Court No. - 51
Case :- GOVERNMENT APPEAL No. - 543 of 2018 Appellant :- State Of U.P.
Respondent :- Bhura Urf Jalaluddin And 2 Ors.
Counsel for Appellant :- G.A.
Counsel for Respondent :- Amit Daga,Amit Daga,Piyush Kumar Shukla
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J. Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.
Heard Sri O. P. Mishra, learned AGA on the application seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 16.1.2018 by means of which all the accused persons have been acquitted.
Learned A.G.A. has strongly pressed the application with the contention that the prosecution evidence has not been appreciated by the court concerned in its correct perspective. He has submitted that the finding of acquittal recorded by learned trial judge is against the evidence on record. He next submitted that the learned trial judge has committed a patent error of law and ignored the material evidence on record while holding that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge against the accused respondents beyond the reasonable doubt.
We have perused the impugned judgment. Perusal of the impugned judgment shows that the concerned court has recorded categorical findings after perusing the entire evidence on record, some of which read as under:
“fdlh Hkh Lora= lk{kh dks U;k;ky; eas izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA nksukas lk{kh er` d ds ekew gSa] tks ?kVukLFky ls nwj fuokl djrs gSa] mudh ekSds ij mifLFkfr LokHkkfod ugh gSA ;g nksuks lk{kh ?kVuk ds p'enhn lk{kh ugha gS] D;ksafd ;fn nksuks lk{kh ?kVukLFky ds p'enhn lk{kh gksrs] rc muds }kjk ftl izdkj pksV dkfjr djuk dgk x;k gS] esMhdy fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj mlh izdkj dh pksVsa e`rd ds 'kjhj ij ekStwn gksrhaA ;g Hkh cgl dh x;h gS fd e`rd vkijkf/kd izo`fRr dk O;fDr FkkA mldh vusdksa yksxkas ls jaft'k FkhA mldh gR;k fdlh Hkh O;fDr }kjk dh tk ldrh gSA ih0MCyw0&1 eksgEen valkj us ?kVuk dk ;g fooj.k izLrqr fd;k gS fd ^^jkf'kn vius ekew bjQku ds lkFk futke ds ?kj ds lkeus ls tk jgs Fks mlh le; futke dqjS'kh] vykmn~nhu dqjS'kh us vius yM+dks ls ftleas Hkjw k] Qjhn] vtgj ls dgk fd bl jkf'kn ekjnpksn dks tku ls ekj nksA Qjhn us fØdsV cSV ls jkf'kn dks ekjk ftlls og yM+[kM+kdj vQlj dqjS'kh ds pcwrjs ij cSB x;k FkkA mlh le; reapkuqek jkbQy ls jkf'kn ds flj eas xksyh ekj nh Fkh ftll jkf'kn ds flj dk Hkstk ckgj vk x;k Fkk] mlh le; Hkwjs us jkf'kn dks ykrsa ekjh FkhA** bl lk{kh ds c;ku ds voyksdu ls Kkr gksrk gS fd futke dqjS'kh ,oa vykmn~nhu dqjS'kh dk jksy dsoy yydkjus dk crk;k x;k gSA bu nksuks vfHk;qDrkas ds fdlh d`R; dk dksbZ mYys[k ugh fd;k x;k gSA Hkwjk] Qjhn vkSj vtgj] vykmn~nhu ds yM+ds ugh gSA ;g rhuks O;fDr futke ds yM+ds gSa] blfy, bu nksuks O;fDr;kas }kjk l;a qDr :i ls rhuksa vfHk;qDrksa dks vius yM+ds crkrs gq;s mUgs jkf'kn dks ekj nsus dh vkKk nsus dk volj izkIr ugh gSA ;g rF; loZ&fofnr gS fd fdlh Hkh vijkf/kd ?kVuk eas ifjokj ds vfrfjDr lnL;ksa dks Qalk;k tkrk gS] blfy, U;k;ky; dk ;g nkf;Ro gS fd Hkwls ls xasgw dks vyx fd;k tk;s] ;kfu lR; ,oa vlR; eas vra j LFkkfir fd;k tk;As pwafd vykmn~nhu dqjS'kh ,oa futke dqjS'kh ds gkFk eas u rks dksbZ gfFk;kj n'kkZ;s x;s gS u gh vijk/k ?kfVr djus eas dksbZ lgk;rk dkfjr dh x;h] blfy, bu nksuks vfHk;qDrksa dh lafyIrrk bu lkf{k;kas gSA ds c;kuks ds vk/kkj ij lafnX/k izrhr gksrh ih0MCyw0&1 us c;ku fn;k gS fd Qjhn us fØdsV cSV ls jkf'kn dks ekjk ftlls og yM+[kM+kdj vQlj dqjS'kh ds pcwrjs ij cSB x;k FkkA mlh le; reapkuqek jkbQy ls jkf'kn ds flj eas xkys h ekj nh Fkh] ftlls jkf'kn ds flj ls Hkstk ckgj vk x;k FkkA bl izdkj bl lk{kh us ;g c;ku ugh fn;k fd xksyh fdlds }kjk ekjh x;hA vr% bl lk{kh ds c;ku ds vuqlkj xksyh ekjus okys O;fDr dk uke Hkh Li"V ugh gqvkA bl lk{kh }kjk ftl izdkj pksV igaqpkuk dgk x;k gS] ml izdkj dh {kfr esMhdy fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj ekStwn gS ;k ugh vkSj bl varj dk D;k izHkko gS] bl ij ppkZ vkxs pydj dh tk;sxhA bl lk{kh us ;g c;ku fn;k gS fd Hkwjs us jkf'kn dks ykras ekjh] ijra q ftl le; fdlh O;fDr ds Åij vkXus;kL= tSls gfFk;kj ls izgkj fd;k tkrk gS] rc vU; dksbZ fugRFkk O;fDr e`rd ds 'kjhj ds ikl ykr ekjus dh fLFkfr eas ugh gks ldrk] D;kasfd bl fLFkfr eas 'kjhj ds ikl ekStwn O;fDr dks Hkh xksyh yxus dh vk'kadk jgsxh] blfy, xksyh pyus ds volj ij vU; dksbZ vkØe.kdkjh ihfM+r O;fDr ds 'kjhj ds ikl ugh gks ldrk] blfy, Hkwjs }kjk e`rd ds 'kjhj eas ykras ekjus okyh lk{; Hkh fdlh izKkoku O;fDr ds fy, xzkg; ugh gks ldrhA bl vfHk;qDr dks Hkh vijk/k eas lfa yIr djus ds mn~ns'; ls] bldk ;g jksy crk;k x;k gSA ih0MCyw0&2 eksgEen bjQku dqjS'kh us ?kVuk ds laca/k eas c;ku fn;k gS fd e`rd jkf'kn ejs k Hkkta k FkkA fnukad 13-04-15 dks le; djhc fnu ds 1-30 cts eSa vkSj jkf'kn vius ?kj ls jkf'kn ds ?kj dks tk jgs Fks] tSls gh ge yksx futke ds ?kj ds lkeus igqaps rHkh ogka futke vkSj vykmn~nhu us vius yM+dks Qjhn] vtgj o Hkwjs ls dgk fd jkf'kn eknjpksn dks tku ls [kRe dj nksA rc Qjhn us fØdsV cSV ls jkf'kn dks flj ij ekjk] ftlls og yM+[kM+kdj vQlj HkkbZ ds pcwrjs ij fxj x;k] rc vtgj us mlds flj eas xksyh ekjh ftlls mldk Hktks ckgj vk x;k] fQj Hkwjs us jkf'kn dks ykras ekjhA ekjus ds ckn ;s yksx vksjNk xsV dh vksj Hkkx x;sA bl ?kVuk dks esjs cM+s HkkbZ eks0 valkj o lkuw us ns[kkA ekSds ij FkksM+h nsj ckn iqfyl vk x;h FkhA ekSds ij yk'k dk iapukek Hkjk x;k FkkA bl lk{kh us Li"V c;ku fn;k gS fd Qjhn us fØdsV cSV jkf'kn ds flj ij ekjk] ftlls og yM+ [kM+kdj vQlj ds pcwrjs ij fxj x;k blds ckn vtgj us mlds flj eas xkys h ekjhA bu nkus ks vkØe.kksa ds i'pkr bl lk{kh us Hkh dFku fd;k gS fd Hkwjs us jkf'kn dks ykr ekjhA Hkwjs }kjk jkf'kn dks ykr ekjus dh lk{; dh vf/klaHkkO;rk ij Åij fopkj fd;k tk pqdk gSA vr% iqu% fo'ys"k.k dh vko';drk ugh gSA bl lk{kh us Hkh vykmn~nhu vkSj futke dk dksbZ 'kjhfjd jksy ugh n'kkZ;k gSA bl lk{kh ds c;ku ls Hkh tkfgj gksrk gS fd ifjokj ds lHkh lnL;ksa dks lafyIr djus ds mn~ns'; ls futke] vykmn~nhu ,oa Hkwjs dks Hkh vijk/k eas lfa yIr djus dk c;ku fn;k x;k gSA bl lk{kh us vfHk;qDr Qjhn }kjk csV ls vkØe.k djus ,oa vtgj }kjk e`rd ds flj ij xksyh ekjus dk c;ku fn;k gSA bl lk{kh dk c;ku nsj ls vafdr djus ds fcUnq ij cpko i{k ds fo}ku vf/koDrkvkas dh vkjs ls cgl dh x;h gSA vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls fu;qDr fo}ku izkbosV vf/koDrk dk rdZ gS fd vfHk;qDrkas eas ls ,d ikVhZ fo'ks"k dk inkf/kdkjh gSA rRle; ml ikVhZ ds usr`Ro dh ljdkj FkhA foospuk djus okyh ,tsUlh ds nckc us vkdj foospuk dks vatke fn;k gS] blfy, lkf{k;ksa ds c;ku ntZ djus dh frfFk nsj ls vafdr dh gS] tcfd ?kVuk ds ckn gh bl lk{kh dk c;ku ntZ fd;k tk pqdk Fkk vkSj iqu% ,d ekg i'pkr bl lk{kh dk c;ku ntZ fd;k x;kA blh ?kVukLFky ls foopsukf/kdkjh }kjk [kwu vkywnk o lknk feV~Vh izkIr dh x;h] bldh QnZ rS;kj dh x;h] ftldh QnZ dks izn'kZ d&7 ds :i eas lkfcr fd;k x;k gSA ?kVukLFky ls ,d iaspdl Hkh cjken fd;k x;k ftldh QnZ rS;kj dh x;hA cpko i{k ds fo}ku vf/koDrkvkas dk rdZ gS fd ipsa dl ls vkØe.k djus dk fdlh lk{kh dk dksbZ c;ku ugh gS] rc ?kVukLFky ls iaspdl dh cjkenxh vfHk;kstu lkf{k;ks dh lk{; dks vlR; lkfcr djrh gSA isapdl tSls gfFk;kj dh dksbZ pksV ih0MCyw0&4 MkDVj lDlsuk ds c;ku ds vuqlkj Hkh e`rd dks dkfjr ugh gq;h gSA vr% ?kVukLFky ij iaspdl dk feyuk vfHk;kstu dsl dks udkjus dk vk/kkj ugh gSA ?kVuk dk gsrqd ;g crk;k x;k gS fd e`rd us rhu fnu iwoZ futke dh iq=h ls fudkg dj fy;k FkkA bl fudkg dks lkfcr djus ds fy, vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls ,d fudkgukek ls lacaf/kr nLrkost is'k fd;k x;k gS] ijarq bl nLrkost dks rS;kj djus okys O;fDr dks U;k;ky; eas izLrqr ugh fd;k x;k gSA blh izdkj fudkg djkus okys ekSyoh dks Hkh U;k;ky; eas izLrqr ugh fd;k x;k gSA ftl yM+dh ls fudkg gksuk dgk tkrk gS] mls Hkh lk{; eas izLrrq ugh fd;k x;k gSA U;k;ky; ds ek/;e ls Hkh lkf{k;kas dks cqykus dk dkbZs vkons u izLrrq ugh fd;k x;k gS] blfy, fudkg dk rF; lkfcr ugh gSA bl izdkj vfHk;kstu }kjk tks gsrqd n'kkZ;k x;k gS] og vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls lkfcr ugh fd;k x;k gSA vfHk;qDr Qjhn ,oa vtgj ds fo:) jkf'kn dh gR;k djus dk vkjksi lkfcr gSA 'ks"k vfHk;qDrx.k Hkwjs mQZ tykymnnhu] futke mQZ futkeqnhu ,oa vykmnnhu dh vijk/k eas lfa yIrrk lfa nX/k gSA ---------- bl izdkj vfHk;kstu }kjk izLrqr dh x;h lk{;ksa ds vk/kkj ij dsoy vfHk;qDr Qjhn ,oa vtgj ds fo:) vkjksi lansg ls ijs lkfcr gksrs gS vkSj vfHk;kstu }kjk 'ks"k vfHk;qDrkas Hkjw s mQZ tykymnnhu] futke mQZ futkeqnhu ,oa vykmnnhu ds laca/k eas dh x;h lk{; udkjus ;ksX; gSA izLrqr -------------- vfHk;qDr Hkwjs mQZ tykymnnhu] futke mQZ futkeqnhu ,oa vykmnnhu lansg dk ykHk izkIr djus ds fy, vf/kd`r gSA bl izdkj ?kVuk eas 'kkfey O;fDr;ksa dh la[;k nks jg tkrh gSA rnuqlkj /kkjk 147] 148 ,oa 149 Hkk0na0la0 dk vkjksi foQy gksrk gSA ---------------- vr% lHkh vfHk;qDrksa Qjhn] vtgj] Hkwjs mQZ tykymnnhu] futke mQZ futkeqnhu ,oa vykmnnhu ds fo:) /kkjk 504 Hkk0na0la0 dk vkjksi lkfcr ugh gSA ------------- vfHk;qDrksa ds fo:) ,d vU; vkjksi 341@149 Hkk0na0la0 dk yxk;k x;k gSA pwafd rhu vfHk;qDrkas Hkjw s mQZ tykymnnhu] futke mQZ futkeqnhu ,oa vykmnnhu dh vijk/k eas lfa yIrrk ugh ik;h x;h] blfy, vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls yxk;k x;k ;g vkjksi Hkh foQy gks tkrk gSA ---------- vfHk;qDr Qjhn ,oa vtgj dks /kkjk 302 lifBr 34 Hkk0na0la0 ds rgr jkf'kn dh gR;k djus ds vkjksi eas nk"s kfl) ik;k tkrk gS rFkk vfHk;qDr vtgj dks /kkjk 25 vk;q/k vf/kfu;e ds vkjksi nks"kfl) fd;k tkrk gSA vfHk;qDrx.k Hkwjs mQZ tykymnnhu] futke mQZ futkeqnhu ,oa vykmnnhu dks lHkh vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k tkrk gSA”
After perusal of the impugned judgment shows that the trial court after a thorough marshalling of the facts of the case and a microscopic scrutiny of the evidence on record has held that the prosecution has failed to prove the charge against the accused respondents and the findings recorded by the learned trial judge in the impugned judgment are based upon evidence and supported by cogent reasons.
It is an established position of law that if the court below has taken a view which is a possible view in a reasonable manner, then the same shall not be interfered with.
At this stage, reference may be made to the recent judgment of the Apex Court rendered in the case of Bannareddy & Ors. vs. The State of Karnataka & Ors reported in 2018 (5) SCC 790 wherein the Apex Court has held as under:
11. Before we proceed further to peruse the finding of the High Court, it is relevant to discuss the power and jurisdiction of the High Court while interfering in an appeal against acquittal. It is well settled principle of law that the High Court should not interfere in the well reasoned order of the trial court which has been arrived at after proper appreciation of the evidence. The High Court should give due regard to the findings and the conclusions reached by the trial court unless strong and compelling reasons exist in the evidence itself which can dislodge the findings itself. This principle has further been elucidated in the case of Sambhaji Hindurao Deshmukh and Ors. vs. State of Maharashtra, (2008) 11 SCC 186, para 13, wherein this Court observed that: “The High Court will interfere in appeals against acquittals, only where the trial court makes wrong assumptions of material facts or fails to appreciate the evidence properly. If two views are reasonably possible from the evidence on record, one favouring the accused and one against the accused, the High Court is not expected to reverse the acquittal merely because it would have taken the view against the accused had it tried the case. The very fact that two views are possible makes it clear that the prosecution has not proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and consequently the accused is entitled to benefit of doubt.
12. It is not in dispute that the presumption of innocence is further reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened against the acquitted accused by the judgment in his favor. [Vide Rabindra Kumar Pal @ Dara Singh vs. Republic of India, (2011) 2 SCC 490 in para.
94].
27. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, we hold that the prosecution was not able to establish the guilt of the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt. Further, the High Court should not have re-appreciated evidences in its entirety, especially when there existed no grave infirmity in the findings of the trial court. There exists no justification behind setting aside the order of acquittal passed by the trial court, especially when the prosecution case suffers from several contradictions and infirmities. No specific assertion could be proved regarding the role and involvement of the accused persons. Further, certain actions of the victim- respondents themselves are dubious, for instance admitting themselves later in a Multi- speciality hospital without proper cause. It has further come to our notice that respondents have already compromised and have executed a compromise deed to that extent, though the same is not the basis for our conclusion.
Reference may also be made to the judgments of the Apex Court rendered in the cases of Sanmwat Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in 1961 SC 715, Murlidhar @ Gidda & Anr. Vs. State of Karnataka decided on 09.04.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 791 of 2011, Basappa Vs. State of Karnataka decided on 27.02.2014 passed in Criminal Appea l No. 512 of 2014, Ashok Rai Vs. State of U.P. & Ors. Decided on 15.04.2014 in Criminal Appeal No. 1508 of 2005, Ramesh Harijan vs. State of U.P. 2012 AIR SCW 2990 and Murugesan v. State through Inspector of Police reported in 2012 AIR SCW 5627.
Thus, in view of aforesaid consistent legal position as elaborated above and also in view of the fact that learned A.G.A. has failed to point out any illegality or perversity with the findings so recorded in the impugned order, no interference with the impugned judgment and order of acquittal is warranted.
Accordingly leave to appeal is refused and application is rejected. Consequently, the appeal also stands dismissed.
Copy of the order be certified to the court concerned for consequential follow up action.
Order Date :- 24.9.2018 Kuldeep