Pandit Vandar Patil vs The State of Maharashtra

Vishnu Sahai, J.—Through this appeal, the appellant challenges the Judgment and order dated 29-7-1994 passed by the Sessions Judge, Thane, in Sessions Case No. 311 of 1988 convicting and sentencing him in the manner stated hereinafter :-

(i) u/s 324 IPC to one year R.I. and to pay a fine of Rs. 100/- in default to suffer R.I. for one month ; and

(ii) u/s 302 IPC to imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 100/- in default to suffer R.I. for 3 months.

The substantive sentences of the appellant were ordered to run concurrently.

In short, the prosecution case is that on 4-2-1988 at about 9.30 p.m. she-buffaloes of the informant Kathod Ganpat Patil caused damage to the thatched wall and roof of the hut of the appellant who became enraged as a result thereof. Immediately thereafter, the appellant along with the three acquitted accused namely Raghunath Mahadeo Patil, Dayandeo Mahadeo Patil and Waman Mahadeo Patil and one accused who died prior to the commencement of the trial, namely Shankar Patil came and started giving filthy abuses to Indubai the mother of the informant. It is said that the appellant and others were armed with knives. When the informant tried to intervene, the appellant inflicted two knife blows on his arm. The informant raised cries "Oh mother Oh mother". On hearing the same, Indubai mother of the informant came and thereupon the appellant inflicted a knife blow on her person. Thereafter, the appellant and his associates are said to have run away.

This incident, apart from the informant was seen by P.W. 2 Muktabai Bhoir and P.W. 3 Bhaskar Patil.

The F.I.R. of the incident was lodged by Kathod Ganpat Patil same day at midnight, at Hill Line Police Station and on its basis, C.R. No. 21 of 1988 was registered.

After recording the F.I.R.P.I, Vijay Pandit sent Kathod Ganpat Patil for medical examination.

The injuries of Kathod Ganpat Patil were medically examined by P.W. 15 Dr. Gurmensingh at 1 a.m. same night. He found that Kathod Ganpat Patil had suffered two incised wounds, both of which were situated on left upper arm.

4A. The deceased Indubai is alleged to have succumbed to her injuries almost immediately. The post -mortem of her corpse was conducted by Dr. Vijay Mahajan PW 13. The Autopsy Report shows the following injuries on her person.

Incised wound on the left infra clavicle region 2 cm x 1/2 cm deep inside seen with probe.

C.L.W. on the left forehead above eyebrow scalp deep 2cm x 1 cm.

Abrasion on left knee 2 cm x 1 cm.

Abrasion on left thigh 3 cm. x 2 cm.

Contusion on left calf 6 cm. x 3 cm.

Abrasion on chest left side 1 x 1 cm.

On internal examination, the doctor found tear of left lung, rupture of aorta and left haemothorax. In the opinion of Dr. Mahajan, the deceased Indubai died on account of shock and haemorrhage due to injuries to vital organs. Dr. Mahajan also opined that injury No. VI was attributable to knife and was capable of causing instantaneous death.

The investigation was conducted in the usual manner by P. I. Vijay Pandit P.W. 16 and P.I. Tukaram Yedge P.W. 17. During the course of investigation, blood-stained weapons of assault were recovered on the pointing out of the appellant and the acquitted accused persons.

The case was committed to the Court of Sessions in the usual manner. The appellant and others were charged on a number of counts including 302 r/w 149 IPC, in the alternative 302 r/w 34 IPC and 324 r/w 34 IPC. During trial, in all the prosecution examined 18 witnesses. Out of them Kathod Ganpat Patil, Muktabai Bhoir and Bhaskar Patil, P.Ws. 1, 2 and 3 respectively were examined as eye-witnesses. In defence, no witness was examined. The learned trial Judge believed the evidence adduced by the prosecution vis-a-vis the appellant and convicted and sentenced him in the manner stated in para 1. He however, acquitted other accused persons as mentioned earlier. Another accused who was also prosecuted namely Shankar Patil, died prior to the commencement of the trial.

Hence, this appeal.

True to his customary fairness, Mr. Nitin Pradhan learned Counsel for the appellant, did not challenge the involvement of the appellant in the incident. He made a solitary submission before us namely that the learned trial Judge erred in convicting the appellant for an offence u/s 302 IPC and should have instead convicted him for one u/s 304 (part ii) IPC.

Inspite of fairness of Mr. Pradhan, we satisfied ourselves whether there was credible evidence pertaining to the involvement of the appellant in the crime. To fix the appellant''s involvement in the crime, the prosecution examined three eye-witnesses namely Kathod Ganpat Patil P.W. 1, Muktabai Bhoir P.W. 2, and Bhaskar Patil P.W. 3. As is clear from para 2, Kathod Ganpat Patil is an Injured witness and his presence on the spot has been fixed by the two incised wounds suffered by him to which, we have referred to in paragraph 4. He stated that it was the appellant who inflicted knife blows on his left upper arm and both incised wounds found on the person of Kathod Ganpat Patil were on his left upper arm according to Dr. Gurmen Singh P.W. 15. Again, the Autopsy Report of the deceased Indubai corroborates the account furnished by him. He stated that the appellant assaulted Indubai with a knife and the ante-mortem injury No. 1 suffered by the deceased Indubai in the opinion of the Autopsy Surgeon was attributable to a knife. We find no infirmity in the evidence of Kathod Ganpat Patil and in our view, it alone is sufficient for upholding the involvement of the appellant in the crime.

We also find that the evidence of two other witnesses namely Muktabai Bhor P.W. 2 and Bhaskar Patil P.W. 3, the daughter and son of the deceased Indubai respectively, to be credible. They were natural witnesses of the incident and their version of the incident which was to the effect that the appellant first assaulted Kathod Ganpat Patil with a knife and thereafter when their mother Indubai intervened, he also assaulted her with a knife, is corroborated by the injuries of Kathod Ganpat Patil and Indubai to which we have referred earlier. In our view, their evidence also inspires confidence,

Having held that the involvement of the appellant in the crime is established, we propose examining Mr. Pradhan''s contention that an offence u/s 304 (part ii) IPC is only made out against the appellant. We find merit in the said contention. Admittedly, in this case, there was no subsisting malice or enmity between the parties. The unfortunate incident occurred when the she-buffaloes of Kathod Ganpat Patil caused damage to the thatched roof of the hut of the appellant Thereafter, the appellant along with the acquitted accused and Shankar Patil who died prior to the commencement of the trial, all armed with knives, started abusing Indubai, mother of Kathod Ganpat Patil. When Kathod Ganpat Patil tried to intervene, the appellant inflicted two knife blows on his left upper arm. When Indubai mother of Kathod Ganpat Patil rushed to save her son, the appellant inflicted a solitary knife blow on her person.

It is true that the post-mortem report shows apart from one incised wound, one contusion lacerated wound, one contusion and 3 abrasions on the corpse of the deceased but the Autopsy Surgeon Dr. Mahajan admitted in cross-examination that all these injuries could be caused as a consequence of fall. The evidence is that Indubai had fallen down as a result of the assault.

In such a situation, the ocular account which is to the effect that a solitary knife blow was given by the appellant appears to be correct.

In our view, on the facts mentioned in the preceding paras, it would not be proper to sustain the conviction of the appellant for an offence u/s 302 IPC. The Supreme Court in the case Jawahar Lal and Another Vs. State of Punjab, , has observed in para 15 that the mere circumstance that a blow lands on certain part of the body is not necessarily sufficient to infer that the said blow was intended to be inflicted on that part of the body. In that case, a dagger blow had been inflicted on the left side chest of the deceased at night time and the resultant injury in the opinion of the doctor was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. The Supreme Court on the facts of the case held that there was no intention to inflict the injury which was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death and therefore, took the view that clause thirdly of Section 300 IPC would not be applicable. It converted the conviction of Jawahar Lal from Section 302 IPC to that u/s 304 (part ii) IPC. We feel that the ratio laid down in the said case would be applicable in the present case, as here also the incident took place at night time. Apart from it, the deceased was a intervenor: there was no malice on the part of the appellant against her; and the appellant only inflicted a solitary knife blow on her person. On the facts of our case, it cannot be held that the appellant intended to inflict an injury which was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause Indubai''s death. Hence, clause thirdly of Section 300 IPC would not be applicable.

Hence, following the ratio laid down in Jawahar Lal and Another Vs. State of Punjab, , we feel that the offence made out would fall squarely within the ambit of Section 304 (part ii) IPC.

The only question which survives is the quantum of sentence to be awarded to the appellant. We have reflected over the said question and in our Judgment, considering the over all circumstances, a sentence of five years R.I. for the offence u/s 304(ii) IPC would meet the ends of justice.

We however, feel that there is no infirmity in the conviction and sentence of the appellant, for the offence u/s 324 IPC.

In the result, this appeal is partly allowed. We maintain the conviction and sentence of the appellant for the offence u/s 324 IPC.

Although, we acquit the appellant for an offence u/s 302 IPC and set aside his conviction and sentence on that count but we instead find him guilty for an offence u/s 304 (part ii) IPC and sentence him to undergo five years RI for the same.

In case the appellant has paid the fine, u/s 302 IPC, it shall stand refunded to him.

The appellant is in jail and shall be detained therein till he serves out his sentence.

Before parting with this Judgment, we would like to record our appreciation for the extremely fair and forthright assistance rendered to us by the learned Counsel for the parties in the disposal of this appeal.