Court No. - 51
Case :- GOVERNMENT APPEAL No. - 2445 of 2015
Appellant :- State Of U.P.
Respondent :- Kallu & 2 Others
Counsel for Appellant :- Govt. Advocate
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J. Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.
Heard Shri Yogeshwar Rai learned AGA on the application seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 10.3.2015 by means of which accused respondents have been acquitted of the offence under Sections 302/34 IPC.
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 heard learned AGA at great length. We have also perused the findings as recorded by the court concerned. Perusal of the impugned judgment shows that the court concerned while returning the verdict of acquittal has recorded a number of categorical findings, relevant of which are being extracted herein as under:-
jkecgknqj }kjk vius izfrijh{k.k esa i`"B la0&2 ij dgk x;k gS fd [;kyhjke dh iRuh ml le; xkao esa jgrh FkhA mlus iku flag ls djko dj fy;k Fkk iku flag ds djko djus ls [;kyhjke ds HkkbZ vkseizdk'k o cztyky dks dksbZ ,rjkt ugh Fkk o [;kyhjke ds ejus ds ckn mldh tehu ds fgLls dh tehu dks tksr cks jgk FkkA [;kyhjke dk ,d dksBk Fkk rFkk [kkyh txg iM+h Fkh mlesa iku flag jgrk Fkk rFkk ;g Hkh dgk gS fd iku flag ls ,d yM+dh iSnk gqbZ Fkh vFkkZr ;g lk{kh iku flag ds [;kyhjke dh iRuh ds lkFk djko djus vkSj ,d yM+dh iSnk gksus dk Hkh dFku dj jgk gS] tcfd v0la0&1 oknh ds }kjk [;kyhjke dh iRuh ls e`rd ds lacU/kksa ds ckjs esa badkj fd;k gS rFkk ;g Hkh dgk gS fd ? kVuk ds le; [;kyhjke dh iRuh ogka ugh jgrh Fkh tcfd v0la0&3 ds vuqlkj [;kyhjke dh iRuh xkao esa gh jgrh Fkh vr% [;kyhjke dh iRuh mDr ?kVuk esa egRoiw.kZ lk{kh Fkh ysfdu mlls dksbZ iwNrkaN dh x;h gks] ,slk dksbZ lk{;@rdZ vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls izLrqr ugh fd;k x;k gSA blh izdkj e`rd ds dYyw dh iRuh ls voS/k lacU/k gksus ds lacU/k esa v0la0&1 ds }kjk tks dFku fd;s x;s gS mlds lacU/k esa dksbZ fu'p;kRed lk{; izLrqr ugh fd;k x;k gSA gkykfd ih0MCYkw0&3 jkecgknqj ds }kjk eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa fd;s x;s dFku fd e`rd iku flag ds dYyw dh iRuh ls uktk;t lacU/k Fks] ij vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls cy fn;k x;k gS ysfdu ek= bl vk/kkj ij vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls cy fn;k x;k gS ysfdu ek= bl vk/kkj ij vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls izLrqr lk{khx.k ds c;kuks ds mi;qZDr fo'ys"k.k ls fu'p;kRed :i ls ;g fu"d"kZ ugha fudkyk tk ldrk fd bUgh vk/kkjksa ij vfHk;qDrx.k ds } kjk e`rd dh e`R;q dkfjr dh x;h gksA v0la0&3 jkecgknqj ftls v0la0&1 gksjh yky us ?kVuk ds le; 'kkSp ds fy;s lkFk tkus dk dFku fd;k gS] us vius eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa fdlh ds Hkh lkFk 'kkSp ds fy;s tkus ls badkj fd;k gSA bl lk{kh us ;g Hkh dgk gS fd mlds lkeus dHkh dYyw vkSj iku flag esa dksbZ fookn ugh gqvk cfYd lquk FkkA blh izdkj eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa v0la0&3 us ;g Hkh dgk gS fd iku flag ds ejus dh lwpuk ls N%&lk<+s N% cts feyh] og ekSds ij igaqpkA e`rd dh xnZu dVh gqbZ Fkh rFkk flj ij xaM+klk dh pksV Fkh rFkk mlus izn'kZ d&2 iapk;rukesa ij vius gLrk{kj fd;s Fks vFkkZr~ ;g lk{kh iapk;rukes ij vius gLrk{kj vkSj e`rd dh tks fLFkfr Fkh] mldk o.kZu dj jgk gSA eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa v0la0&3 us ;g Hkh dgk gS fd ? kVukLFky ij e`rd ds HkkbZ us gh mls vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk gR;k djus dh ckr crk;h FkhA bl lk{kh us eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa gh voS/k lacU/kksa dh otg ls jaft'k gksus dh ckor dgk gS fd dYyw ds chp dYyw dh iRuh ds uktk;t lacU/kksa dks ysdj jaft'k gksxh vFkkZr~ ;g fd bl lk{kh us ^^gksxh** 'kCn dk iz;ksx fd;k gS rFkk ;g ugh dgk gS fd muls jaft'k Fkh rFkk izfrijh{k.k esa Hkh ih0MCyw0&3 }kjk i`"B la0&2 ij ;g Li"V fd;k x;k gS fd ?kVuk dh jkf= dks og gksjh yky ¼v0la0&1½ ds lkFk dgh ugh x;k Fkk cfYd yxHkx 8-00 cts 'kke dks gksjhyky ds lkFk cSBdj vk;k FkkA ml le; mlus fdlh dks tkrs gq, ugh ns[kk FkkA izfrijh{k.k esa gh i`"B la0&3 ij v0la0&3 }kjk vfHk;kstu ds fn;s x;s lq>ko dks lgh crkrs gq, dgk gS fd] ^^;g dguk lgh gS fd eSus dYyw gjh flag o dju flag dks vius gkFk esa xaM+klk ys tkrs gq, jkLrs esa ugh ns[kk Fkk vkSj ;g dguk Hkh lgh gS fd eqdnek oknh gksjhyky ds lkFk jkf= esa 'kkSp ds fy;s ugh x;k FkkA esjk uke oknh }kjk xokgh esa dSls fy[k fn;k eaS bldh dksbZ otg ugh crk ldrkA** vFkkZr v0l0a &3 ds }kjk ?kVuk fnukad dks v0la0&1 oknh ds lkFk 'kkSp ds fy;s tkus dh iqf"V ugh dh x;h vkSj u gh vfHk;qDrx.k ds gkFk esa xaM+klk ;k vfHk;qDrx.k dks e`rd ds ?ksj esa tkrs gq, ns[ks tkus dh iqf"V dh x;h gSA v0la0&3 ls mlds izfrijh{k.k esa fd;s mijksDr dFkuksa dks ns[kus gq,] vfHk;kstu }kjk iquZijh{kk ugha dh x;h gS vr% v0la0&3 ds }kjk vius eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k o izfrijh{k.k esa tks dFku fd;s x;s gS muls ;g nf'kZr gksrk gks fd bl lk{kh v0la0&3 ds }kjk v0la0&1 ds }kjk vius U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa fd;s x;s dFku dh iqf"V ugh dh x;h gSA mYys[kuh; gS fd v0la0&6 ds }kjk e`rd ds 'ko dk foPNsnu izfrijh{k.k ds i`"B la0&3 ij le; 1-30 cts nksigj fd;s tkus dk dFku fd;k x;k gS rFkk v0la0&1 us jkf= ds yxHkx 10-00 cts vfHk;qDrx.k dks xaMkls ds lkFk e`rd ds ?ksj esa tkus dk dFku fd;k gSA vius izfrijh{k.k esa i`"B la0&4 ij v0la0&6 Mk0 }kjk iqu% ;g dgk x;k gS fd mUgksus 'ko&foPNsnu Ms<+ cts nksigj esa fd;k Fkk vkSj i`"B la0&5 ij ;g dgk gS fd e`rd dh e`R;q vk/kk fnu iwoZ ¼12 ?k.Vs iwoZ½ gksuk laHko gS vr% mDr dFku ds n`f"Vxr e`rd dh jkf= ds yxHkx Ms<+ cts ds chp gksuk laHko gS tc fd v0la0&1 ds vuqlkj mlus jkf= ds yxHkx 10- 00 cts e`rd ds ?ksj esa tkrs gq, vkSj eq[; U;kf;d ijh{k.k esa i`"B la0&1 ij e`rd ds ?ksj ls vfHk;qDrx.k dks vkrs gq, ns[ks tkus dk dFku fd;k gS vr% ;fn mDr rF;ksa dks lgh ekuk tk;s rks e`rd dh jkf= ds yxHkx 10-00 cts ds djhc gksuh pkfg, Fkh tcfd v0la0&6 MkDVj ds }kjk izfrijh{k.k esa i`"B la0&3 ij fd;s dFku fd e`rd dh e`R;q vk/kk fnu iwoZ vFkkZr~ yxHkx jkf= ds ,d Ms<+ cts gksuk laHko gS] ls Hkh nf'kZr gksrk gS fd v0la0&1 ds }kjk jkf= ds 10-00 cts vfHk;qDrx.k dks e`rd ds ?ksj esa tkrs gq, vkSj fudyrs gq, ns[kk x;k] lafnX/k gSA vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls ,d rdZ ;g Hkh fn;k x;k gS fd vfHk;qDr gjh flag dh fu'kkunsgh ij oLrq izn'kZ&1 xaM+klk vkyk dRy] v0la0&5 foospd o v0la0&7 mifujh{kd] cztHkw"k.k ds }kjk cjken fd;s tkus dk lk{; fn;k x;k gS rFkk tks xaM+klk cjken gqvk mlesa jDr yxk gqvk Fkk vkSj bl vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDr gjh flag ds fo:) lk{; gksus dk rdZ fn;k x;k gSA mDr nksuks lk{khx.k ds }kjk vfHk;qDr gjh flag }kjk ?kVuk esa iz;qDr xaM+klk oLrq izn'kZ&1 cjken gksuk vkSj mlls lacfU/kr izn'kZ d&9 QnZ cjkenxh vkyk dRy rS;kj fd;s tkus dk lk{; fn;k x;k gSA bu lk{khx.k us xaM+kls dh cjkenxh [kseiky o vej flag Lora= lk{khx.k dh mifLFkfr esa gksus dk dFku fd;k gS ysfdu bu nksuksa esa ls fdlh Hkh lk{kh dks vfHk;kstu }kjk izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA izn'kZ d&9 QnZ ds voyksdu ls ;g Hkh nf'kZr gksrk gS fd vfHk;qDr gjh flag ds }kjk xaM+kls ls gR;k fd;s tkus dk dFku fd;k x;k gS ysfdu blds lacU/k esa dksbZ eheks vfHk;qDr ds c;ku dk rS;kj fd;k x;k gks] vfHk;kstu }kjk izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA oLrq izn'kZ&1 xaM+kls ds lacU/k esa izn'kZ d&14 fof/k foKku iz;ksx'kkyk] vkxjk dh fjiksVZ izLrqr dh x;h gS ftlls xaM+klk e; casV ij jDr ds /kCcs fo;ksftr ik;s x;s] vafdr fd;k x;k gS rFkk oLrq izn'kZ&3 yxk;r oLrq izn'kZ&5 e`rd dh 'kVZ] vUMjfo;j vkSj dPNk ij ekuo jDr ik;k x;k ysfdu cjken n'kkZ;s x;s xaM+kls ij ekuo jDr gks ,slk vafdr ugha gSA ,slk Hkh dksbZ vk[;k izn'kZ d&14 esa ugha gS fd e`rd dk CyMxzqi vkSj dfFkr xaM+kls ij yxk [kwu dk CyMxzqi fdlh ,d gh xzqi ds gksa] dh tkap dh x;h vr% dfFkr xaM+klk okLro esa gR;k esa iz;qDr gqvk rFkk vfHk;qDr gjh flag dh fu'kkunsgh ij cjken fd;k x;k] ;g Hkh mi;qZDr rF;ksa dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, lafnX/k gSA vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls izLrqr mi;qZDr leLr xokgksa ds c;kuksa ds voyksdu] ifj'khyu ,ao fo'ys"k.k ls U;k;ky; dk ;g fu"d"kZ gS fd izn'kZ d&1 rgjhj esa vafdr rF;ksa dks v0la0&1] v0la0&3 ds ek/;e ls ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs vfHk;kstu lkfcr ugha dj ik;k gSA v0la0&1 us ?kVuk ds le; v0la0&3 }kjk ugha dh x;h gSA vU; fdlh Lora= lk{kh ls v0la0&1 ds c;kuksa dh lEiqf"V ugha djk;h x;h gSA v0la0&1 ds }kjk ?kVuk fnukad dks jkf= ds 10-00 cts vfHk;qDRx.k dks e`rd ds ?ksj esa tkrs ;k vkrs ns[kk x;k] v00la0&1 ds fojks/kkHkklh rF;ksa ds n`f"Vxr lafnX/k gS rFkk ?kVuk ds izfr bl lk{kh ds c;ku fo'okl mRiUu ugha djrsA vfHk;kstu izLrqr lk{kh ds ek/;e ls ifjfLFkfrd lk{; dh J`a[kyk izLrqr ugha dj ik;k gS ftlls flQZ vfHk;qDrx.k ds }kjk vijk/k dkfjr fd;k x;k gks] dh ifjdYiuk dh tk ldsA vfHk;qDr gjh flag ls cjken n'kkZ;k xaM+klk ?kVuk esa iz;qDr fd;k x;k] lkfcr ugha gSA vfHk;qDr }kjk xaM+klk cjken djk;k x;k] dk rF; Hkh lafnX/k gS vr% vfHk;kstu izLrqr lk{khx.k ds }kjk ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs ;g lkfcr djus esa vlQy jgk gS fd vkjksi esa of.kZr ?kVuk] fnukad] LFkku o le; ij vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk lk'k; ,oa Kku iwoZd ,d jk; gksdj iku flag dh xaM+kls ls xnZu dkVdj] mldh gR;k dkfjr dh vr% vfHk;kstu ds fo:) varxZr /kkjk&302 lifBr 34 Hkk0na0la0 ds v/khu n.Muh; vkjksi dks ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs lkfcr djus esa vlQy jgk gS rn~uqlkj vfHk;qDrx.k mu ij yxk;s x;s vkjksi ls nks"keqDr gksus ;ksX; gSA After perusal of the impugned judgment it 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 Appeal 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 case for interference has been made out.
Accordingly, the application seeking leave to appeal is rejected.
Consequently, appeal also stands dismissed.
Lower court record be sent back to the court concerned.
Copy of the order be certified to the court concerned for consequential follow up action.
Order Date :- 26.10.2018/SP