Nabor Lakada vs State Of Chhattisgarh

This appeal has been preferred against the judgment dated 23.05.2017, passed in Sessions Case No. 12/2017 by the learned Sessions Judge,

Sessions Division, Jashpur, Distt. Jashpur (C.G.) wherein, the Appellant has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 307 of the IPC

and sentenced to undergo RI for 7 years and to pay fine of Rs. 1,000/-, with default stipulation.

According to the case of prosecution, on 22.04.2016 at about 2:00 AM, the Appellant along with injured namely Admon and other persons were

gone to attend the marriage of son of Dev Singh Kujur. Allegedly, during marriage party, due to some previous enmity, the Appellant assaulted Admon

with the help of knife due to that he sustained injuries on his abdomen. The incident was witnessed by wife and sister of injured Admon and other

witnesses. Thereafter, the matter was reported in concerned Police Station. On the basis of above, offence has been registered against the Appellant.

Later on, statements of injured person and witnesses recorded under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C. After completion of investigation, charge-sheet was

filed by the Police. Trial Court framed the charges against the Appellant. To robe the Appellant in the crime-in-question, the prosecution has examined

as many as 11 witnesses. In the statement of the Appellant recorded under Section 313 of Cr.P.C, he has pleaded his innocence and false implication

in the matter, however, no defence witness was examined by the Appellant. After completion of trial, Trial Court convicted and sentenced the

Appellant as mentioned in Para 01 of this judgment. Hence, this appeal.

Learned Counsel appearing for the Appellant submits that the prosecution agency has failed to prove the guilt of the Appellant beyond all

reasonable doubts. He further submits that there are material contradictions and omissions occurred in the deposition of prosecution witnesses,

therefore, their statements are not reliable. Alternatively, the Counsel further submits that out of seven years of jail sentence, the Appellant has

already undergone about 5 years in jail. He has no criminal antecedent and has facing the lis since 2016. The Counsel lastly submits that if the

conviction of the Appellant may be affirmed, it is prayed that the sentence awarded to the Appellant may be reduced to the period already undergone

by him.

On the contrary, learned State Counsel opposed the appeal and supported the impugned judgment of conviction.

I have heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the parties and perused the record. I have also gone through the statements of the witnesses

minutely.

In his Court statement, injured Admon Lakra (PW-1) deposed according to the case of prosecution and categorically stated that due to some

previous dispute with the Appellant at the time of incident, the Appellant assaulted him with the help of knife due to which he sustained injuries on his

stomach. The above statement of this witness is duly corroborated by Sunita Lakra (PW-2), Pramod Toppo (PW-3) and Anita Minj (PW-5). The

medical evidence also shows that injured Admon sustained one injury on his stomach which was caused by hard and sharp object. All the above

witnesses remain firmed during their cross-examination.

Looking to the statements of the above witnesses and evidence available on record which is duly corroborated by medical evidence. In my

considered view, the Trial Court has rightly convicted the Appellant.

The conviction of the Appellant under Section 307 of the IPC is affirmed and with regard to the sentence part, considering the fact that out of

seven years of jail sentence, the Appellant has already undergone about 5 years in jail. He has no criminal antecedent and has facing the lis since

2016. I am of the view that the ends of justice would be met if, while upholding the conviction imposed upon the Appellant, the jail sentence awarded

to him is reduced to the period already undergone by him.

Consequently, the appeal is partly allowed.

Records of the Court below be sent back along with a copy of this order forthwith for information and necessary compliance.