[2008] 15 S.C.R. 923

+ ~

STATE OF PUNJAB A

II.

SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. (Criminal Appeal No. 254 of 2002)

NOVEMBER 7, 2008 B I

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, C.K. THAKKER AND

LOKESHWAR SINGH PANTA, JJ.]

CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973: c s. 378 - Appeal against acquittal - Ambit and scope of

- Explained - HELD: In view of the principles enunciated by the Court, there is no scope for interference with order of acquittal passed by trial court as affirmed by High Court - Penal Code - ss. 3021149, 3071149 and.3261149.

D ~

s.374(2) - Appeal challenging conviction - HELD: The High Court has rightly indicated the reason as to why the convict stood at a different footing and how accusations have been fully established against him - Penal 'Code, ss.302134,

E 307134 and 326.

The respondents in Criminal Appeal No. 254 of 2002~ filed by the State against acquittal of the accused, and the

~ appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 587 of 2002 along with two other accused were prosecuted for causing death of F two of the members of the complainant party and injuries to others. The prosecution case was that with respect to elections to various offices of the Truck Union, there developed an ill-will between the complainant party and the accused persons. On the day of occurrence, the G accused, who were five in number, armed with a gun and gandasas, went in a truck to the Truck Union Office and attacked the complainant party. Two of the accused fired gun shots one after the other at the complainant party and

923 H

A three of the accused caused injuries to their opponents.

All the accused then fled away in the same truck. Two of the victims died at the spot nd the third one was taken to the hospital. The remaining two informed the police.

One of the accused died during the pendency of the trial.

B The trial court acquitted two of the accused and convicted the other two. The High Court upheld the judgment and order of the trial court. -+--

In the appeal filed by the State against the judgment c of the High Court upholding the acquittal of the accused, and the appeal filed by. one of the accused against the judgment of the High Court upholding his conviction, the issue for consideration before the Court was as to the ambit and the scope of the power of the appellate court

D in an appeal against an order of acquittal.

Dismissing both the appeals, the Court

...,,...

HELD: 1. This Court in Chandrappa and Ors. v. State of Karnataka*, has culled out the general principles

E enumerated in various judgments regarding powers of the appellate court while dealing with an appeal against an order of acquittal. An appellate court has full power to review, reappreciate and reconsider the evidence upon which the order of acquittal is founded .. The Code of .....__

Criminal Procedure, 1973 puts no limitation, restriction or condition on exercise of such power and an appellate court on the evidence before it may reach its own conclusion, both on questions of fact and of law. An appellate court, however, must bear in mind that in case of acquittal, there is double presumption in favour of the G accused. Firstly, the presumption of innocence is available

to him under the fundamental principle of criminal jurisprudence that every person shall be presumed to be innocent unles_s he is proved guilty by a competent court of law. Secondly, the accused having secured his H

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 925

__,....

~ acquittal, the presumption of his innocence is further A reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened by the trial court.

If two reasonable conclusions are possible on the basis of the evidence on record, the appellate court should not disturb the finding of acquittal recorded by the trial court. [Para 37] (947-H; 948-A, B, E, F] B

~ *Chandrappa and Ors. v. State of Karnataka 2007 (2) SCR 630 = 2007 (4) SCC 415, relied on.

Kallu v. State of M.P. (2006) 10 SCC 313; Ramanand Yadav v. Prabhu Nath Jha, (2003) 12 SCC 606; Harijana c Thirupala v. Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P., (2002) 6 SCC 470; Bhagwan Singh v. State of M.P. (2002) 4 SCC 85; Allarakha K. Mansuri v. State of Gujarat, (2002) 3 SCC 57; Ramesh Babula/ Doshi v. State of Gujarat, (1996) 9 SCC 225; K. Gopa/ Reddy v. State of A.P (1979) 1 SCC 355; Shivaji D " -.- Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra 1973 (2) SCC 793; M.G. Agarwal v. State of Maharashtra (1963) 2 SCR 405; Sanwat Singh v. State of Rajasthan (1961) 3 SCR 120; Aher .· Raja Khima v. State of Saurashtra (1955) 2 SCR 1285; Atley

v. State of U.P. AIR 1955 SC 807; Ajmer Singh v. State of Punjab 1953 SCR 418; Surajpal Singh v. State 1952 SCR E

193; Prandas v. State AIR 1954 SC 36; State of U.P. v.

Krishna Gopa/ 1988 (4) SCC 302 and State of U.P. v.

~ Awdhesh 2008 (9) JT 591, referred to.

Nur Mohd. v. Emperor AIR 1945 PC 151 and Sheo F - Swarup vs. R. Emperor (1934) 61 1A 398, referred to.

"The Mathematics of Proof //": Glanville Williams, Criminal Law Review, 1979, by Sweet and Maxwell, p.340 (342), referred to.

)If 2.1. Considering in the light of the principles enunciated by this Court, the reasonings recorded by the Courts below, there is no scope for interference with the order of acquittal passed by the trial court which was H

,,,

+· affirmed by the High Court. [Para 42] (950-C] t A

"' 2.2. Coming to the appeal filed by the accused, the High Court has indicated the reasons as to why he stood on a different footing and how accusations have been

B fully established so far as he is concerned. There is no

\--- infirmity in the view of the High Court to warrant interference. [Para 43] [950-0] .Jr

Case law Reference :

(1934) 61 1A 398 referred to par~ J4"..---

_,.. c

AIR 1945 PC.151 referred to para 18 F

AIR 1954 SC 36 referred to para 19

. 1952 SCR 193 referred to para 21 D

...-~

1953 SCR 418 referred to para 22 '

AIR 1955 SC 807 referred to para 24

(1955) 2 SCR 1285 referred to para 25-

(1961) 3 SCR 120 referred to para 26

(1963) 2 SCR 405 referred to para ~7

1973 (2) sec 793 referred to . para 28. ~

(1979) 1 sec 355 referred to para 30 ,, z

(1996) 9 sec 225 referred to para 31

(2002) 3 sec 57 referred to para 32

(2002) 4 sec 85 referred to para 33 G

(2002) 6 sec 470 referred to para 34

"('

(2003) 12 sec 606 referred to para 35

(2006) 10 sec 313 referred to para 36 ..

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 927 . ...,.

2007 (2 ) SCR 630 relied on para 37 A - CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 254 of 2002.

From the final Judgment and Order dated 20.2.2001 of the 'High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal B

~ Appeal No. 537-DBA of 1997.

WITH

Criminal Appeal No. 587 of 2002. c lndu Malhotra, Sr. Adv., Sunita Ojha, Kuldip Singh, Ajay Pal and Vikas Mehta for the Appellant.

Prem Malhotra for the Respondents. - The Judgment of the Court was delivered by D "

DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 254 OF 2002

1. Challenge in this appeal is to the order of a Division E

Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court upholding the acquittal of the respondents. The responders were respondents in Criminal Appeal No. 537 OBA of 1997. The High Court heard four appeals but we are concerned with the two appeals only F i.e. Criminal appeal no. 537 OBA of 1997 and. Criminal appeal No. 170- DB of 1997 (Paramjit Singh v. State of Punjab) and disposed the appeals along with two other appeals.

Respondents faced trial along with two others namely Mohan Singh and Paramjit Singh for alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 148, 302,307,326,325,323/302 G read with Section 149, 307 read with Section 149, 326/149, r 325 read with Section 149 and 323/149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1960 (in short the 'IPC'). Another accused Harbhajan Singh died during trial.

-I".

3. The trial court held that the accusations were not established so far as the present respondents are concerned

T--

but found the two co-accused persons Mohan Singh and Paramjit Singh guilty of various offences. Criminal Appeal No. 537 OBA of 1997 was filed by the State questioning acquittal 8 of the respondents. The connected Criminal appeal No. 587 of 2002 has been filed by the accused Paramjit Singh who was

..:,,.- appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 170 DB of 1997 before the High Court.

c Prosecution version leading to the trial of the accused persons is as follows:

On 6th September, 1987 at about 6.30 PM Jit Singh and )-== Jaswant Singh (both deceased) alongwith Nishan Singh (P.W.7), Ghula Singh (P.W.8), Swaran Singh and Bakhshish D Singh were sitting near the office of the Truck Union, Khanauri ...,,...

Mandi when accused Mohan Singh armed with a SBBL gun,

fl'

Paramjit Singh, Sukhchain Singh and Swaran Singh armed with gandasas and Harbhajan Singh unarmed came to the spot in

, l• Truck No. HYA 6595, being driven by Harbhajan Singh. After E parking the truck at a distance of 6-7 kadams from the Cabin, the accused gotdown and raised a lalkara that they would teach them a lesson.for being instrumental in making them lose the elections held to the various offices of the Truck Union. Mohan

Singh accused thereupon fired two shots at Jit Singh Singh and .....

F Ghula singh, Harbhajan Singh then snatched the gun from Mohan Singh and fired one shot hitting Jaswant Singh on his •' arm and back. Swaran Singh, Paramjit Singh and Sukhchain Singh accused also caused injuries to Swaran Singh, Nishan Singh and Ght, Jla Singh.All the accused thereafter re-boarded ,'>

G the truck and escaped from the spot. Jit Singh and Jaswant ·

Singh died almost immediately whereas Ghula Singh, who was in a serious condition, was taken to the Hospital by some --.:· persons who had come to the spot whereas Nish an Singh and Swaran Singh teft for Police Post, Khanauri. Along the way,

H however; they , came across a police party headed by ASI

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 929

("°

[DR ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

Shamsher Singh (P.W.12). Nishan Singh made his statement A

to him at 8.00 P.M. and on its basis, the formal F.l.R was registered at Police Station, Moonak, 25 kms away at 9.30 P .M.; with the special report being delivered to the lliaqa Magistrate at Sunam at 2.30 AM on September 7,1987. ASI Shamsher Singh (P.W.12) also went to the place of occurrence B ,. .. and made the necessary inquiries and amongst other articles

~ picked up three spent cartridges cases of .12 bore. The accused were arrested on 12.9.1987 and Truck No. HYA-6595 belonging to Harbhajan Singh was taken into possession.

Mohan Singh accused also produced his .12 bore gun and two c live cartridges. The spent cartridges and the gun belonging to Mohan Singh accused were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Laboratory in its report (Exh.PRR) opined that the said cartridges had been fired from the gun in question.

...,._ On the completion of the investigation, the accused were D - charged for offences punishable under section 302 and other offences of IPC as noted above and the Arms Act, 1959 (in short the 'Arms Act') and as they pleaded not guilty, were brought to trial.

4. Before the High Court it was contended by accused, E

who were convicted, that the FIR as lodged belatedly and on that basis the prosecution version was vulnerable. There was no motive for five of the accused persons to come to the spot fully armed and cause the death of two persons and injuries to three persons. The State questioned correctness of acquittal F on the ground that the conclusions of the trial court were erroneous, the acquitted persons supported the acquittal.

5. High Court after noticing the argument came to the following conclusions.

"It is true that there appears to be some delay in the lodging of the FIR as the special report had been delivered to the lllaqa Magistrate at Sunam almost 6-7 hours after its registration. We are, however, of the opinion that in the light of the fact that there were three injured eye witnesses H

...- A including Nishan Singh and Ghula Singh, the fact that there was some delay in the lodging of the FIR can be over-

looked. These two eye witnesses had clearly stated to the motive far the offence and detailed the actual incident. It has come in their evidence that Bhupinder Singh apld B Harbhajan Singh had fought the elections to the Tr6ck Union and the complainant party was helping Bhupinder Singh whereas the accused were in favour of Harbhajan ->r-

Singh. The fact that the election were held and Harbhajan

Singh and Bhupinder Singh were the candidates has not

}-- c been denied. We also find that the members of the accused party were closely related to the each other and it was on this account that they had come together to Khanauri Mandi to avenge a perceived insult. The trial court . itself had been conscious of the fact that there were two

D stamped witnesses who had suffered serious injuries on their person, but in view of the fact that there was some

_..,.... ,.,. delay in the lodging of the FIR. , it had chosen to acquit Swaran Singh and Sukhchain Singh accused. We have also considered Mr. Narula's argument with regard to the ·

E culpability of Paramjit Singh. As per the evidence of Nishan Singh(P.W.-7), accused Paramjit Singh, who was armed with a Gandasa, had g_iven a blow hitting Swaran Singh on his left arm. It-is true that Swaran Singh has not been examined as a witness but from the eye witness account

F as also the statement of Dr. Gurcharan Singh (P.W.-5), it is clear that there was one incised wound measuring 3.5cm x 1 cm and one contusion 2 cm wide on the lateral aspect of the abdominal wall on his person Dr. H.L.Garg (OW 2), had also X/rayed the injuries of Swaran Singh but no bone injury had been detected. We find that the injuries G suffered by Swaran Singh have been reflected in the ,__

medical report. We therefore find that the involvement of Paramjit Singh clearly stands established." ~

6.'.Learned counsel for the State submitted that the trial court ad the High Court clearly lost sight of the relevant fact~

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 931 --

[DR ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.] \ .

II and therefore the judgment is vulnerable.

7. In Criminal Appeal No. 587 of 2002, learned counsel for the accused Paramjit Singh submitted that when co-accused have been acquitted there is no reason for the high Court to uphold the conviction so far as Paramjit Singh is concerned.

,_,.

8. In response learned counsel for the respondents-Stte /

submitted that the High Court was justified in upholding1the conviction of the appellant.

9. It would be appropriate to consider and clarify the legal c position first. Chapter XXIX (Sections 372-394) of the Code 1 of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as "the Code") deals with appeals. Section 372 expressly declares that no appeal shall lie from any judgment or order of a criminal ..__ court except as provided by the Code or by any other law for 0 the time being in force. Section 373 provides for filing of appeals in certain cases. Section 374 allows appeals from convictions. Section 375 bars appeals in caes where the accused pleads guilty. Likewise, :no appeal is maintainable in petty cases (Section 376). Section 377 permits appeals by the E State for enhancement of sentence. Section 378 confers power on the State to present an appeal to the High Court from an order of acquittal. The said section is material and may be quoted in extenso:

"378. Appeal in case of acquitta/.-(1) Save as otherwise F provided in sub-section (2) and subject to the provisions / of sub-sections (3) and (5), the State Governmentmay, in any case, direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court from an original or appellate order of acquittal passed by any court other than _a High Court, G or an order of acquittal passed by the Court of Session in

)>- revision. -

(2) If such an order of acquittal is passed in any case in which the offence has been investigated by the Delhi H

Special Police Establishment constituted under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (25 of 1946), or by any other agency empowered to make investigation into an offence under any Central Act other than this Code, the Central Government may also direct the Public

Prosecutor to present an appeal, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), to the High Court from the order of acquittal.

(3) No appeal under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be entertained except with the leave of the High Court.

(4) If such an order of acquittal is passed in any case instituted upon complaint and the High Court, on an application made to it by the complainant in this behalf, grants special leave to appeal from the order of acquittal,· the complainant may present such an appeal to the High ; Court.

(5) No application under sub-section (4) for the grant of special leave to appeal from an order of acquittal shall be entertained by the High Court after the expiry of six months, where the complainant is a public servant, and sixty days in every other case, computed from the date of that order of acquittal.

(6) If, in any case, the application under sub-section (4) for the grant of special leave to appeal from an order of acquittal is refused, no appeal from that order of acquittal shall lie under sub-section (1) or under sub-section (2).

Whereas Sections 379-380 cover special cases of G appeals, other Sections lay down procedure to be followed by

appellate courts.

1 O. It may be stated that more or less similar provisions were found in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (hereinafter referred to as "the old Code") which came up for H consideration before various High Courts, Judicial Committee

-' i

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. . 933

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.)

of the Privy Council as also before this Court. Since in the A present appeal, we have been called upon to decide the ambit and scope of the power of an appellate court in an appeal against an order of acquittal, we have confined ourselves to one aspect only i.e. an appeal against an order of acquittal.

11. Bare reading of Section 378 of the Code {appeal in case of, acquittal) quoted above, makes it clear that no restrictiori's have been imposed by the legislature on the powers of the appellate court in dealing with appeals against acquittal. When such an appeal is filed, the High Court has full C power to reappreciate, review and reconsider the evidence at large, the material on which the order of acquittal is founded ,, and to reach its own conclusions on such evidence. Both 1 questions of fact and of law are open to determination by the High Court in an appeal against an order of acquittal.

12. It cannot, however, be forgotten that in case of acquittal, there is a double presumption in favour of the accused. FirsUy, the presumption of innocence is available to him under the fundamental principle of criminal jurisprudence that every person should be presumed to be innocent unless he is proved to be guilty by a competent court of law. Secondly, the accused having secured an acquittal, the presumption of his innocence is certainly not weakened but reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened by the trial court.

13. Though the above principles are. well established, a different note was struck in several decisions by vario.us High Courts and even by this Court. It is, therefore, appropriate if we consider some of the leading decisions on the point.

14: The first important decision was rendered by the G Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Sheo Swarup v. R.

Emperor(1934) 61 IA 398). In Shea Swarup the accused were acquitted by the trial court and the local Government directed the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court from an order of acquittal under ection 417 of the old Code H

A (similar to Section 378 of the Code). At the time of hearing of

appeal before the High Court, it was contended on behalf of the accused that in an appeal from an order of acquittal, it was not open to the appellate court to interfere with the findings of fact recorded by the trial Judge unless such findings could not B have been reached by him had there not been some perversity or incompetence on his part. The High Court, however, declined to accept the said view. It held that no condition was imposed on the High Court in such appeal. It accordingly reviewed all the evidence in the case and having formed an opinion of its • . c weight and reliability different from that of the trial Judge,. recorded an order of conviction. A petition was presented to His Majesty in Council for leave to appeal on the ground that. conflicting views had been expressed by the High Courts in different parts of India upon the question whether in an appeal

0 from an order of acquittal, an appellate court had the power to ·

interfere with the findings of fact recorded by the trial Judge.

Their Lordships thought it fit to clarify the legal position and accordingly upon the 'humble advice of their Lordships", leave was granted by His Majesty. The case was, thereafter, argued.

E The Committee considered the scheme and interpreting Section 417 of the Code (old Code) observed that there was no indication in the Code of any limitation or restriction on the High Court in exercise of powers as an Appellate Tribunal. The Code also made. no distinction as regards powers of the High Court in dealing with an appeal against acquittal and an appeal F against conviction. Though several authorities were cited

revealing different views by the High Courts dealing with an appeal from an order of acquittal, the Committee did not think it proper to discuss all the cases.

15. Lord Russel summed up the legal position thus:

"There is; in their opinion, no foundation for the view, apparently supported by the judgments of some courts in ·

India, that the High Court has no power or jurisdiction to reverse an order of acquittal on a matter of fact, except in

- I

• / '

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 935

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

eases in which the lower court has 'obstinately blundered', A or has 'through incompetence, stupidity or perversity' reached such 'distorted conclusions as to produce a positive miscarriage of justice', or has in some other way so conducted or misconducted itself as to produce a glaring miscarriage of justice, or has been tricked by the B defence so as to produce a similar result." ..

16: His Lordship, then proceeded to observe: (IA p.404)

sections 417, 418 and 423 of the Code give to the High Court full power to review at large the evidence upon which C the order of acquittal was founded, and to reach te conclusion that upon that evidence the order of acquittal should be reversed. No limitation should be placed upon that power, unless it be found expressly stated in the Code." D

17. The Committee, however, cautioned appellate courts and stated: (IA p.404)

"But in exercising the power conferred by the Code and before reaching its conclusions upon fact, the High Court E should and will always give proper weight and consideration to such matters as (1) the views of the trial Judge as to_ the credibility of the witnesses; (2) the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused, a presumption certainly not weakened by the fact that he has F been acquitted at his trial; (3) the right of the accused to the benefit of any doubt; and (4) the slowness of an appellate court in disturbing a finding of fact arrived at by a judge who had the advantage of seeing the witnesses.

To state this, however, is only to say that the High Court G in its conduct of the appeal should and will act in accordance with rules and principles well known and recognised in the administration of justice."

(emphasis supplied) H

18. In Nur Mohd. v. Emperor, (AIR 1945 PC 151), the Committee reiterated the above view in Shea Swarup (Supra) and held that in an appeal against acquittal, the High Court has full powers to review and to reverse acquittal.

19. So far as this Court is concerned, probably the first decision on the point was Prandas v. State (AIR 1954 SC 36) (though the case was decided on 14-3-950, it was reported only in 1954). In that case, the accused was acquitted by the trial court. The Provincial Government preferred an appeal which was allowed and the accused was convicted for offences C punishable under Sections 302 and 323 IPC. The High Court, for convicting the accused, placed reliance on certain eyewitnesses.

20. Upholding the decision of the High Court and following D the proposition of law in Sheo Swarup (supra), a six-Judge Bench held as follows:

"6. It must be observed at the very outset that we cannot support the view which has been expressed in several cases that the High Court has no power under Section 417, Criminal Procedure Code, to reverse a judgment of acquittal, unless the judgment is perverse or the subordinate court has in some way or other misdirected itself so as. to produce a miscaniage of justice.•

(emphasis supplied)

21. In Surajpal Singh v. State (1952 SCR 193), a two- Judge Bench observed that it was well established that in an appeal under Section 417 of the (old) Code, the High Court G had full power to review the evidence upon which the order of ac; quittal was founded. But it was equally well settled that the presumption of innocence of the accused was further reinforced by his acquittal by the trial court, and the findings of the trial court which had the advantage of seeing the witnesses and hearing H their evidence could be reversed only for vel}' substantial and

\ - '

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 937

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

compelling reasons.

A ,

22. In Ajmer Singh v. State of Punjab (1953 SCR 418) the accused was acquitted by the trial court but was convicted by the High Court in an appeal.against acquittal filed by the State. The aggrieved accused approached this Court. It was 8 contended by him that there were "no compelling reasons" for setting aside the order of acquittal and due and proper weight had not been given by the High Court to the opinion of the trial court as regards the credibility of witnesses seen and examined. It was also commented that the High Court committed an error of law in observing that "when a strong C 'prima facie' case is made out against an accused person it is his duty to explain the circumstances appearing in evidence against him and he cannot take shelter behind the presumption of innocence and cannot state that the law entitles him to keep his lips sealed".

23. Upholding the contention, this Court said:

"We think this criticism is well founded. After an order of acquittal has been made the presumption of innocence is further reinforced by that order, and that being so, the trial court's decision can be reversed not on the ground that the accused had failed to explain the circumstances appearing against him but only for very substantial and compelling reasons."

said:

(emphasis supplied)

24. In Atley v. State of U.P. (AIR 1955 SC 807) this Court

E :

"In our opinion, it is not correct to say that unless the G appellate court in an appeal under Section 417, Criminal Procedure Code came to the conclusion that the judgment of acquittal under appeal was perverse it could not set aside that order.

It has been laid down by this Court that it is open to the High Court on an appeal against an order of acquittal to review the entire evidence and to come to its own concfusion, of course, keeping in view the well-established rule that the presumption of innocence of the accysed is not weakened but strengthened by the judgment of acquittal passed by the trial court which had the advantage of observing the demeanour of witnesses whose evidence have been recorded in its presence. /

It is alsowell settled thatthe court of appeal has as wide powers of appreciation of evidence in an appeal against an order of acquittal as in the case of an appeal against an order of conviction, subject to the riders that the presumption of innocence with which the accused person starts in the trial court continues even up to the appellate stage and that the appellate court should attach due weight to the opinion of the trial court which recorded the order of acquittal.

If the appellate court reviews the evidence, keeping those E principles in mind, and comes to a contrary conclusion, the judgment cannot be said to have been vitiated."

(emphasis supplied)

25. In Aher Raja Khima v. State of Saurashtra (1955).2 1 F . SCR 1285) the accused was prosecuted under Sections 302 and 447 IPC. He was acquitted by the trial court but convicted by the High Court. Dealing with the power of the High Court against an order of acquittal, Bose, J. speaking for the majority (2:1) stated: (AIR p. 220, para 1) "It is, in our opinion, well settled G that it is not enough for the High Court to take a different view of the evidence; there must also be substantial and compelling reasons for holding that the trial court was wrong."

(emphasis supplied)

26. In Sanwat Singh v. State of Rajasthan (1961) 3 SCR

.;. ,.,

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 939

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

~ "'t- 120, a three-Judge Bench considered almost all leading A decisions on the point and observed that there was no difficulty in applying the principles laid down by the Privy Council and accepted by the Supreme Court. The Court, however, noted that appellate courts found considerable difficulty in understanding the scope of the words "substantial and compelling reasons" B used in certain decisions. It was observed inter-alia as follows:

"'"i .

"This Court obviously did not and could not add a condition ' / to Section 417 of the Criminal Procedure. Code. The ... ! words were intended to convey the idea that an appellate c court not only shall bear in mind the principles laid down by the Privy Council but also must give its clear reasons for coming to the conclusion that the order of acquittal was wrong."

-+ The Court concluded as follows: D

"9. The foregoing discussion yields the following results:

(1) an appellate court has full power to review the evidence upon which the order of acquittal is founded; (2) the principles laid down in Sheo Swarup case afford a correct E guide for the appellate court's approach to a case in disposing of such an appeal; and (3) the different phraseology .used in the judgments of this Court, such as,

(i) 'substantial and compelling. reasons', (ii) 'good and sufficiently cogent reasons',· and (iii) 'strong reasons' are F not intended to curtail the undoubted power of an appellate court in an appeal against acquittal to review the entire evidence and to come to its own conclusion; but in doing so it should not only consider every matter on record having a bearing on the questions of fact and the reasons given G by the court below in support of its order of acquittal in its arriving at a conclusion on those facts, but should also

)' express those reasons in its judgment, which lead it to hold that the acquittal was not justified."

27. Again, in M.G. Agarwal v. State of Maharashtra (1963) fi

, . ..

>, 940

SUPREME COURT REPORTS


I .·. ' A 2 SCR 405; the point was raised before a Constitut.ion Bench ,,.

of this Court. Taking note of earlier decisions, .it was observed

~- as follows: r

"17. In some of the earlier decisions of this Court; however,

B in emphasising. the importance of adopting a cautious approach in dealing with appeals against acquittals, it was observed that the presumption of innocen'ce is reinforced 'jby the order of acquittal t; tnd so, 'the findings of the trial -,. court which had the advantage of seeing the witnesses and -'tc hearing their evidence can be reversed only for very substantial and compelling reasons': vide Surajpal Singh

v. State (1952 SCR 193). Similarly in Ajmer Singh v.

State of Punjab (1953 SCR 418), it was observed that the interference of the High Court in an appeal against the

D order of acquittal would .be justified only if there are 'very r.- substantial and compelling reasons to do so'. In some + other decisions, it has been stated that an order of acquittal - can be reversed only for 'good and sufficiently cogent reasons' or for 'strong reasons'. In appreciating the effect of these observations, it must be remembered that these E observations were not intended to lay down a rigid or inflexible rule which should govern the decision of the High Court in appeals against acquittals. They were not I intended, and should not be read to have intended to :•

introduce an additional condition in clause (a) of Section -l_

', F 423(1) of the Code. All that the said observations are ' intended to emphasize is that the approach of the High '" Court in dealing with an appeal against acquittal ought to tbe cautious because as Lord Russell observed in Sheo Swarup the presumption of innocence in favour of the '-,.

G accused 'is not certainly weakened by the fact that he has been acquitted at his trial'. Therefore, the test suggested by the expression 'substantial and compelling reasons' --< should not be construed as a formula which has to be rigidly applied in every case. That is the effect of the recent

H decisions of this Court, for instance, in Sanwat Singh v.

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 941 "'4

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.] ...._

State of Rajasthan and Harbans Singh v. State of Punjab A ...... (1962 Supp 1 SCR 104) and so, it is not necessary that before reversing a judgment of acquittal, the High Court must necessarily characterise the findings recorded therein as perverse."

(emphasis supplied) B

I ~·

28. Yet in another leading decision in Shivaji Sahabrao • Bobade v. State of Maharashtra (1973 (2) SCC 793) this Court 'held that in India, there is no jurisdictional limitation on the powers of appellate court. "In law there are no fetters on the c plenary power of the appellate court to review the whole evidence on which the order of acquittal is founded and, indeed, it has a duty to scrutinise the probative material de nova, informed, however, by the weighty thought that the +

rebuttable innocence attributed to the accused having been 0 converted into an acquittal the homage our jurisprudence owes to individual liberty constrains the higher court not to upset the holding without very convincing reasons and comprehensive consideration."

29. Putting mphasis on balance between importance of E

individual liberty and evil of acquitting guilty persons, this Court observed as follows: . ..> "6. Even at this stage we may remind ourselves of a necessary social perspective in criminal cases which F suffers from insufficient forensic appreciation. The dangers of exaggerated devotion to the rule of benefit of doubt at the expense of social defence and to the soothing sentiment that all acquittals are always good regardless of justice to the victim and the community, demand G especial emphasis in the contemporary context of

)-· escalating crime and escape. The judicial instrument has a public accountability. The cherished principles or golden thread of proof beyond reasonable doubt which runs thro' the web of our law should not be stretched morbidly to H

embrace every hunch, hesitancy and degree of doubt. The excessive solicitude reflected in the attitude that a thousand guilty men may go but one innocent martyr shall not suffer is a false dilemma. Only reasonable doubts belong to the accused. Otherwise any practical system of justice will then breakdown and lose credibility with the community. The .evil of acquitting a guilty person. lightheartedly, as a learned athor (Glanville Williams in.Proof of Guilt) has saliently observed, goes much .beyond the simple fact that just one guilty person has gone ullpunished.

If unmerited acquittals become general, they tend to lead to a cynical disregard of the law, and this in turn leads to a public demand for harsher legal presumptions against indicted 'persons' and more severe punishment of those who are found guilty. Thus, too frequent acquittals of the guilty may lead to a ferocious penal law, eventually eroding the judicial protection of the guiltless. For all these reasons it is true to say, with Viscount Simon, that 'a miscarriage . of justice may arise from the acquittal of the guilty no less

than from the conviction of the innocent.. . .' In short, our jurisprudential enthusiasm for presumed innocence must be moderated by the pragmatic need to make criminal justice potent and realistic. A balance has to be struck between chasing chance possibilities as good enough to set the delinquent free and chopping the logic of preponderant probability to punish .marginal innocents."

.. (emphasis sup.plied)

30. In K. Gopal Reddy v. State of A.P (1979) 1 SCC 355, the Court was considering the power of the High Court against an order of acquittal under Section 378 of the Code. After considering the relevant decisions on the point it was stated as follows:

"9. The principles are now well settled. At one time .it was thought that an order of acquittal could be set aside for

;..- ' •

.-l_.

'-( .

--+

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 943

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

'substantial and compelling reasons' only and courts used A to launch on a search to discover those 'substantial and compelling reasons'. However, the 'formulae' of 'substantial and compelling reasons', 'good and sufficiently cogent reasons' and 'strong reasons' and the search for them were abandoned as a result of the B pronouncement of this Court in Sanwat Singh v. State of Rajasthan (1961) 3 SCR 120. In Sanwat Singh case this Court harked back to the principles enunciated by the Privy Council in Sheo Swarup v. R. Emperor and reaffirmed those principles. After Sanwat Singh v. State of Rajasthan c this Court has consistently recognised the right of the appellate court to review the entire eviden'ce and to come to its own conclusion bearing in mind the considerations mentioned by the Privy Council in Sheo Swarup case.

Occasionally phrases like 'manifestly illegal', 'grossly 0 unjust', have been used to describe the orders of acquittal which warrant interference. But, such expressions have been used more as flourishes of language, to emphasise the reluctance of the appellate court to interfere with an order of acquittal than to curtail the power of the appellate E court to review the entire evidence and to come to its own conclusion. In some cases (Ramaphupala Reddy v. State of A.P., (AIR 1971 SC 460) Bhim Singh Rup Singh v.

State of Maharashtra (AIR 1974 SC 286), it has been said that to the principles laid down in Sanwat Singh case may be added' the further principle that 'if two reasonable F conclusions can be reached on the basis of the evidence on record, the appellate court should not disturb the finding of the trial court'. This, of course, is not a new principle. It stems out of the fundamental principle of our criminal jurisprudence that the accused is entitled to the benefit of G any reasonable doubt. If two reasonably probable and evenly balanced views of the evidence are possible, one

must necessarily concede the existence of a reasonable doubt. But, fanciful and remote possibilities must be left . out of account. To entitle an accused person to the benefit H

-t A of a doubt arising from the possibility of a duality of views; the possible view in favour of the accused must be as nearly reasonably probable as that against him. If the preponderance of probability is all one way, a bare possibility. of another view will not entitle the accused to B claim the benefit of any doubt. It is, therefore, essential that any view of the evidence in favour of the accused must

'f- "' be reasonable even as any doubt, the benefit of which an accused person may claim, must be reasonable." •

c (emphasis supplied)

31. In Ramesh Babula/ Doshi v. State of Gujarat ( 1996) 9 SCC 225, this Court said:

"While sitting in judgment over an acquittal the appellate

D court is first required to seek an answer to the question

whther the findings of the trial court are palpably wrong, +

manifestly erroneous or demonstrably unsustainable. If the appellate court answers the above question in the negative the order of acquittal is not to be disturbed. Conversely, if

E the appellate court holds, for reasons to be recorded, that the order of acquittal cannot at all be sustained in view of any of the above infirmities it can then-and then only~ reappraise the evidence to arrive at its own conclusions."

32. In Allarakha K. Mansuri v. State of Gujarat (2002) 3

,.I,,,,

F SCC 57,- referring to earlier decisions, the Court stated:

 j'7. The paramount consideration of the court should be to avoid miscarriage of justice. A miscarriage ofjustice which may arise from the acquittal of guilty is no less than from

G the conviction of an innocent. In a case where the trial court _thas taken a view based upon conjectures and hypothesis and not on the legal evidence, a duty is cast upon the High -'( Court to reappreciate the evidence in acquittal appeal-for the purposes of ascertaining as to whether the accused

H has committed any offence or not. Probable view taken by

( ,,

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 945

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

the trial court which may not be disturbed in the appeal is A such a view which is based upon legal and admissible evidence .. Only because the accused has been acquitted by the trial court, cannot be made a basis to urge that the High Court under all circumstances should not disturb such a finding." B

33. In Bhagwan Singh v. State of M.P. (2002) 4 SCC 85, the trial court acquitted the accused but the High Court convicted them. Negativing the contention of the appellants that the High Court could not have disturbed the findings of fact of , C the trial court even if that view was not correct, this Court observed:

"7. We do not agree with the submissions of the learned counsel for the appellants that under Section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure the High Court could not D disturb the finding of facts of the trial court even if it found that the view taken by the trial court was not proper. On the basis of the pronouncements of this Court, the settled position of law regarding the powers of the High Court in an appeal against an order of acquittal is that the Court . E has full powers to review the evidence upon which an order of acquittal is based and generally it will not interfere with the order of acquittal because by passing an order of acquittal the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused is reinforced. The golden thread which runs F through the web of administration of justice in criminal case is that if two views are possible on the evidence adduced in the case, one pointing to the guilt of the accused and the other to his innocence, the view which is favourable to , the accused should be adopted. Such is not a jurisdiction G limitation on the appellate court but judge-made guidelines . for circumspection. The paramount consideration of the court is to ensure that miscarriage of justice is avoided. A miscarriage of justice which may arise from the acquittal of the guilty is no less than from the conviction of an H

A innocent. In a case where the trial court has taken a view ignoring the admissible evidence, a duty is cast upon the High Court to reappreciate the evidence in acqLiittal app13al fr the purposes of ascertaining as to whether all or any of the accused has committed any offence or not".

34. In Haiijana Thirupala v. Public Prosecutor, High Court ·. of AP. (2002) 6 SCG 470, thi~ Court said:

"12, Doubtless the High Court in appeal either against an order of acquittal or conviction as a court of first appeal . . .. c has full power to review the evidence to reach its own independent conclusion. However, it will not interfere with an order of acquittal lightly or merely because one other view is possible, because with the passing of an order of

D acquittal presumption of innocence iri favour of the accused.gets reinforced and strengthened. The High Court would riot be justified to interfere With order of acquittal

merely because it feels that sitting as a trial court it would have proceeded to record a conviction; a duty is cast on the High Court while reversing' an order of acquittal to E examine and discuss the reasons given by the trial.court to acquit the accused and then to dispel those reasons. If theHigh Courtfails to make such an exercise the judgment will suffer from serious infirmity:"

35. _In Ramanand Yadav v. Prabhu Nath Jha (2003) 12 F SCC 606, this Court.observed:

"21. There is no embargo on the appellate court reviewing the evidence upon which an order of acquittal is based.

Generally, the order of acquittal shall not be interfered with because the presumption of innocence of the accused is further strengthened by acquittal. The golden thread which runs through the web of administration of justice in criminal cases is that if tWo views are possible on the evidence adduced in the case, one pointing to the guilt of the accused and the other to his innocence, the view which is

~ ....

~- F

"""'( . '

....

./ STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 947

-t-

[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

~ ... favourable to the accused should be adopted. The paramount consideration of the court is to ensure that A

miscarriage of justice is prevented. A miscarriage of justice which may arise from acquittal of the guilty is no less than from the conviction of an innocent. In a case where

admissible evidence is ignored, a duty is cast upon the B

-1 appellate court to reappreciate the evidence in a case where the accused has been acquitted, for the purpose of ascertaining as to whether any of the accused committed any offence or not".

36. Again in Kallu v. State of M.P. (2006) 10 SCC 313, c

this Court stated:

"8. While deciding an appeal against acquittal, the power of the appellate court is no less than the power exercised while hearing appeals against conviction. In both types of ID appeals, the power exists to review the entire evidence.

However, one significant difference is that an order of acquittal will not be interfered with, by an appellate court, where the judgment of the trial court is based on evidence and the view taken is reasonable and plausible. It will not E reverse the decision of the trial court merely because a different view is possible. The appellate court will also bear in mind that there is a presumption of innocence in

, I.-. favour of the accused and the accused is entitled to get the benefit of any doubt. Further if it decides to interfere, F it should assign reasons for differing with the decision of the trial court."

(emphasis supplied)

37. From the above decisions, in Chandrappa and Ors.

v. State of Kamataka (2007 (4) SCC 415), the following general principles regarding powers of the appellate court while dealing with an appeal against an order of acquittal were culled out:

(1) An appellate court has full power to review, H

--t '( A reappreciate and reconsider the evidence upon which the order of acquittal is founded. ·-

(2) The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 puts no limitation, restriction or condition on exercise of such power and

B an appellate' court on the evidence before it may reach its own

conclusion, both on questions of fact and of law.

(3) Various expressions, such as, "substantial and compelling reasons", "good and sufficient grounds", "very strong circumstances", ."distorted conclusions", "glaring mistakes", etc. c are not intended to curtail extensive powers of an appellate

court in an appeal against acquittal. Such phraseologies are more in the nature of "flourishes of language" to emphasise the reluctance of an appellate court to interfere with acquittal than to curtail the power of the court to review the evidence and to D come to its own conclusion.

. (4) An appellate court, however, must bear in mind that in case of acquittal, there is double presumption in favour of the accused. Firstly, the presumption of innocence is available to

E him under the fundamental principle of criminal jurisprudence

th(lt every person shall be presumed to be innocent unless he is proved guilty by a competent court of law. Secondly, the accused having secured his acquittal, the presumption of his innocence is further reinforced, reaffirmed and strengthened by _,...i.,__ the trial court. ·- F

(5) If two reasonable conclusions are possible on the basis of the evidence on record, the appellate court should not disturb the finding of acquittal recorded by the trial court.·

38. A person has, no doubt, a profound right not to be convicted of an offence which is not established by the evidential standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. Though --< this standa.rd is a higher standard, there is, however, no absolute standard. What degree of probability amounts to ;

proof' is an exercise particular to each case. Referring to the

STATE OF PUNJAB v. SUKHCHAIN SINGH & ANR. 949 ' ~

[DR ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]

interdependence of evidence and the confirmation of one piece A of evidence by another, a learned author says [see "The Mathematics of Proof II": Glanville Williams, Criminal Law Review, 1979, by Sweet and Maxwell, p.340 (342)):

"The simple multiplication rule does not apply if the. B separate pieces of evidence.are dependent. Two events -1 are dependent when they tend to occur together, and the

~ evidence of such events may also be said to be dependent. In a criminal case, different pieces of evidence directed to establishing that the defendant did the c _, prohibited act with the specified state of mind are generally dependent. A junior may feel doubt whether to credit an alleged confession, and doubt whether to infer guilt from the fact that the defendant fled from justice. But since it is generally guilty rather than innocent people who make confessions, and guilty rather than innocent people who run D away, the two doubts are not to be multiplied togetheL The one piece of evidence may confirm the other."

39. Doubts would be called reasonable if they are free from a zest for abstract speculation. Law cannot afford any favourite E other than truth. To constitute reasonable doubt, it must.be free from an overemotional response. Doubts must be actual and

j.., substantial doubts as to the guilt of the accused persons arising from the evidence, or from the lack of it, as opposed to mere vague apprehensions. A reasonable doubt is not an imaginary, F trivial or a merely possible doubt, but a fair doubt based upon reason and common sense. It must grow out of the evidence in the case.

40. The concepts of probability, and the degrees of it, cannot obviously be expressed in terms of units to be G

) mathematically enumerated as to how many of such units constitute proof beyond reasonable doubt. There is an unmistakable subjective element in the evaluation of the degrees of probability and the quantum of proof. Forensic probability must, in the last analysis, rest on a robust common H

A sense and, ultimately, on the trained intuitions of the Judge.

While the protection given by the criminal process to the accused persons is not to be eroded, at the same time, uninformed legitimization of trivialities would make a mockery of administration of criminal justice. This position was

8 illuminatingly stated by Venkatachaliah, J. (as His Lordship then

was) in State of U.P. v. Krishna Gopal (1988 (4) SCC 302).

41. The above position was highlighted in State of UP. v .. Awdhesh (2008(9) JT 591).

C 42 .. Therefore on considering the reasonings recorded by the trial court.and High Court we find no scope for.interference with the order of acquittal passed by the trial court which was affirmed by the High Court.

43. Coming to the appeal filed by the accused Paramjit Singh, we find that the High Court has indicated the reasons as to why he stood on a different footing and how accusations · have been fully established so far as he is concerned.

44. We find no infirmity in the view of the High Court to E warrant interference with the impugne9 judgment.

45. Both the appeals fail and are accordingly dismissed.

R.P.

Appeals dismissed.