Case ID: 6823

Judgment:
Criminal Appeal No. 393 of 1979. From the Judgment and Order dated 26.4.1979 of the Tamil Nadu High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 197 of 1978 and Crl. Revision Case No. 833 of 1977. U.R. Lalit and K.R. Choudhary for the Appellants. K.V. Venkataraman for the Respondent. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KULDIP SINGH	 J. Parusuraman @ Velladurai	 Karuppaiah	 Nagasundaram and four others (hereinafter referred to as A1 to A7) were tried for the murder of one Jawahar. Three charges were framed against them. A7 was charged under Section 302 read with Section 109	 I.P.C. for instigating A1 to 6 to commit the murder. The second charge related to rioting wherein A1	 A2	 A4	 A5 and A3	 A6 were tried under Sections 147 and 148 I.P.C. respectively. The third charge under Section 302 read with Section 149	 I.P.C. was against Al to A6 on the allegations that Al	 A2	 A4 and A5 armed with sticks	 A3 armed with aruval (bill hook) and A6 armed with vel stick (spear stick)	 attacked Jawahar at about 8.30 A.M. on January 2.8	 1977 and caused him multiple injuries as a result of which he died on the same day. All the ac cused persons were acquitted by the learned Trial Judge. On appeal the High Court maintained the acquittal of A4 to A7 but reversed the findings in respect. of A1to A3. Believing the prosecution evidence	 the High Court came to the conclusion that the commission of offence by A1 to A3 was proved. They were convicted under Section 304 Part I read with Section 34	 I.P.C. and were sentenced to undergo rigor ous imprisonment for five years. This appeal by A1 to A3 via special leave petition is against the judgment of the High Court. While granting special leave to appeal this Court by its order dated August 10	 1979 allowed bail to the appel lants. We have heard learned counsel for the parties. We agree with the High Court that the participation of the appellants in the occurrence which resulted in the death of Jawahar has been proved beyond doubt. We are	 however	 of the view that keeping in view the nature of injuries on the person of the deceased and the facts and circumstances of this case the 3 offence committed by the appellants come within the mischief of Section 325 read with 34	 I.P.C. Thirteen external in juries were found on the dead body of Jawahar. Out of those 11 were on lower legs and arms. The High Court while consid ering the nature of offence observed as under: "These accused and their associates who be set themselves on Jawahar could never have intend ed to cause the death of Jawahar for	 if such was their intention	 they could have certainly killed him especially after carrying him into the cholam field and left him dead there instead of merely causing simple and grievous injuries to him. Even with reference to the aspect whether the accused persons could have	 intended to cause such injuries as would be sufficient	 in the ordinary course of nature	 to cause death	 we are not able to give a finding in favour of the prosecution. Even according to Jawahar 's statement (Exhibit P 6) all that first accused had remarked was that the attack on him was in retaliation for the injuries Jawahar had caused on the first accused a few weeks earlier. " Agreeing with the above observations of the High Court we are of the opinion that the intention of the appellants was to cause grievous hurt and as such the offence committed by them comes within the parameters of Section 325	 I.P.C. We	 therefore	 set aside the conviction and sentence of the appellants under Section 304 Part I	 I.P.C. read with Sec tion 34	 I.P.C. and instead convict them under Section 325	 I.P.C. read with Section 34	 I.P.C. We impose the sentence of imprisonment already undergone by the appellants. We also impose the sentence of Rs. 7	000 each as fine on the appel lants. The appellants shall deposit Rs. 7	000 each before the Trial Court within four months from today. In the event of non payment of fine the appellants shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years. The amount of Rs. 21	000 rea lised as fine from the appellants be paid to the father/mother of deceased Jawahar. In the event of none of them surviving the amount shall be paid to Indra sister of deceased Jawahar. The appeal is disposed of in the above terms. V.P.R Appeal disposed of.

Summary:
Three charges were framed against the appellants A1 to A7. A7 was charged under Section 302 read with Section 109	 I.P.C. for instigating A1 to 6 to commit the murder Al	 A2	 A4	 A5 and A3	 A6 were tried under Sections 147 and 148 IP.C.	 respectively and the third charge under section 302 read with Section 149	 I.P.C. was against A1 to A6 on the allegations that Al	 A2	 A4 and A5 armed with sticks	 A3 armed with/ aruval (bill hook) and A6 armed with vel stick (spear stick)	 attacked the deceased at about 830 A.M. on January 28	 1977 and caused him multiple injuries	 as a result of which he died on the same day. All the accused persons were acquitted by the learned Trial Judge	 against which when appeal was filed	 the High Court maintained the acquittal of A4 to A7 but reversed the findings in respect of A1 to A3 and were convicted under Section 304 Part I read with Section 34	 I.P.C. and were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years	 against that	 this appeal was filed by the appellants A1 to A3 via Special Leave Petition. Disposing the appeal	 by modifying the sentence	 this Court	 HELD: 1. Thirteen external injuries were found on the dead body of the deceased. Out of these 11 were on lower legs and arms. The intention of the appellants was to cause grievous hurt and as such the offence committed by them comes within the parameters of Section 325	 I.P.C. Keeping in view the nature of injuries on the person of the deceased and the facts and circumstances of this case the offence committed by the appellants comes within the mischief of Section 325 read with 34	 I.P.C. and convicted them under Section 325	 I.P.C. read with Section 34	 I.P.C. imposing the sentence of imprisonment already undergone by them	 and the sentence of Rs. 7	000 each as fine	 to be deposited before the Trial Court	 within four months	 which be paid to the father/mother of deceased. 2 In the event of non payment of fine the appellants shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years. [3A	 3D F]