [(2008) 14 SCC 94] was a case where the accused was charged with an
offence under Section 304B read with Section 34 IPC but was finally convicted for
an offence under Section 498A.
The plea of
prejudice, on the ground that no specific charge under Section 498A was framed and
the Court, while referring to the facts and circumstances of the case and the cross-examination
of 38the prosecution witnesses found that it was unmistakably shown that the
defence had made concerted efforts to discredit the testimony of the alleging cruelty,
was rejected and the accused was punished for an offence under Section 498A.
This clearly demonstrates the principle that in all cases, non-framing of
charge or some defect in drafting of the charge per se would not vitiate the
trial itself.
It will have to be
examined in the facts and circumstances of a given case. Of course, the court
has to keep in mind that the accused `must be' and not merely `may be' guilty of
an offence. The mental distance between `may be' and `must be' is long and divides
vague conjectures from sure conclusions. {Shivaji Sahebrao Bobade & Anr. v.
State of Maharashtra [AIR 1973 SC 2622]}.23. Having stated the above, let us
now examine what kind of offences may fall in the same category except to the
extent of `grave or less grave'. We have already noticed that a person charged
with a heinous or grave offence can be punished for a less grave offence of cognate
nature whose essentials are satisfied with the evidence on record. Examples of this
kind have already been noticed by us like a charge being framed 39under Section
302 IPC and the accused being punished under Section 304, Part I or II, as the
circumstances and facts of the case may demand.
Furthermore, a person
who is charged with an offence under Section 326 IPC can be finally convicted
for an offence of lesser gravity under Section 325 or 323 IPC, if the facts of
the case so establish. Alike or similar offences can be termed as `cognate
offences'. The word `cognate' is a term primarily used in civil jurisprudence particularly
with reference to the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 where
Section 3(c) has used this expression in relation to the descendants of a class
of heirs and normally the term is used with reference to blood relations. Section
3(c) of the Hindu Succession Act defines "cognate" as follows: "one
person is said to be a cognate of another if the two are related by blood or adoption
but not wholly through males."
24. The Encyclopedia
Law Lexicon, explain the word `cognate' in relation to civil law as follows: "Cognate.
- According to Hindu Law it is a class of heirs, descended or borrowed from the
same earlier form. 40 - It means blood relation including female relation. Word
"cognate" literally means "akin in nature", Ram Briksh v. State,
1978 All Cri C 253"25. This expression has also been recognized and
applied to the criminal jurisprudence as well not only in the Indian system but
even in other parts of the world. Such offences indicate the similarity, common
essential features between the offences and they primarily being based on differences
of degree have been understood to be `cognate offences'. Black's Law Dictionary
(Eighth Edition) defines the expression `cognate offences' as follows: "cognate
offences.
A lesser offence that
is related to the greater offense because it shares several of the elements of the
greater offense and is of the same class or category. For example, shoplifting is
a cognate offence of larceny because both crimes require the element of taking property
with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of that property."26. Therefore,
where the offences are cognate offences with commonality in their feature, duly
supported by evidence on 41record, the Courts can always exercise its power to
punish the accused for one or the other provided the accused does not suffer
any prejudice as afore-indicated.27. We may now refer to certain cases where
this Court had the occasion to deal with such issues. Certain divergent views
were also expressed in relation to conversion of an offence from a grave to a less
grave offence.
In the case of Lakhjit
Singh v. State of Punjab [1994 Suppl.(1) SCC (Crl.) 173], the accused was charged
with an offence under Section 302 IPC and convicted and sentenced for the said
offence, both by the Trial Court as well as the High Court. In appeal, a Division
Bench of this Court considered whether the offence could be converted and the
appellant could be convicted for an offence under Section 306 IPC. Having regard
to the evidence adduced by the prosecution and the answer of the accused to the
questions put to him under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C., the Court was satisfied that
the accused had fair notice of the allegations to attract an offence under
Section 306 IPC and as such there was no denial of fair trial to the accused.
Finally, the Court
convicted him of an offence under Section 306 IPC. 42However, a different view was
expressed in a subsequent judgment by another Division Bench of this Court in
the case of Sanagaraboina Sreenu v. State of A.P. [(1997) 5 SCC 348 : AIR 1957 SC
623]. In that case also the Court was dealing with the situation where the accused
was charged under Section 302 but had been convicted under Section 306 IPC.
This Court felt that having acquitted the accused for an offence under Section
302 which was the only charge against the accused, he could not have been convicted
for an offence punishable under Section 306 IPC as both these offences were
distinct and different. Resultantly, the accused was acquitted.
The controversy arising
from these two judgments of this Court came up for consideration before a three-Judge
Bench of this court in the case of Dalbir Singh v. State of U.P. [(2004) 5 SCC
334], wherein the accused was charged with an offence under Sections 302, 498A and
304-B IPC, but finally was convicted under Section 302 by the Trial Court and
sentenced to death. On appeal, the High Court acquitted him of the charge under
Section 302 IPC opining that the evidence on record clearly established the charge
under Section 306 IPC. 43Keeping in view the decision in the case of Sanagaraboina
Sreenu (supra), the High Court had concluded that the accused could not be
convicted under Section 306 and on this basis convicted him under Section 498A
alone. The argument raised before this Court was that the basic ingredients were
distinct and different.
The accused was not
aware of the basic ingredients, the facts sought to be established against him
were not explained to him and he did not get a fair chance to defend himself. Resultantly,
he ought not to have been convicted for an offence under Section 498A IPC. Rejecting
all these contentions, this Court, while convicting the accused for an offence under
Section 306, held that the law stated in Sanagaraboina Sreenu (supra) was not
correct enunciation of law and held as under :
"This question was
again examined by a three Judge Bench in Gurbachan Singh v. State of Punjab AIR
1957 SC 623 in which it was held as under: "[I]n judging a question of
prejudice, as of guilt, Courts must act with a broad vision and look to the substance
and not to technicalities, and their main concern should be to see whether the accused
had a fair 44 trial, whether he knew what he was being tried for, whether the main
facts sought to be established against him were explained to him fairly and clearly
and whether he was given a full and fair chance to defend himself."17.
There are a catena of decisions of this Court on the same lines and it is not
necessary to burden this judgment by making reference to each one of them.
Therefore, in view of
Section 464 Cr.P.C., it is possible for the appellate or revisional Court to
convict an accused for an offence for which no charge was framed unless the
Court is of the opinion that a failure of justice would in fact occasion. In order
to judge whether a failure of justice has been occasioned, it will be relevant to
examine whether the accused was aware of the basic ingredients of the offence
for which he is being convicted and whether the main facts sought to be established
against him were explained to him clearly and whether he got a fair chance to defend
himself. We are, therefore, of the opinion that Sangarabonia Sreenu (AIR 1957 SC
623) was not correctly decided as it purports to lay down as a principle of law
that where the accused is charged under Section 302 IPC, he cannot be convicted
for the offence under Section 306 IPC. XXX XXX XXXThe next question to be seen is
whether the accused was confronted with the aforesaid features of the
prosecution case 45 in his statement under Section 313 CrPC.
His statement runs into
six pages where every aspect of the prosecution case referred to above was put
to him. He also gave a long written statement in accordance with Section 233(2)
CrPC wherein he admitted that Vimla committed suicide. He also admitted that the
scooter and colour TV were subsequently given to him by his in-laws but came out
with a plea that he had paid money and purchased the same from his in-laws.
There is no aspect of the prosecution which may not have been put to him. We are,
therefore, of the opinion that in view of the material on record, the conviction
under Section 306 IPC can safely be recorded and the same would not result in failure
of justice in any manner. The record shows that the accused was taken into
custody on 29-3- 1991 and was released from jail after the decision of the High
Court on 20-3-1997 and thus he has undergone nearly six years of imprisonment.
In our opinion, the period
already undergone (as undertrial and after conviction) would meet the ends of
justice."28. We may also make a reference to another three-Judge Bench
judgment of this Court in the case of Shamnsaheb M. Multtani vs. State of
Karnataka [(2001) 2 SCC 577] which was not noticed in the case of Dalbir Singh (supra).
In that case, the accused initially had been charged with an offence under 46Section
302 IPC but was convicted for an offence under Section 304B IPC as according to
the High Court there was no failure of justice. This Court found error in the
judgment of the High Court convicting the accused of an offence under Section 304B
as the accused was not put at notice of the adverse presumption that the Court is
statutorily bound to draw on satisfaction of two ingredients of Section 304-B.
Therefore, this Court
remanded the matter. It also noticed the conflict of views expressed in the cases
of Lakhjit Singh (supra) and Sanagaraboina Sreenu (supra) and mentioned that in
`cognate offences', the main ingredients are common and the one amongst them that
is punishable with a lesser sentence can be regarded as a minor offence. The Court,
finding that the ingredients of Sections 302 and 304B are different, held as
follows: "15. Section 222(1) of the Code deals with a case "when a
person is charged with an offence consisting of several particulars". The section
permits the court to convict the accused "of the minor offence, though he was
not charged with it". Sub-section (2) deals with a similar, but slightly different
situation. 47 "222. (2) When a person is charged with an offence and facts
are proved which reduce it to a minor offence, he may be convicted of the minor
offence, although he is not charged with it."
16. What is meant by
"a minor offence" for the purpose of Section 222 of the Code? Although
the said expression is not defined in the Code it can be discerned from the context
that the test of minor offence is not merely that the prescribed punishment is less
than the major offence. The two illustrations provided in the section would bring
the above point home well. Only if the two offences are cognate offences,
wherein the main ingredients are common, the one punishable among them with a lesser
sentence can be regarded as minor offence vis-`-vis the other offence.17. The
composition of the offence under Section 304-B IPC is vastly different from the
formation of the offence of murder under Section 302 IPC and hence the former cannot
be regarded as minor offence vis-`-vis the latter.
However, the position
would be different when the charge also contains the offence under Section
498-A IPC (husband or relative of husband of a women subjecting her to
cruelty). As the word "cruelty" is explained as including, inter
alia, "harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing
her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property
or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to
her to meet such demand"..
o when a person is
charged with an offence under Sections 302 and 498-A IPC on the allegation that
he caused the death of a bride after subjecting her to harassment with a demand
for dowry, within a period of 7 years of marriage, a situation may arise, as in
this case, that the offence of murder is not established as against the accused.
Nonetheless, all other ingredients necessary for the offence under Section 304-B
IPC would stand established. Can the accused be convicted in such a case for the
offence under Section 304-B IPC without the said offence forming part of the
charge? XXX XXX XXX
30. But the peculiar situation
in respect of an offence under Section 304-B IPC, as discernible from the distinction
pointed out above in respect of the offence under Section 306 IPC is this:
Under the former the court has a statutory compulsion, merely on the
establishment of two factual positions enumerated above, to presume that the
accused has committed dowry death. If any accused wants to escape from the said
catch the burden is on him to disprove it. If he fails to rebut the presumption
the court is bound to act on it. 4931. Now take the case of an accused who was called
upon to defend only a charge under Section 302 IPC. The burden of proof never shifts
onto him. It ever remains on the prosecution which has to prove the charge beyond
all reasonable doubt.
The said traditional legal
concept remains unchanged even now. In such a case the accused can wait till the
prosecution evidence is over and then to show that the prosecution has failed to
make out the said offence against him. No compulsory presumption would go to
the assistance of the prosecution in such a situation. If that be so, when an
accused has no notice of the offence under Section 304-B IPC, as he was
defending a charge under Section 302 IPC alone, would it not lead to a grave
miscarriage of justice when he is alternatively convicted under Section 304-B IPC
and sentenced to the serious punishment prescribed thereunder, which mandates a
minimum sentence of imprisonment for seven years.
32. The serious consequence
which may ensue to the accused in such a situation can be limned through an illustration:
If a bride was murdered within seven years of her marriage and there was
evidence to show that either on the previous day or a couple of days earlier she
was subjected to harassment by her husband with demand for dowry, such husband would
be guilty of the offence on the language of Section 304-B IPC read with Section
113-B of the Evidence Act. But if the murder of his wife was actually committed
either 50 by a dacoit or by a militant in a terrorist act the husband can lead evidence
to show that he had no hand in her death at all. If he succeeds in discharging the
burden of proof he is not liable to be convicted under Section 304-B IPC. But
if the husband is charged only under Section 302 IPC he has no burden to prove that
his wife was murdered like that as he can have his traditional defence that the
prosecution has failed to prove the charge of murder against him and claim an
order of acquittal. XXX XXX XXX
35. As the appellant
was convicted by the High Court under Section 304-B IPC, without such an opportunity
being granted to him, we deem it necessary in the interest of justice to afford
him that opportunity. The case in the trial court should proceed against the
appellant (not against the other two accused whose acquittal remains unchallenged
now) from the stage of defence evidence. He is put to notice that unless he
disproves the presumption, he is liable to be convicted under Section 304-B
IPC."
29. This concept of punishing
the accused for a less grave offence than the one for which he was charged is
not unique to the Indian Judicial System. It has its relevancy even under the English
jurisprudence under the concept of alternative verdicts. In R v. Coutts (Appellant),
[2006 UKHL 39], the appellant was convicted by the jury of the murder of the
deceased on an indictment charging him with that crime alone. The deceased had
died by accident when the appellant and she had been engaged in consensual sexual
asphyxial activity. The House of Lords considered whether the issue of
manslaughter should have been left to the jury as an alternative verdict which
they could return under Section 6(2) of the Criminal Law Act, 1967.
The Court of Appeal rejected
the appellant's contention that this issue should have been left to the jury by
the trial judge on the ground that for the judge to introduce the possibility of
a verdict of manslaughter on these grounds would have transformed the nature of
the case that the appellant was required to meet. The appellant argued in appeal
that if the trial judge fails to leave to the jury an intermediate verdict in the
alternative which is raised by credible evidence that is an irregularity which
will render the verdict unsafe.
The Crown took the stand
that this was a deliberate and sadistic killing. In resolving this issue, the
House of Lords was simultaneously faced with the broader question concerning
the duty and discretion of trial judges to leave alternative verdicts of
lesser-included offences to the jury where there is evidence which a rational
jury could accept to support such a verdict but neither prosecution nor defence
seek it. Lord Bingham of Cornhill spoke thus on behalf of his four learned
colleagues:
"The public interest
in the administration of justice is, in my opinion, best served if in any trial
on indictment the trial judge leaves to the jury, subject to any appropriate caution
or warning, but irrespective of the wishes of trial counsel, any obvious alternative
offence which there is evidence to support. I would not extend the rule to summary
proceedings since, for all their potential importance to individuals, they do not
engage the public interest to the same degree. I would also confine the rule to
alternative verdicts obviously raised by the evidence: by that I refer to alternatives
which should suggest themselves to the mind of any ordinarily knowledgeable and
alert criminal judge, excluding alternatives which ingenious counsel may identify
through diligent research after the trial.
Application of this rule
may in some cases benefit the defendant, protecting him against an excessive conviction.
In other cases it may benefit the public, by providing for 53 the conviction of
a lawbreaker who deserves punishment. A defendant may, quite reasonably from his
point of view, choose to roll the dice. But the interests of society should not
depend on such a contingency. (emphasis supplied)"
30. Therefore, the
Lords were of the unanimous opinion that the judge should have left a
manslaughter verdict to the jury and his failure to do so was a material
irregularity. The Court of Appeal, following the advice of the House of Lords,
quashed the appellants conviction and ordered a retrial.
31. As is evident from
the above stated principles of law in various judgments, there is no absolute
bar or impediment, in law, in punishing a person for an offence less grave than
the offences for which the accused was charged during the course of the trial
provided the essential ingredients for adopting such a course are satisfied.
32. In the present
case, we are primarily concerned with an offence punishable under Section 396 IPC
and in alternative for an offence under Section 302 of the IPC. The offence
under Section 396 consists of two parts: firstly, dacoity by five or more persons,
and secondly, committing of a murder in addition to the offence of dacoity. If the
accused have committed both these offences, they are liable to be punished with
death or imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term which may
extend to ten years and be liable to pay fine as well. Under Section 302 IPC,
whoever commits murder shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and
shall also be liable to pay fine. The offence of murder has been explained
under Section 300 IPC. If the act by which the death is caused is done with the
intention of causing death, it is murder. It will also be a murder, if it falls
in any of the circumstances secondly, thirdly and fourthly of Section 300 and
it is not so when it falls in the exception to that Section.
33. On the conjoint
reading of Sections 396 and 302 IPC, it is clear that the offence of murder has
been lifted and incorporated in the provisions of Section 396 IPC. In other
words, the offence of murder punishable under Section 302 and as defined under
Section 300 will have to be read into the provisions of offences stated under
Section 396 IPC. In other words, where a provision is physically lifted and
made part of 55another provision, it shall fall within the ambit and scope of
principle akin to `legislation by incorporation' which normally is applied between
an existing statute and a newly enacted law.
The expression
`murder' appearing in Section 396 would have to take necessarily in its ambit
and scope the ingredients of Section 300 of the IPC. In our opinion, there is
no scope for any ambiguity. The provisions are clear and admit no scope for application
of any other principle of interpretation except the `golden rule of construction',
i.e., to read the statutory language grammatically and terminologically in the ordinary
and primary sense which it appears in its context without omission or addition.
These provisions read collectively, put the matter beyond ambiguity that the
offence of murder, is by specific language, included in the offences under
Section 396. It will have the same connotation, meaning and ingredients as are
contemplated under the provisions of Section 302 IPC.
34. In light of the
principles afore-stated, now we may revert to the facts and circumstances of the
case in hand. It is admittedly a case of circumstantial evidence and, thus, the
evidence has to be examined in that context. There is no 56dispute to the fact that
the charge under Sections 396 and 201 IPC had been framed against the accused. The
Trial Court had acquitted the four accused but convicted the present appellant for
an offence under Sections 302 and 201 while convicting another accused, namely Ahsan,
for an offence punishable under Section 411 IPC. The judgment of the trial
court was upheld by the High Court in so far as the acquittal of the four accused
for the offences under Section 396 was concerned as well as the conviction of the
present appellant under Section 396 IPC.
However, the High Court
acquitted Ahsan for the offence under Section 201 IPC which does not concern us
in the present appeal. The charge being under Section 396 alone whether the
accused could have been convicted for an offence under Section 302 IPC without
alteration of charge is the short question involved in the case before us. Let us
examine the evidence for conviction of the appellant on the basis of the circumstantial
evidence. The High Court in paragraph 35 of its judgment has stated the
following circumstances which undoubtedly point towards the guilt of the
accused: - 57"
1. That the deceased
(Jagdish Chandra) left his house/shop for Nehtaur on 30.09.77 to realize the amount
from customers.
2. That he was seen
in Nehtaur Kasba by PW-2 Ved Prakash and PW-4 Gyan Chand on that day who saw him
occupying taxi no. UPS 7293.
3. That the deceased was
sitting in the taxi along with others and appellant Rafiq Ahmad was found on
the driver seat;
4. That the taxi in
question proceeded for Dhampur from Agency Chauraha, Nehtaur in the presence of
PW-4 Gyan Chand;5. That the appellant (Rafiq Ahmad) was arrested by the police on
2.10.77 alongwith his taxi and he made a confession to the IO in the presence of
two public witnesses that he had concealed the dead body in a sugarcane field
near village kashmiri;
6.That subsequent recovery
of the dad (sic) body of deceased (Jagdish Chandra) from the sugarcane field at
the pointing out of the appellant in the night indicates that Rafiq Ahmad
alongwith some others looted the cash and other valuables from the person of
the deceased.
7. That Jagdish Chandra
was done to death by the appellant (Rafiq Ahmad) in the night intervening 30.9.77/1.10.77
58 and the appellant with a view to screen himself from legal punishment caused
disappearance of the dead body by throwing the same in the sugarcane field."
35. The above
circumstances have to be examined along with the statements of Ved Prakash
(PW2) and Gyan Chand (PW4), the witnesses who had last seen the deceased with the
appellant. The statements of the Investigating Officer (PW11) and the witnesses
including Pyare Lal (PW3), in whose presence the dead body was recovered at the
behest of the appellant, by means of recovery memo Ex.PW Ex-Ka 3 are the other material
pieces of evidence which would complete the chain of events and point
undoubtedly towards the guilt of the accused. The accused, for the reasons best
known to him, had taken up a stand of complete denial in his statement dated
20th February, 1981 recorded under Section 313 Cr.P.C. and opted not to explain
his whereabouts at the relevant time.
Furthermore, he was a
regular taxi driver at the stand of Agency Chauraha. It is true that the statement
under Section 313 Cr.P.C. cannot be the sole basis for conviction of the
accused but certainly it can be a relevant consideration for the 59courts to examine,
particularly when the prosecution has otherwise been able to establish the chain
of events. It is clearly established from the evidence on record that the
deceased was a regular trader and used to come to Nehtaur from where he was picked
up by the appellant on the fateful day.
These were certain definite
circumstances clearly indicating towards the involvement of the appellant in the
commission of the crime. The prosecution has been able to establish its case
beyond reasonable doubt on the basis of the circumstantial evidence. There is
no significant link which is missing in the case put forward by the
prosecution. 36. At this stage, we may refer to a Constitution Bench judgment
of this Court in the case of Shyam Behari v. State of Uttar Pradesh [AIR 1957
S.C. 320] wherein the accused after being charged for an offence under Section
396 IPC was finally convicted under Section 302 IPC.
The Court in the said
judgment held as under: "15. It is, however, unnecessary to do so because
in the facts and circumstances of the present case the appellant is liable to be
convicted of the offence under Section 60302 Indian Penal Code without anything
more. The charge under Section 396, Indian Penal Code comprised of two
ingredients:- (1) the commission of the dacoity, and (2) the commission of the
murder in so committing the dacoity. The first ingredient was proved without
any doubt and was not challenged by the learned counsel for the appellant.
The second ingredient
also was proved in any event as regards the commission of the murder because the
attention of the accused was focused not only on the commission of the offence while
committing the dacoity but also on the individual part which he took in the
commission of that murder. So far as he was concerned, he knew from the charge
which was framed against him that he was sought to be made responsible not only
for the commission of the dacoity but also for the commission of the murder in
committing such dacoity.
The evidence which was
led on behalf of the prosecution specifically implicated him and he was named by
the prosecution witnesses as the person who shot at Mendai while crossing the ditch
of the Pipra Farm. His examination under section 342 of the Criminal Procedure
Code also brought out that point specifically against him and he was questioned
in that behalf. Both the Courts below recorded their concurrent findings of
fact in regard to the part taken by the appellant in the commission of the
murder of Mendai. Under these circumstances it could not be urged that the appellant
could not be convicted of 61 the offence under Section 302, Indian Penal Code if
such a charge could be made out against him (Vide our decision in Willie (William)
Slaney v. State of Madhya Pradesh, Crl App No. 6 of 1955 D/- 31-10-1955 ( (S) AIR
1956 SC 116) (F)"
37. The above
Constitution Bench judgment of this Court, in law, squarely applies to the present
case. We ought not be understood to say that the facts of both the cases are
identical. In the case of Shyam Behari (supra), the accused had killed the deceased
while retreating after committing the dacoity while in the present case the evidence,
though circumstantial, is that the appellant had killed the accused brutally
and then hid his dead body in the fields to destroy the evidence.
Thus, suffice it to note
that both the cases have some similarity in circumstances but the principle of law
stated in Shyam Behari's case (supra) is squarely applicable to the present
case. 38. For the reasons afore-recorded, we are of the considered view that no
prejudice has been caused to the appellant by his conviction for an offence
under Section 302 IPC though he was 62initially charged with an offence
punishable under Section 396 IPC read with Section 201 IPC.
Further, the nature
of injuries namely three incised wounds, three abrasions and severing of the trachea,
caused by a sharp-edged weapon as noticed by the High Court in para 34 of its judgment,
indicate that the accused knew that the injury inflicted would be sufficient in
the ordinary course of nature to cause death. The `prejudice' has to be examined
with reference to the rights and/or protections available to the accused. The incriminating
evidence had been clearly put to the accused in his statement under Section 313
Cr.P.C. The circumstances which constitute an offence under Section 302 were literally
put to him, as Section 302 IPC itself is an integral part of an offence
punishable under Section 396 IPC.
The learned counsel
appearing for the appellant has not been able to demonstrate any prejudice
which the appellant has suffered in his right to defence, fair trial and in relation
to the case of the prosecution. Once the appellant has not suffered any
prejudice, much less a serious prejudice, then the conviction of the appellant under
Section 302 IPC cannot be set aside 63merely for want of framing of a
specific/alternate charge for an offence punishable under Section 302 IPC. It is
more so because the dimensions and facets of an offence under Section 302 are incorporated
by specific language and are inbuilt in the offence punishable under Section 396
IPC. Thus, on the application of principle of `cognate offences', there is no
prejudice caused to the rights of the appellant.39. For the reasons afore-stated,
we find no merit in this appeal and the same is dismissed.
.....................................J.
[Dr. B.S. Chauhan]
.....................................J.
[Swatanter Kumar]
New
Delhi;
August
4, 2011
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