Court No. - 51
Case :- GOVERNMENT APPEAL No. - 3080 of 1998
Appellant :- State Of U.P.
Respondent :- Mahadev & Others
Counsel for Appellant :- Govt.Advocate
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J. Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.
Heard Sri Rajesh Mishra, learned AGA appearing for the State on the application seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 25.08.1998, passed by Additional Session Judge, Court No.8, Kanpur Dehat, in Session Trial No. 511 of 1993 and 64 of 1995, under Section 498-A and 304-B, IPC, Police Station Sajeti, District Kanpur Dehat, by means of which the present accused-respondent namely Mahadev, Uma Kant, Rama Kant and Shiva Kant, have been acquitted of the offence under Sections 498-A, 304-B, 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:-
^^------------ bl lEca/k esa tks lk{; izLrqr dh x;h gS mlesa vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk ngst ekWx dh lk{kh ek= oknh;k Jherh jke Jh ih0MCYkw0&2 o oknh;k ds tsB jke ukFk ikh0MCYkw0&3 dh lk{; gSA ftUgksusa vius c;ku esa cryk;k fd mUgksa 'kknh ds ckn eatw ;g crykrh Fkh fd vfHk;qDrx.k ngst ds fy, mls izrkfMr djrs jgrs Fks o tku ls ekjus dh /kedh nsrs gSA vc ns[kuk ;g gS fd budh blk ckcr nh x;h lk{; D;k blk rF;k dks leqfpr 'kadkvkas ls ijs fl) ekus tkus ds fy, i;kZIr gSA bu nksuksa gh xokgku us ftjg esa bl ckr dks Lohdkj fd;k gS fd fookg ds le; ngst ds ysu nsu dk dksbZ fookg ugh FkkA ;fn vfHk;qDrx.k dh ngst dh dksbZ ekWx gksrh rks LokHkkfod rkSj ij fookg ds le; gh og bl ckr Hkh mBkrsA nwljk egRoiw.kZ rF; ;g gS fd oknh;k o mlds tsB jke ukFk eatw ds fookg ls igys Hkh vfHk;qDrx.k ds fjLrsnkj gSA buls ftjg esa ;g rF; Hkh fudy dj vk;k gS fd oknh;k o jke ukFk dh bl rF; dh vPNh rjg tkudkjh Fkh fd vfHk;qDr mekdkUr dk fookg mfeZyk nsoh ls gks x;k o og mfeZyk vHkh Hkh thfor gSA lkekU;rk;k dksbZ yMdh okyk ;kg tkurs gq;s] ,sls fdlh O;fDr ds lkFk viuh yM+dh dk fookg vklkuh ls ugh djsxk] ftldh iwoZ iRuh vHkh thfor gks o ftldk U;k;ky; ls dksbZ rydk Hkh ugh gqvk gksA bl izdkj oknh;k eatw dk fookg vfHk;qDr mekdkUr ds lkFk bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa djus dks vklkuh ls rS;kj gh ugh gks jgh gksxhA vr% bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk fdlh ngst dh ekWx fd;s tkus dk iz'u gh vklkuh ls mRiUu ugh gksrk gSA ------------ nwljs egRo iw.kZ rF; gS fd oknh;k jke Jh ih0MCYkw02 us ftjg es Lohdkj fd;k gS fd mlds ikl ek= nks ch?kk tehu gS vkSj mlus ;g Hkh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k ds ikl djhc 30&40 ch?kk tehu gSA nks ekdku gS o VsªDVj Hkh gSA tks ifjfLFkfr;ka vius vki esa tkfgj djrh gS] fd oknh;k dh rqyuk esa vfHk;qDrx.k dkQh lec`) gSA lk{; esa ;g Hkh vk;k gS fd oknh;k jke Jh ?kVuk d le; csok gks x;h FkhA bu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa vkfFkZd n`f"V ls detksj csok vkSjr ls vfHk;qDrx.k ngst dh ekWx djsxss o eksVj lkbfdy dh ekWx dk ncko Mkysxsa] fo'okluh; izrhr ugh gksrk gSA ------------bUgksusa ftjg esa crk;k gS fd e`R;q] iwoZ dh ;g pksVkas ds ckcr cryk;k gS fd ;g lHkh pksVsa lk/kkj.k izo`fRr dh Fkh o ftjg esA ;g Hkh cryk;k gS fd ;fn fdlh VsªSDVj ;k Vªkyh esa ihB ds cky fcuk fcLrj xnns ds fdlh dks fyVk fn;k tkos rks VsªSDVj Vkyh ds pyus ;k mNyus ls ;g lHkh pksVsa vk ldrh gSA bUgksusa tks e`rdk eatw ds vkarfjd vaxks ds dUtsD'ku cryk;s gS] ftudk mYys[k mij fd;k tk pqdk gS o dUtsD'ku ds ckcr bUgksus ftjg esa cryk;k gS fd ;fn dUtsD'ku fdlh Hkh dkj.k ls vk ldrs gSA ------------bl lEca/k esa iksLVekVZe djus okys MkDVj us Hkh e`R;q ds dkj.k dk dksbZ urhtk vius iksLVekVZe esa ugh fudky ldsA ftldk fo'kjk mUgksus lqjf{kr j[kk] ftldh jlk;fud ijh{k.k ds ckn ck;h fd mlesa dksbZ jlk;fud fo"k ugha Ikk;k x;kA ------------vfHk;qDr mek dkUr us vius c;ku /kkjk 313 tk0QkS0 esa eatw ds pksV dk tks Li"Vhdj.k fn;k gS] mls fldh :i esa vLoHkkfod ugh dgk tk ldrk gSA mlus cryk;k fd ?kVuk okys fnu tc og 'kke dks ?kj ykSVk rks eatw us mls isV esa vlg; nnZ crk;k o nks iYVh dhA ?kCjkgV o tYnh esa VSªDVj Vªkyh esa fcuk dqN fcNk;s mls fyVk dj ?kkVeiqj ys x;s] tgkW mls vLirky dkuiqj ys tkus dh lykg nh x;hA ;g lksp dj fd eatw dh lsok ds fy, mldh ekW dks Hkh lkFk ys fy;k tkosA rks og VSªDVj Vªkyh ls eatw dh ekW ds ikl dsybZ xzke ds fy, pyk rks dSybZ xzke igqprs&2 jkLrs esa gh mldh e`R;q gks x;h o VSªDVj Vªkyh ds fgpdksyksa ls eatw ds dqN pksVas vk x;hA Mk0 eqyk;e flag ih0MCYkw01 tks izkFkfed LoLF; dsUnz ?kkVeiqj esa ?kVuk ds le; dk;Zjr Fks] ftUgksus vius c;ku esa cryk;k fd mugksus eatw dh gkyr ns[k dj izkFkfed mipkj djus ds ckn fjQSzal fLyi izn'kZ d&1 fn;k] ftlls vfHk;qDr mekdkUr ds bl dFku dh iqf"V gksrh gS fd og eatw dks 'kkjhfjd vLoLF;rk dh dh bl gkyr esa ysdj igys ?kkVeiqj x;k Fkk] fQj ogkW ls og oknh;k ds xkao VSªDVj Vªkyh ls ysdj vk;kA ftl rF; dks oknh jke Jh ih0MCYkw02 us gh Lohdkj fd;k gSA pwafd eatw dh gkyr cgqr [kjkc gks jgh FkhA tSlk fd Mk0 eqyk;e flag ih0MCYkw01 us vius c;ku esa cryk;kA ;fn ?kcjkgV o tYnh esa VSªDVj Vªkyh esa fcuk dqN fcNk;s VSªDVj MªkbZoj flnnw dks ysdj djhc ds izkFkfed LoLF; dsUnz ?kkVeiqj esa yk;s tkuk] ogkW ls cMs vLirky dkuiqj esa tkus ds iwoZ jkLrs esa eatw dh ekW dks ysus ds fy, lkspuk ftlds fy, VSªDVj Vªkyh ls oknh;k ds xkWo eatw dks ys tkuk vius vki esa LokHkkfod vkpj.k gSA nsgkr esa tSls jkLrs] mcM+ [kkcM+ jkLrs gS mlesa bl lEHkkouk ls bUdkj ugh fd;k tk ldrk gS fd VSªDVj Vªkyh ds mNyus o fgpdksyksa ls ] tc fd VSªDVj Vªkyh esa uhps dksbZ fcLrj Hkh ugh iM+k FkkaA e`rd eatw ds 'kjhj esa ;g pksVs vk;khA vr% ek= bu pksVks ds vk/kkj ij ftudk dh leqfpr Li"Vhdj.k vfHk;qDrx.k dh vksj ls fn;k x;k gS] fdlh izdkj ;g ugh ekuk tk ldrk gS fd vfHk;qDr x.k us e`rd eatw ds lkFk dksbZ dzwj O;ogkj fd;k ;k izrkfMr fd;k gS ;k mlds lkFk dksbZ ekjihV dhA mDr foospuk ds vk/kkj ij bl fu"d"kZ ij igqWpk tkrk gS fd vfHk;kstu i{k vius izkFkfed bl Hkkj dks leqfpr lUnsg ls ijs fl) djus esa vlQy jgk gS fd vfHk;qDr x.k us e`rdk eatw ds lkFk e`R;q ds rRdky iwoZ rd fdlh izdkj dk dksbZ dwzj O;ogkj fd;k ;kg mls izrkfMr fd;k] o vfHk;kstu i{k\ ;g Hkh fl) djus esa vlQy jgk gS fd vfHk;qDr x.k us ,slh dksbZ izrkM+uk ;k dwzjrk eatw ds lkFk ngst ds ekax ds fy, dhA blds vykok izLrqr ekeys esa ;g Hkh egRoiw.kZ gS fd eatw dh e`R;q dSls gqbZ o e`R;q dk dkj.k D;k FkkA bl ckr dks fl) djus esa vfHk;kstu i{k vlQy jgk gSA e`R;q iwoZ dh pksVsa] iksLVekVZe djus okys MkDVj us tks ntZ dh gS] muds ckcr mYys[k mij fd;k tk pqdk gs fd og pksVs e`R;q dk dkj.k ugh gks ldrh gSA e`rdk eatw dk fc'kjk fy;k x;k gS] mldh jlk;fud ijh{k.k fjiksVZ Hkh tks vk;h gSA] mlds vuqlkj mlesa fdlh izdkj dk dksbZ jlk;fud fo"k ugh ik;k x;k gSA iksLVekVZe djus okys MkDVj ch0lh0 /kkjokuh ih0MCYkw04 us crk;k fd varfje ijh{k.k esa e`rdk eatw ds vaxks ds tks dUtsD'ku mUgksusa ik;s gS] og dUtsD'ku fdlh izdkj vU; dkj.k ls Hkh gks ldrs gSa o chekjh o yw yxus ls Hkh gks ldrs gSA vr% fdlh izdkj ;g ugh ekuk tk ldrk gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k us fdlh izdkj eatw dks ekj Mkyk o e`R;q dk dkj.k Li"V u gks ikus ls viu vki esa /kkjk 304ch] Hkk0nk0al0 ds vijk/k ds fy, ;g /kkj.kk ugh dk;e dh tk dlrh fd eatw dh vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr;kas esa e`R;q gqbZ o ml e`R;q dk dkj.k vfHk;qDrx.k FksA ------------blds vykok egRoiw.kZ rF; ;g gS fd vfHk;qDr mek dkUr Lo;a e`rdk eatw dh gkyr [kjkc gks tkus ij ljkdkjh vLirky izkFkfed LoLF; dsUnz ?kkVeiqj mls ys tkrk gS o mldk ogkW mipkj djkrk gS o mldh gkyr [kjkc ns[k dj dkuiqj btky djkus ds iwoZ gks eatw dh ekW dks lkFk ys tkuk mfpr le>rk gS] ftlds fy, og eatw dh ekW ds xkWo tkrk gSA jkLrs esa eatw dks e`R;q gks tkus ij] bl ckr dks rqjUr eatw dh ekW dks crykrk gSA ;fn vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk e`rdk eatw ds lkFk fdlh izdkj dh dksbZ ekjihV dh x;h gks rks o mUgksusa eatw dh e`R;w fdlh zidkj dkfjr dh gksrh rks og Lo;a ljdkjh vLirky esa ys tk dj mldk izn'kZu o mldh ekW dks vfcyEc lwpuk nsus u tkrs] cfYd yk'k dks vius xkWo esa tgkW mlds vius yksx Fks] j[k dj fdlh izdkj tYnh nkg laLdkj dj lk{; lekIr djsu dk iz;kl fd;k gksrkA bl zidkj vfHk;qDr dk vkpj.k mlds funksZ"k gksus dks bafxr djrk gSA ------------izLrqr ekeys esa ;g Hkh fopkj.kh; gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k us vius c;ku /kkjk 313 tk0 QkS0 esa cryk;k gS fd vfHk;qDr mek dkUr muls vyfgnk edku esa jgrk gS] ftl rF; dh iqf"V bl ckr ls Hkh gksrh gS fd oknh;k jke Jh ih0MCYkw02 jke ukFk ih0MCYkw03 nksuks us gh Lohdkj fd;k gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k ds ikl nks edku gSA o bl ekeys ds foospukf/kdkjh gfj'k flag ih0MCYkw05] us ftjg esa crk;k gS fd mUgksusa nkSjku foospuk vfHk;qDr x.k ds xkWo deyk iqj x;k Fkk] tgkW ekSdk ns[kk Fkk o ekSds esa mUgksus vfHk;qDr mek dkUr dk edku] vfHk;qDr egknso vkfn ds edku ls vyfgnk ik;k] ftldks mUgksusa vius }kjk rS;kj uD'kk utjh esa n'kkZ;k gSA tc mekdkUr ls vU; vfHk;qDrx.k vyfcgnk jgrs Fks] rks muds }kjk fdlh izdkj dh ngst ekax djus o mlds fy, eatw dks izrkfM+r djus dk dksbZ iz'u gh mRiUUk ugh gksrk gSA** And the court has also observed that the FIR is much delayed and appears to have been lodged after much deliberation. In view of the aforesaid observation/findings the court has concluded herein as under:-
^^------------bl izdkj mDr foospuk ds vk/kkj ij bl fu"d"kZ ij igqWpk tkrk gS fd vfHk;kstu i{k izkFkfed :i ls ;g fl) djus esa gh vius vki esa vlQy jgk gS fd vfHk;qDrx.k us eatw ds ifjokj okyksa ls ngst dh dksbZ ekWx fd;k o ngst ekWx ds fy, eatw dks izrkfMr fd;k o dwzj O;ogkj fd;k o /kkjk 304ch] Hkk0nk0al0 ds vijk/k ds fy, vius vki esa ;g fl) ugh dj lds gS fd eatw dh e`R;q vfHk;qDrx.k us dkfjr dh o ,slh dksbZ vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa mldh e`R;q gqbZA vr% vfHk;qDrx.k ij vkjksfir vijk/k leqfpr lUnsg ls ijs fla) gksuk ugha ik;k tkrk gS o og vkjksfir vijk/k ls nks"k eqDr fd;s tkus ;ksX; ik;s tkrs gSA** After perusal of the impugned judgment which 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:
1. 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) 1 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, (20 1) 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 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 :- 26.10.2018 VKG