State of Punjab Vs. Balwinder
Singh and Ors.
[Criminal Appellate
Jurisdiction Criminal Appeal Nos. 47-48 of 2012 arising out of S.L.P. (CRL.)
No. 7872-7873 of 2010]
J U D G M E N T
P. Sathasivam,J.
1.
Leave
granted.
2.
These
appeals are filed against the common final judgment and order dated 04.11.2009 passed
by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Revision Petition
Nos. 653 and 655 of 2000 for nature of offence and quantum of sentence whereby the
High Court partly allowed the revision petition and reduced the quantum of sentence
awarded by the Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, Amritsar as upheld by the Additional
Sessions Judge, Amritsar under Sections 304A, 337 and 279 of Indian Penal Code,
1860 (in short `IPC').
3.
Brief
facts:
a. On 30.10.1992, one Dhian
Singh-the Complainant (PW-3), after attending the last rites of one of his
relatives at Village Mustabad, Amritsar was returning to Batala along with his
family members in a Jhang Transport Bus bearing No. PB-02-D-9485. The bus was
being driven at a very high speed by the driver-Respondent No. 1 herein.
When the aforesaid
bus reached the bus stand at Mudhal, at that time, a truck bearing No. PB-02-C-9665
which was being driven by Respondent No. 2 herein was coming from the opposite
side at a very high speed. Both the drivers were driving their vehicle at a
very high speed and in rash and negligent manner, as a result of which, both
the vehicles collided with each other and two passengers, namely, Darshan Singh
s/o Bela Singh and Banso w/o Ajit Singh died at the spot.
The other passengers,
namely, Sonia, Dalbir Singh and Ramandeep were taken to the Civil Hospital but
later on they succumbed to their injuries.
b. On the basis of the complaint
of Dhian Singh, FIR No. 125/92 was registered under Sections 304A, 279 and 337
of IPC and after formal investigation the case was forwarded to the Court of Judicial
Magistrate, 1st Class, Amritsar.
The Judicial
Magistrate, by order dated 14.12.1998, convicted both the accused persons and directed
them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 2 years each for the offence under Section
304A and to pay fine of Rs. 200/- each, in default, to further undergo rigorous
imprisonment for two months and to also undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period
of six months each for the offence punishable under Sections 337 and 279 IPC.
c. Aggrieved by the judgment
and order dated 14.12.1998, the accused persons preferred an appeal before the
Additional Sessions Judge, Amritsar. Vide judgment dated 20.05.2000, the
Additional Sessions Judge upheld the judgment and order passed by the Judicial
Magistrate, 1st Class, Amritsar.
d. Questioning the same,
the respondents herein filed Criminal Revision Petition being Nos. 653 and 655 of
2000 qua nature of offence and quantum of sentence before the High Court. The
High Court, by order dated 04.11.2009, while confining to the question of quantum
of sentence only, reduced the sentence of the accused persons to the period already
undergone (15 days) and in addition thereto, enhanced the fine to an amount of
Rs. 25,000/- each.
e. Against the order of
the High Court, the State of Punjab has filed these appeals before this Court by
way of special leave petitions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Heard
Mr. Ashok Aggarwal, learned senior counsel for the appellant and Mr. Sudhir
Walia and Mr. K.G. Bhagat, learned counsel for the respondents.
5.
Before
the High Court, the respondents, who preferred the revisions, did not dispute
the finding relating to negligence rendered by the courts below and confined
their submissions to the quantum of sentence only and prayed that the sentence be
reduced to the period already undergone.
In support of the above
claim, they pointed out that they had suffered a protracted trial for about 17
years and had already undergone custody for 15 days, therefore, prayed for lenient
view by modifying the sentence. On the other hand, on behalf of the State, it
was submitted that inasmuch as the negligence was proved beyond reasonable
doubt, therefore, no leniency should be shown to the accused.
The High Court,
without taking note of the seriousness of the matter, namely, due to the
negligence of the two drivers, five persons traveling in the bus died, merely
because of protracted trial of about 17 years and both of them had served
sentence for a period of 15 days, reduced the same to the period already undergone
and enhanced the fine to an amount of Rs.25,000/- each.
6.
It
is not in dispute that the trial Court on appreciation of evidence and accepting
the prosecution witnesses convicted the respondents for an offence under
Section 304A. The said section reads as under: 304A. Causing death by
negligence.- Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent
act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with
both."
7.
Section
304A was inserted in the Penal Code by the Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Act 27
of 1870 to cover those cases wherein a person cause the death of another by such
acts as are rash or negligent but there is no intention to cause 5death and no knowledge
that the act will cause death.
The case should not
be covered by Sections 299 and 300 only then it will come under this section. The
section provides punishment of either description for a term which may extend to
two years or fine or both in case of homicide by rash or negligent act. To
bring a case of homicide under Section 304A IPC, the following conditions must
exist, namely,
1. There must be death
of the person in question;
2. the accused must have
caused such death; and
3. that such act of the
accused was rash or negligent and that it did not amount to culpable homicide.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Even
a decade ago, considering the galloping trend in road accidents in India and
its devastating consequences, this Court in Dalbir Singh vs. State of Haryana, (2000)
5 SCC 82 held that, while considering the quantum of sentence to be imposed for
the offence of causing death by rash or negligent driving of automobiles, one
of the prime considerations should be deterrence.
A professional driver
should not take a chance thinking that even if he is convicted, he would be dealt
with leniently by the court. The following principles laid down in that
decision are very relevant: "1. When automobiles have become death traps
any leniency shown to drivers who are found guilty of rash driving would be at the
risk of further escalation of road accidents.
All those who are manning
the steering of automobiles, particularly professional drivers, must be kept under
constant reminders of their duty to adopt utmost care and also of the consequences
befalling them in cases of dereliction. One of the most effective ways of keeping
such drivers under mental vigil is to maintain a deterrent element in the
sentencing sphere. Any latitude shown to them in that sphere would tempt them to
make driving frivolous and a frolic.
Bearing in mind the
galloping trend in road accidents in India and the devastating consequences
visiting the victims and their families, criminal courts cannot treat the
nature of the offence under Section 304-A IPC as attracting the benevolent provisions
of Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act. While considering the quantum
of sentence to be imposed for the offence of causing death by rash or negligent
driving of automobiles, one of the prime considerations should be deterrence.
A professional driver
pedals the accelerator of the automobile almost throughout his working hours. He
must constantly inform himself that he cannot afford to have a single moment of
laxity or inattentiveness when his leg is on the pedal of a vehicle in locomotion.
He cannot and should not take a chance thinking that a rash driving need not
necessarily cause any accident; or even if any accident occurs it need not necessarily
result in the death of any human being; or even if such death ensues he might not
be convicted of the offence; and lastly, that even if he is convicted he would
be dealt with leniently by the court.
He must always keep
in his mind the fear psyche that if he is convicted of the offence for causing
death of a human being due to his callous driving of the vehicle he cannot
escape from a jail sentence. This is the role which the courts can play, particularly
at the level of trial courts, for lessening the high rate of motor accidents due
to callous driving of automobiles."
9.
The
same principles have been reiterated in B. Nagabhushanam vs. State of Karnataka,
2008 (5) SCC 730.
10.
It
is settled law that sentencing must have a policy of correction. If anyone has
to become a good driver, must have a better training in traffic laws and moral responsibility
with special reference to the potential injury to human life and limb. Considering
the increased number of road accidents, this Court, on several occasions, has reminded
the criminal courts dealing with the offences relating to motor accidents that
they cannot treat the nature of the offence under Section 304A IPC as
attracting the benevolent provisions of Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders
Act, 1958. We fully endorse the view expressed by this Court in Dalbir Singh
(supra).
11.
While
considering the quantum of sentence to be imposed for the offence of causing
death or injury by rash and negligent driving of automobiles, one of the prime considerations
should be deterrence. The persons driving motor vehicles cannot and should not
take a chance thinking that even if he is convicted he would be dealt with
leniently by the Court.
For lessening the
high rate of motor accidents due to careless and callous driving of vehicles, the
courts are expected to consider all relevant facts and circumstances bearing on
the question of sentence and proceed to impose a sentence commensurate with the
gravity of the offence if the prosecution is able to establish the guilt beyond
reasonable doubt.
12.
In
the light of the above principles, we express our inability to accept the
reasoning of the High Court in reducing the sentence of imprisonment to the
period already undergone, that is, 15 days. Merely because the fine amount has been
enhanced to Rs.25,000/- each, is also not a sufficient ground to drastically reduce
the sentence, particularly, in a case where five persons died due to the negligent
act of both the drivers of the bus and the truck.
Accordingly, we set
aside the impugned order of the High Court and impose a sentence of rigorous imprisonment
for six months with a fine of Rs. 5,000/- each. The trial Court is directed to
take appropriate steps for surrender of the accused in both the appeals to
serve 9the remaining period of sentence. The appeals are allowed to the extent
mentioned above.
...........................................J.
(P. SATHASIVAM)
...........................................J.
(J. CHELAMESWAR)
NEW
DELHI;
JANUARY
6, 2012.
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