High Court · 2025

The learned trial court framed charges which were explained to the appellants to which they denied the charges and claimed for trial. After conclusion of prosecution evidence statements of appellants were recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C. They denied the allegations and the material against them and did not adduce any evidence in defence. After hearing the arguments for the prosecution as well as the appellants the learned trial court passed the order in question by which the appellants were acquitted of the charge u/s 307/149 but convicted and sentenced u/s 147, 323/149, 324/149, 504, 506(2) I.P.C. and under Section 324/149 and maximum punishment of 2 years rigorous imprisonment was awarded. It is submitted by learned counsel for the appellants that in this case the injuries said to be caused to the injured are simple in nature and not fatal to the life of the injured persons and were also not on the vital part of the body. The incident took place on 02.05.1997 till then 27 years have elapsed and now the appellants have turned to old age from the young. It is also submitted that after conviction the appellants remained in jail for a period of 2 months and 5 days. During trial they also remained in jail for some period, therefore, request to reduce the sentence to the extent already undergone and award compensation on the place of physical sentence, since no purpose will be served by sending the appellants to jail. Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer as aforesaid. In the case of Ramesh Vs. State of U.P. AIR 1992 S.C. 664 where a single injury was found in the back of the neck of injured, appellant who was tried alongwith two others under Section 307/34 IPC and he was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four years while two other were acquitted, appeal was partly allowed by Hon'ble the Apex Court. His conviction was altered into Section 324 IPC and sentence was reduced to the period already undergone with fine of Rs. 3000/- which was to be paid to the complainant as compensation. In the case of Merambhai Punjabhai Khachar & Ors vs. State Of Gujarat, 1996 AIR 3236, there was an attempt to commit murder with fire arm and injury was by a pellet that struck the head, Hon'ble the Apex Court held that Section 307 IPC cannot be held to have been satisfied and conviction was altered to Section 324 IPC. In the case of Neelam Bahal and another Vs. State of Uttarakhand 2010 (2) SCC 229 where conviction and sentence of appellant under Section 307 IPC was converted into Section 326 IPC simplicitor. Incident took place in the year 1987 and appellant was about 25 years old. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, Hon'ble the Apex Court, reduced the sentence to the period already undergone by him. On considering the facts and submissions made by learned counsel for the appellants, it appears that all the injuries on the persons of injured were simple in nature. The weapons used in causing those injuries were said to be lathi, hockey and knives. No injury was fatal to the life of the injured. 27 years have elapsed from the date of incident till now and at that time appellants were also young but now they have come towards the old age. By sending the appellants to jail no better purpose will be served though awarding compensation in its place may be adequate redressal. To sum up the totality of case, in view of the aforesaid observation made by the Apex Court, this Court is of the view that no purpose will be served by sending the appellants to jail but it will be adequate to reduce the sentence as undergone by them and to impose compensation for Rs. 24,000/- that will be paid either to the injured persons or their survivors. Accordingly, this appeal is partly allowed and the sentence awarded on the appellant nos. 1, 4, 5, 6 & 7 namely Faiz Mohd., Taj Mohd., Juber, Suhel & Mohd. Asharaf respectively is reduced to the period of sentence already undergone by them and they are to deposit Rs. 24,000/- before the concerned court within a period of 45 days from today which shall be paid either to the injured or their survivors. Trial court record be sent back to the concerned court for compliance. Order Date :- 29.1.2025 Ashok Gupta ASHOK KUMAR GUPTA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

The learned trial court framed charges which were explained to the appellants to which they denied the charges and claimed for trial. After conclusion of prosecution evidence statements of appellants were recorded u/s 313 Cr.P.C. They denied the allegations and the material against them and did not adduce any evidence in defence. After hearing the arguments for the prosecution as well as the appellants the learned trial court passed the order in question by which the appellants were acquitted of the charge u/s 307/149 but convicted and sentenced u/s 147, 323/149, 324/149, 504, 506(2) I.P.C. and under Section 324/149 and maximum punishment of 2 years rigorous imprisonment was awarded. It is submitted by learned counsel for the appellants that in this case the injuries said to be caused to the injured are simple in nature and not fatal to the life of the injured persons and were also not on the vital part of the body. The incident took place on 02.05.1997 till then 27 years have elapsed and now the appellants have turned to old age from the young. It is also submitted that after conviction the appellants remained in jail for a period of 2 months and 5 days. During trial they also remained in jail for some period, therefore, request to reduce the sentence to the extent already undergone and award compensation on the place of physical sentence, since no purpose will be served by sending the appellants to jail. Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer as aforesaid. In the case of Ramesh Vs. State of U.P. AIR 1992 S.C. 664 where a single injury was found in the back of the neck of injured, appellant who was tried alongwith two others under Section 307/34 IPC and he was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four years while two other were acquitted, appeal was partly allowed by Hon'ble the Apex Court. His conviction was altered into Section 324 IPC and sentence was reduced to the period already undergone with fine of Rs. 3000/- which was to be paid to the complainant as compensation. In the case of Merambhai Punjabhai Khachar & Ors vs. State Of Gujarat, 1996 AIR 3236, there was an attempt to commit murder with fire arm and injury was by a pellet that struck the head, Hon'ble the Apex Court held that Section 307 IPC cannot be held to have been satisfied and conviction was altered to Section 324 IPC. In the case of Neelam Bahal and another Vs. State of Uttarakhand 2010 (2) SCC 229 where conviction and sentence of appellant under Section 307 IPC was converted into Section 326 IPC simplicitor. Incident took place in the year 1987 and appellant was about 25 years old. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, Hon'ble the Apex Court, reduced the sentence to the period already undergone by him. On considering the facts and submissions made by learned counsel for the appellants, it appears that all the injuries on the persons of injured were simple in nature. The weapons used in causing those injuries were said to be lathi, hockey and knives. No injury was fatal to the life of the injured. 27 years have elapsed from the date of incident till now and at that time appellants were also young but now they have come towards the old age. By sending the appellants to jail no better purpose will be served though awarding compensation in its place may be adequate redressal. To sum up the totality of case, in view of the aforesaid observation made by the Apex Court, this Court is of the view that no purpose will be served by sending the appellants to jail but it will be adequate to reduce the sentence as undergone by them and to impose compensation for Rs. 24,000/- that will be paid either to the injured persons or their survivors. Accordingly, this appeal is partly allowed and the sentence awarded on the appellant nos. 1, 4, 5, 6 & 7 namely Faiz Mohd., Taj Mohd., Juber, Suhel & Mohd. Asharaf respectively is reduced to the period of sentence already undergone by them and they are to deposit Rs. 24,000/- before the concerned court within a period of 45 days from today which shall be paid either to the injured or their survivors. Trial court record be sent back to the concerned court for compliance. Order Date :- 29.1.2025 Ashok Gupta ASHOK KUMAR GUPTA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench