Court No. - 51
Case :- GOVERNMENT APPEAL DEFECTIVE No. - 193 of 2018 Appellant :- State Of U.P. Respondent :- Nanhey Counsel for Appellant :- G.A.
Hon'ble Vipin Sinha,J. Hon'ble Ifaqat Ali Khan,J.
There is a delay of 69 days. The cause shown is sufficient.
Delay condonation application is allowed. The delay is condoned.
The office is directed to allot regular number.
With the consent of learned A.G.A. court proceeds to examine the case on the merit.
Heard Sri Rajesh Mishra, learned A.G.A. on the application seeking leave to appeal against the judgment and order dated 29.3.2918 by means of which the accused-respondent has been acquitted by learned Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Bareill in Sessions Trial No. 276 of 2000 (State Vs. Nanhey) of the offences under section 307 IPC and Section 3(2)V of SC/ST Act.
Keeping in view the contention as has been raised at the bar of this Court and the finding as has been recorded by the lower court, at the very out set it may be noted that no illegality and perversity has been attributed to the findings as has been made by the court concerned. It cannot be denied that P.W.2 who has been arrayed as eye witness has been declared as hostile and he has not supported the case of prosecution. As far as the first informant is concerned he has expired during pendency of the trial. The court has given detailed reasons while returning the verdict of acquittal which has been very elaborately extracted herein below:
vfHk;kstu }kjk ijhf{kr ih0 MCyw0&2 djso dks p{kqn'khZ lk{kh ds :i esa ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gSa bl lk{kh us vius 'kiFk ij fn;s x;s c;ku esa vfHk;kstu dFkkud dk leFkZu ugh fd;k gSA bl lk{kh ds vuqlkj og datM tkfr dk gSA gkftj vnkyr uUgs dks og tkurk gSA tks eqlyeku tkfr dk gSA bl eqdnesa ds oknh jke fd'kksj mlds fj'rsnkj FksA vc mudh e`R;q gks pqdh gSA bl lk{kh ds vuqlkj og lksoju tks mlds xkao dk gS] dks Hkh tkurk gSA mlds c;ku nsus ls djhc 15 o"kZ iwoZ og 'kke ds ikSus vkB cts og lksoju ds lkFk ugh tk jgk Fkk vkSj u gh mlus eksfgr LVwfM;ksa dh rjQ eqfYte gkftj vnkyr uUgs }kjk tku ls ekjus dh fu;r ls lksoju ds mij Qk;j djrs ns[kkA bl lk{kh ds vuqlkj mlus lksoju dks pqVSy gkyr esa ugh ns[kkA ,&1& izfrijh{kk esa bl lk{kh dk dFku gS fd [kwu vkywnk diMs+ mls ?kVuk ds pkSFks fnu feys tks oknh eqdnek us vkdj fn;s FksA ml le; oknh eqdnek o xokg izseiky ds vykok vkSj dksbZ ekStwn ugha FkkA bl lk{kh ds vuqlkj mlus tks [kwu vkywnk diMs dCts esa fy;s Fks vkSj tks ijh{k.k gsrq Hksts Fks og vkt mlds lkeus ugh gSA ih0 Mcyw&1 et:c lkscju 'kiFk ij fn;s x;s c;ku esa ;g dFku fd;k x;k gS fd tc og eksfgr QksVks LVwfM;ksa ds ikl igqWpk rHkh eqfYte uUgsa us mlds Åij tku ls ekjus dh fu;r ls Qk;j dj fn;k ;fn bl lk{kh ds mDr c;ku ij fo'okl fd;k tk; rks bl lk{kh dks Qk;j dh pksV lkeus yxuh pkfg, Fkh u fd ihNs dh ihB esa vkSj ;fn uUgs ihNs ls Qk;j fd;k rks fQj bl lk{kh us ;g dSls ns[k fy;k fd Qk;j uUgs }kjk fd;k x;kA ysfdu uD'kk utjh esa izdk'k dh dksbZ O;oLFkk vFkkZr ? kVukLFky ds vkl ikl dksbZ fctyh dk [kEck vkfn ugha n'kkZ;k x;k gS rks fQj va/ksjs tcfd vfHk;qDr lM+d ds ikl nwljh vksj [kMk+ Fkk fdu ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa mlds }kjk vfHk;qDr dh igpku dh x;h ;g Li"V ugh fd;k x;k gS tcfd bl lk{kh us ;g Hkh Li"V fd;k gS fd mldh vfHk;qDr ls ?kVuk ls igys dsoy ,d ckj eqykdkr gqbZ Fkh vkSj mldk vfHk;qDr ls feyuk tqyuk Hkh ugha FkkA bl izdkj lk{kh }kjk vfHk;qDr dks va/ksjs esa igpkuus dk dFku vfo'oluh; izrhr gksrk gSA bl lk{kh }kjk vius [kwu vkywnk diMs dks iqfyl }kjk fy;s tkus dk dFku fd;k gS tcfd ih0 MCyw&4 mifujh{kd vusd iky flag ds c;ku ds vuqlkj oknh eqdnek jkefd'kksj [kwu vkywnk diMs ?kVuk ds rhu fnu ckn vFkkZr 09-11-99 dks Loa; ysdj Fkkus vk;k Fkk ftldks dCts esa ysdj mldh QnZ rS;kj dh x;h FkhA ih0 Mcyw&1 lkscju us ;g Hkh dFku fd;k gS fd iqfyl okys mls vLirky ysdj x;s Fks tcfd bUtjh fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&1 rFkk MkDVj ih0 MCyw&3 ih0ds0,l0pkSgku ds 'kiFk ij fn;s x;s c;ku ls et:c dks jktw uke dk O;fDr vLirky ysdj vk;k FkkA ih0 MCyw0&1 lksoju ds vuqlkj Qk;j dh vkokt ls xkao ds 40&50 yksx vk x;s Fks ysfdu mu 40&50 yksxks esa ls mls ek= rhu yksxks ds gh uke mlds }kjk crk;s tk lds gS tcfd bl lk{kh ds vuqlkj og cpiu ls gh xkao es jg jgk gSA bl lk{kh us ;g dFku fd;k gS fd Fkkus mlds lkFk mldk HkkbZ yYyk o cfgu pUnzdyh x;s Fks mu rhu yksxksa ds vykok dUpuiqj dk dksbZ ugha Fkk tcfd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&3 ] th0 Mh0 ds dkcZu izfr izn'kZ d&5 rFkk ih0 Mcyw&5 ,Q0vkbZ0vkj0ys[kd cztiky flg ds vuqlkj Fkkus ij dsoy jke fd'kksj gh fjiksVZ fy[kkus vk;k Fkk ;fn bl lk{kh ds mDr c;ku ij fo'okl dj fy;k tk;s rks ,Q0vkbZ0vkj0 jkr 9&05 cts Fkkus ij iathd`r djk;k tkuk n'kkZ;k x;k gS vkSj batjh fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&1 ds vuqlkj et:c dk fpfdRlh; ijh{k.k jkr 9-10 cts fd;k x;k gS bl izdkj ,d gh le; ij et:c nks txg fdl izdkj mifLFkr gqvk gksxk blls Hkh bl lk{kh dk mDr lk{; fo'oluh; izrhr ugha gksrk gS vfHk;kstu ds vuqlkj ?kVuk 7-45 ih0 ,e0 dh n'kkZ;h x;h gS ftldh ,Q0vkbZ0vkj0 9-05 ih0 ,e0 ij ntZ dh x;h gSA ?kVuk LFky ls Fkkus dh nwjh <kbZ fdyksehVj n'kkZ;h x;h gS bl izdkj <kbZ fdyksehVj dh nwjh tkus esa oknh dks ,d ?k.Vk chl feuV yxk tcfd ?kVukLFky ls vLirky dh nwjh djhc 20&22 fdyksehVj gS vkSj vLirky tkus esa Hkh mruh gh nwjh yxhA mDr ls Hkh ?kVuk lafnX/k izrhr gksrh gSA blds vfrfjDr ;g Li"V ugh fd;k x;k gS fd ?kVuk LFky ls Fkkus rFkk ?kVuk LFky ls vLirky fdl lk/ku ls x;sA blds vfrfjDr vfHk;qDr dks iqfyl }kjk fxjQrkj ugh fd;k x;k gS vkSj vfHk;qDr us Lo;a U;k;ky; esa vkRe leiZ.k fd;k rFkk foospd }kjk fy;s x;s c;ku esa mlus ?kVuk ls bUdkj fd;k gSA et:c ds [kwu vkywnk diMksa dks fof/k foKku iz;ksx'kkyk vkxjk Hkstk x;k gS ijUrq fof/k foKku iz;ksx'kkyk dh ijh{k.k fjiksVZ izLrqr ugh dh x;h gS ftlls ;g fofnr gksrk gS fd jkefd'kksj }kjk Fkkus ij miyC/k djk;s x;s diMksa ij et:c lksoju dk gh [kwu FkkA blh izdkj et:c dks nl dne nwj ls Qk;j fd;k tkuk crk;k x;k gS ysfdu MkDVj }kjk ?kko ij dksbZ dkfyek vkuk ugha ik;k x;k gSA bl izdkj ekSf[kd lk{; dk leFkZu fpfdRlh; lk{; ls ugh gksrk gS vkSj bu dkj.kksa ls Hkh ?kVuk lafnX/k izrhr gksrh gSA vfHk;kstu }kjk ih0 MCyw0&2 djso dk p'enhn lk{kh ds :i esa ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gS ftlus viuh eq[; ijh{kk esa vfHk;kstu dFkkud dk leFkZu ugh fd;k gS rFkk vius lkeus lksoju ij vfHk;qDr }kjk Qk;j djus ls bUdkj fd;k x;k gS vkSj pqVSy gkyr esa lksoju dk ns[kus ls bUdkj fd;k gSA bl lk{kh dks ofj"B vfHk;kstu vf/kdkjh }kjk i{knzksgh ?kksf"kr djrs gq, izfri`PNk dh x;h gS ftles bl lk{kh dk dFku gS fd njksxk th us mldk dksbZ c;ku ugh fy;k Fkk bl lk{kh dks /kkjk 161 n0 iz0 la0 ds c;ku i<dj lquk;s x;s rks bl lk{kh us ,sls c;ku nsus ls bUdkj fd;k rFkk dgk fd mlus ,slk dksbZ c;ku ugh fn;k Fkk irk ugh dSls fy[k fy;k x;kA bl lk{kh us vfHk;kstu ds bl lq>ko ls bUdkj fd;k gS fd og vfHk;qDr ls fey x;k gS blfy, lgh ckr ugh crk jgk gSA bl lk{kh dh izfri`PNk eas ,slk dksbZ rF; mHkj dj lkeus ugh vk ldk gS ftlls fd vfHk;kstu dFkkud dk leFkZu gks ldsA ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd pqVSy lksoju dks vk;h pksV vkXus;kL= dh gksuk ik;k x;k gS ysfdu fdl vkXus;kL= ls lksoju dks pksV dkfjr dh x;h gS ,slh dksbZ cUnwd vFkok reUpk u rks vfHk;qDr ds ikl ls cjken fd;k x;k gS vkSj u gh bl lEcU/k esa vfHk;qDr }kjk ,slk dksbZ vuko`Rr c;ku ¼fMLdykstj LVsVesUV½ fn;k x;k Fkk ftlds vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDr }kjk Qk;j djus esa iz;qDr vkXus;kL= cjken djk;k x;kA iz'u ;g mBrk gS fd D;k vfHk;kstu }kjk ijhf{kr ih0 MCyw0&1 lksoju rFkk ih0 MCyw0&2 djso ds 'kiFk ij fn;s x;s c;ku dks vof'k"V Hkkx dks fo'oluh; ekurs gq, nks"k nf.Mr fd;k tk ldrk gSA esjs fopkj ls bu lkf{k;ksa ds 'kiFk ij fn;s x;s Ck;ku esa ?kVuk dh izd`fr rFkk ?kVuk dks ns[ks tkus] ?kVuk ds le; izdk'k dh miyC/krk rFkk et:c dks Fkkus tkus] [kwu vkywnk diMs iqfyl }kjk fn;s tkus iqfyl }kjk et:c dks vLirky ys tkus vfHk;kstu }kjk ?kVuk dk dksbZ gsrqd lkfcr u fd;s tkus ds ifjis{; esa rkfRod :i ls ;g fu"df"kZr ugh fd;k tk ldrk gS fd oLrqr% bu lkf{k;ksa }kjk 'kiFk ij fn;s x;s lk{; ds vo'ks"k Hkkx dh fo'oluh;rk bruh gS ftlds vk/kkj ij vU;Fkk lk{; ds vHkko esa vfHk;qDr ds fo:) vkjksfir vkjksi lkfcr ekuk tk ldrk gSA egRoiw.kZ rFkk mYys[kuh; rF; gS fd vfHk;qDr }kjk foospd dks fn;s x;s c;ku esa vijk/k dkfjr djus ls bUdkj fd;k gS blds vfrfjDr vfHk;kstu }kjk fdlh ,sls lk{kh dks 'kiFk ij ijhf{kr ugh djk;k x;k gS ftlds lkeus vfHk;qDr }kjk vijk/k dh laLohd`fr dh gksA bl lEcU/k esa i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{;ksa ds mDr fo'ys"k.k ds vkyksd esa ;g rF; fu.kkZ;d :i ls dgk tk ldrk gS fd vfHk;kstu }kjk i=koyh ij ,slk dksbZ lk{; izLrqr ugh fd;k tk ldk gS ftlds vkyksd esa ;g fu"df"kZr fd;k tk lds fd vfHk;qDr }kjk gh lksoju ij tku ls ekjus dh fu;r ls Qk;j fd;k x;k FkkA ;gh ugh vfHk;kstu ijhf{kr rF; ds xokgku } kjk ?kVuk dh izd`fr ?kVuk dks ns[ks tkus ?kVuk ds le; izdk'k dh miyC/krk rFkk igys nh x;h rgjhj esa vfHk;qDrx.k ds ukfer u fd;s tkus rFkk vfHk;qDr ls dksbZ jaft'k dk rF; lkfcr u gksus ds dkj.k vfHk;kstu dFkkud vkSj Hkh vf/kd vfo'oluh; gks x;k gS vkSj lk{; dh orZeku lhek esa ;g fu.kkZ;d :i ls mfYyf[kr fd;k tk ldrk gS fd vfHk;kstu vfHk;qDr fo:) /kkjk 307 Hkk0 n0 la0 ,oa /kkjk 3¼2½V ,l- lh-,l-Vh-,DV dk vkjksi ;qfDr;qDr lUnsg ls ijs lkfcr djus esa loZFkk vlQy jgk gS vkSj vfHk;qDr vko';d lk{; ds vHkko esa nks"keqDr gksus ;ksX; gSA 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.
In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, it cannot be said that the view taken by the Court below is not possible and plausible thus the judgment of the court below cannot be interfered with by this Court only on account of the fact that another view is possible.
Learned A.G.A. has not been able to point out any illegality or perversity with the findings as recorded by the court below and thus it cannot be said that the view taken by trial court is a perverse view.
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. No interference with the impugned judgment and order of acquittal is warranted. Accordingly the application seeking leave to appeal is rejected. Consequently, appeal is also dismissed.
Let a copy of this order be certified to the court concerned for necessary compliance.
Order Date :- 25.9.2018
Manish Tripathi