Subeg Singh and Ors v. State of Punjab

o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo 302o oo o o o o o (1)o CRA-D-4-DB-2005oo o o o o o o o SUBEGoSINGHoANDoANOTHERo o o o o ....oAppellantso o Versuso STATEoOFoHARYANAoo o o o o o o ...Respondento o o o o o o o (2)o oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o SATNAMoSINGHoo o o o o o o ...oAppellanto o Versuso JASMAILoSINGHoo o o o o o o ...Respondento o Dateoofodecision:oJulyo28,o2025oo o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMRS.oJUSTICEoMANJARIoNEHRUoKAULo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoH.S.oGREWALo o o o o Present:oo Mrs.oG.K.oMann,oSenioroAdvocate,owithoo o o Mr.oAnmoloJeevanoGill,oAdvocate,oo forotheoappellantso(inoCRA-D-4-DB-2005).o o Ms.oBaanioChhibberoMahajan,oAdvocateoforoo Mr.oPrateekoMahajan,oAdvocate,oo forotheoappellantoinoCRA-D-312-DBA-2006oando forotheocomplainanto(inoCRA-D-4-DB-2005).o o Mr.oAmitoRana,oSenioroDAG,oPunjab.o o o MANJARIoNEHRUoKAUL,oJ.o o

1.ooo o Theoappellants,oinobothotheoappeals,odetailedohereinabove,oareo assailingotheoorderoandojudgmentoofoconvictionodatedo16.12.2004opassedobyo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judge,o Amritsar,o ino caseo FIRo No.283o datedo

19.12.2002,ounderoSectionso302,o307,o326,o325,o324,o323,o148,o149oofoIPCo andoSectionso25,o27oofoArmsoAct,oPoliceoStationoAjnala.o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -2-o o

2.oo o SinceobothotheseoappealsohaveoarisenooutoofotheosameoFIR,otheyo areobeingotakenoupotogetheroforodisposalobyothisocommonoorder.ooo

3.o oo CRA-D-4-DB-2005o haso beeno preferredo byo theo appellants-accusedoagainstotheiroconviction,owhereasoCRA-D-312-DBA-2006ohasobeeno filedo byo theo appellanto (sono ofo complainanto Gurbaxo Singh)o againsto theo acquittaloofoaccusedoJasmailoSingh.o

4.o o Theo caseo ofo theo prosecutiono succinctlyo stated,o iso thato ono

19.12.2002oatoabouto02:00oPM,owhenoPW3-GurbaxoSinghowasoreturningotoo hiso Havelio foro lunch,o hiso maternalo grandsono informedo himo ofo ano earliero incidentoinvolvingoaccusedoAmandeepoSinghosonoofoBaldevoSingh,owhoohado allegedlyourinatedowhileofacingohim.oUponoobjectionobyotheograndson,oao verbalo altercationo ensued,o followingo which,o accusedo Amandeepo Singho returnedotoohisoresidence.oo

5.o o Shortlyo thereafter,o ao groupo ofo individualso emergedo fromo theo directionoofotheoresidencesoofoaccusedoSubegoSinghoandoAmandeepoSingh.o Thisogroupocomprisedotheofollowing:oo

i)l AccusedoSubegoSingho(armedowithoaoDBBLoGun)o

ii)l AccusedoJagbiroSingho@oMonuosonoofoSubegoSingho (armedowithoao12oDBBLoGun;o

iii)l AccusedoJaswinderoSingho@oJassosonoofoAmaroSingho (armedowithoaokirpan);o

iv)l AccusedoGurmukhoSinghosonoofoAmaroSingho(armedo withodang;o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -3-o o

v)l AccusedoJagjitoSingho@oKannuosonoofoSantokhoSingho (armedowithokirpan);o

vi)l AccusedoAmandeepoSinghosonoofoBaldevoSingho(armedo withodang;o

vii)l AccusedoJasmailoSinghosonoofoJagiroSingho(armedowitho dang);o

viii)l oAccusedoPappuo(armedowithodang).o

6.oo o AccusedoAmandeepoSinghoallegedlyoexhortedohisoassociates,o declaringothatoHarinderoSinghohadodaredotooobjectotoohimoandoshouldonotobeo thereforeospared.oInopursuanceoofothisoexhortation,oaccusedoSubegoSingho openedo fireo fromo hiso DBBLo Gun,o causingo gunshoto injurieso too Harindero Singhoonohisolegs.oOnohearingohisocries,oAmrikoSinghoandoMohanoSingh,o bothorelatives,ovisitingofromoMuradabado(UP),ocameooutotoohelp.oAsotheyo reachedotheomainogate,oaccusedoSubegoSinghofiredotwoomoreoshots,oinjuringo AmrikoSingho(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'deceased')oinotheoupperoleftoarm.o

7.o o Subsequently,o accusedo Jaswindero Singho @o Jasso inflictedo ao kirpanoblowoonotheorightolegoofoGurbaxoSingh,owhileoaccusedoJagjitoSingho@o Kannuostruckohimoonotheoleftoleg.oAccusedoGurmukhoSinghoinflictedotwoo dangoblowsoonohisorightoupperoarmoandoleftoelbow.oAccusedoJasmailoSingho ando Pappuo raisedo lalkaras,o urgingo otherso noto too spareo Harindero Singh,o Gurbaxo Singho ando others.o Duringo thiso commotion,o accusedo Amandeepo SinghodeliveredotwoodangoblowsoonoHarinderoSingh'soscapulaoandouppero arm.oAccusedoMonuoalsoofiredoaoshotostrikingoGurbaxoSinghoinotheoback.ooo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -4-o o SatnamoSinghosonoofoGurbaxoSingh,oarrivedoatotheosceneouponohearingotheo commotion,oatowhichopoint,otheoassailantsofled.o

8.o o Theo injuredo wereo transportedo too Guruo Nanako Devo Hospital,o Amritsar,o whereo Amriko Singho waso declaredo deado ando theo otherso wereo referredotooS.G.T.B.oHospital,oAmritsar.oBasedoonotheostatementoofoGurbaxo Singh,oanoFIRo(Ex.PF/2)owasoregisteredounderoSectionso302,o307,o452,o323,o 324,o148,o149oofoIPCoandoSectiono25oofoArmsoAct.oSubsequently,oSectionso 326oando325oofoIPCowereoalsooaddedobasedoonomedicaloopinion.o

9.o o Aftero registrationo ofo theo FIR,o theo policeo carriedo outo investigation;o theo post-mortemo reporto (Ex.PA,o PA/2)o ofo Amriko Singho (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'theodeceased')oconfirmedodeathodueotoofirearmo injuriesoandoperforationoofoheart.oTheomedicoolegaloreportsoofoallotheoinjuredo wereo collectedo byo theo police.o Recoveryo ofo bloodo stainedo eartho (Ex.PV),o seveno spento cartridgeso ofo 12o boreo ando sealedo itemso bearingo theo sealo impressiono'YR'owereocollected,ovideomemooEx.PW.oFurther,otheoclothesoofo theodeceasedoandotheoweaponoofooffenceoincludingokirpansoandodandasowereo alsoorecoveredobyotheopoliceoandoconvertedointooparcelsovideomemooEx.PZ,o Ex.o PBB/1.o Theo recoveredo firearmso ofo accusedo Subego Singho ando Jagbiro Singho @o Monuo wereo sento too theo Forensico Scienceo Laboratoryo ato Chandigarh.o

10.o o TheoFSLoreportso(Exs.PFF,oPGG,oPHH,oPJJ)oconfirmedothatotheo emptyocartridgesorecoveredofromotheosceneoofocrimeomatchedotheofirearmoofo accusedoSubegoSingh,oandosinceoitowasoallegedothatotheocomplainantoPW3-o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -5-o o Gurbaxo Singho hado alsoo fired,o hiso firearmo waso alsoo seizedo ando sento foro examinationotooFSL.o

11.o o Upono completiono ofo investigation,o chargeso wereo framed,o too which,otheoaccusedoclaimedonotoguiltyoandooptedotoostandotrial.oOneoofotheo accusedobeingoaojuvenileowasotriedoseparately.o

12.o o Ino supporto ofo itso case,o theo prosecutiono examinedo PW1-Dr.o Ashoko Chananao (whoo conductedo theo post-mortemo ono theo deado bodyo ofo deceased);o PW2-Dr.o Vijayo Arora,o whoo medicoo legallyo examinedo injuredo PW5-Harindero Palo Singho ando PW3-Gurbaxo Singh;o PW3-Gurbaxo Singho (injuredowitnessoandocomplainant);oPW4-MohanoSingh;oPW5-HarinderoPalo SinghosonoofoGulzaroSingh;oPW6-SukhwinderoSingh,oArmsoClerk,oDM'so office,oAmritsar;oPW7-Ct.oManjitoSingh,owhooprovedohisoaffidavitoEx.PF;o PW8-Ct.oNagwinderoSingh;oPW9-RishioRam,oDraftsman,owhoopreparedotheo scaledositeoplanoofotheooccurrenceoatotheoinstanceoofoPW3-GurbaxoSinghoando provedotheoscaledositeoplano(Ex.PH);oPW10-HarcharanoSingh,owhooprovedo affidavito Ex.PJ;o PW11-Dr.o Induo Bala,o Residento Medicalo Officer,o whoo conductedotheox-rayoexaminationoonotheoinjuriesoofotheoinjuredowitnesseso andoprovedoheroreporto(Exs.PK,oPLoandoPL/1);oPW12-HCoHarpaloSingh,o whooprovedohisoaffidavitoEx.PM;oPW-13-Ct.oBhupinderoSingh,owhooprovedo hisoaffidavitoEx.PN;oPW14-SIoAzadoDevinderoSingho(InvestigatingoOfficer);o PW15-SIo Yogio Raj,o whoo recordedo theo statemento ofo complainanto PW3-Gurbaxo Singh,o ono theo basiso ofo which,o theo FIRo (Ex.PF/2)o waso recorded;o PW16-RajeshoKumar,oAhlmad,oCourtoofoACJo(Sr.oDivn.),oAjnala,owhooo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -6-o o provedoonorecordotheorecordoofoCiviloSuitoNo.433,odatedo25.11.2002otitledoaso GurbaxoSinghoVersusoSubegoSinghoetc.oThereafter,otheoPublicoProsecutoroforo theoStateotenderedointooevidenceotheoreportoofoFSLo(Exs.PFF,oPGG,oPHH,o PJJorespectively),oandoclosedotheoevidenceoofotheoprosecution.o

13.o o Allotheoincriminatingomaterial/evidenceoappearingoagainstotheo accusedowasoputotoothemounderoSectiono313oCr.P.C.,otoowhichotheyoclaimedo falseoimplication.oAccusedoSubegoSingh,oinoparticularoassertedothatoheohado beenoattackedofirstoandofiredoinoself-defenceousingohisolicensedogun.oTheo otheroaccusedosimilarlyodeniedoinvolvement,oattributingotheoallegationsotooao longstandingocivilodisputeooveroaoboundaryowall,opendingobeforeotheoCivilo Court,oAjnala,oscheduledoforohearingoono20.12.2002.oo

14.o oo Ino defence,o theo accusedo examinedo twoo witnesses,o DW1-SukhdevoSingh,oandoDW2-DSPoManmohanoSingh.ooAfterothatotheoaccusedo closedotheodefenceoevidence.o

15.o o TheolearnedoTrialoCourt,ovideoimpugnedojudgmentoandoorder,o convictedotheoappellants-accusedobasedoonotheofollowingofindings:-o

(i)l Theoaccusedopersonsoconstitutedoanounlawfuloassemblyo withoaocommonoobjectotooattackotheocomplainantoside;o

(ii)l Theoinjuriesosufferedobyodeceased-AmrikoSingh,oinjuredo HarinderoSinghoandoMohanoSinghowereoconsistentowitho theoversionoofotheoprosecution;o

(iii)l TheorecoveryoofoweaponsoofooffenceoandotheoFSLoreportso corroboratedotheouseoofofirearmsoduringotheoincident;o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -7-o o

(iv)l Theopleaoofoprivateodefenceowasorejected,oasonooinjurieso wereofoundoonoanyoofotheoaccused;o

(v)l TheodelayoinolodgingotheoFIRowasojustified,oasopriorityo wasogivenotooshiftingotheoinjuredotootheohospitaloatotheo earliest.o

16.oo o Accordingly,o theo Trialo Courto convictedo theo appellants,o ando sentencedothemoasofollows:-o o o Sr.o Nameo ofo theo Section-RIo Fineo Inodefaulto No.o accusedo IPCo

1.o SubegoSingho 148o Oneoyearo -o -o o o 302o Lifeo Rs.2000o 6omonthso o o 307o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 326/149o 3oyearso Rs.500o 1omontho o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o

2.o JaswinderoSingho 148o Oneoyearo -o -o o o 302/149o Lifeo Rs.2000o 6omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 326/149o 3oyearso Rs.500o 1omontho o o 323o 3omonthso o o o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o

3.o AmandeepoSingho 148o Oneoyearo -o -o o o 302/149o Lifeo Rs.2000o 6omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 326/149o 3oyearso Rs.500o 1omontho o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o o o 323o 3omonthso o o

4.o Jagjito Singho @o 148o Oneoyearo -o -o Kannuo o o 302/149o Lifeo Rs.2000o 6omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 326o 3oyearso Rs.500o 1omontho o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -8-o o

5.o Jagbiro Singho @o 148o Oneoyearo o o Monuo o o 302/149o Lifeo Rs.2000o 6omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.2000o 3omonthso o o 307o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 326/149o 3oyearso Rs.500o 1omontho o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o

6.o GurmukhoSingho 148o Oneoyearo o o o o 302/149o Lifeo Rs.2000o 6omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 307/149o 5oyearso Rs.1000o 3omonthso o o 326/149o 3oyearso Rs.500o 1omontho o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o o o 323/149o 3omonthso o o o

17.o o Theo learnedotrialoCourt,ohowever,o acquittedo accusedo Jasmailo SinghoonotheogroundothatonooovertoactohadobeenoattributedotoohimoinotheoFIRo asowelloasobyoanyoofotheowitnessesoduringotrial,oexceptothatohisopresenceohado beenoshownoatotheotimeoofotheoallegedooccurrenceoandoheohadopurportedlyo raisedoaolalkara.oo SUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoAPPELLANTSo

18.o o LearnedoSeniorocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofotheoappellantso haso assailedo theo impugnedo judgmento ofo convictiono aso beingo factuallyo flawed,olegallyounsustainable,oandopremisedoonoaoselectiveoandoerroneouso appreciationoofotheoevidenceoonorecord.oTheoargumentsoraisedoonobehalfoofo theoappellantsobyotheolearnedoSeniorocounselomayobeosummarizedoasounder:o-o

(I)o o Genesisoofotheoincidentoandocivilodispute:o

(a)o o Itohasobeenosubmittedothatotheoentireoincidentodidonotoariseoouto ofo anyo premeditatedo oro concertedo acto ono theo parto ofo theo appellantso buto emergedospontaneouslyofromoaotrivialoandosuddenoaltercation.oTheoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -9-o o backgroundo ofo theo caseo waso ao civilo disputeo pendingo betweeno theo complainanto PW3-Gurbaxo Singho ando appellant-Subego Singh,o witho theo hearingoscheduledoforo20.12.2002.oOnotheodayoprecedingotheohearingoi.e.o

19.12.2002,o theo complainant,o allegedlyo seekingo too asserto dominance,o broughtooutsidersofromotheoStateoofoU.P.onamelyoAmrikoSingho(deceased)o andoPW4-MohanoSingh,otooconfrontoSubegoSingh.oThisoactoofoprovocation,o itoisourged,owasoaodirectotriggeroforotheoensuingoconfrontation.o

(II)o o Incidento sparkedo byo complainanto partyo –o Cross-firingo ando Self-defence:o

(a)o o LearnedoSeniorocounselofurtheroemphaticallyosubmittedothatotheo complaintopartyowasotheoaggressor,ohavingoinitiatedoanoattackoonoappellanto Subego Singh,o whoo waso returningo fromo hiso fields.o Ino theo faceo ofo sucho aggression,oSubegoSinghoinoaobidotooprotectohimselfoandohisofamily,oranotoo hiso house,o buto waso followedo ando surroundedo byo theo armedo complainanto party.oFacedowithoanoimminentoandoarmedoassault,oappellantoSubegoSingho firedoaosingleoshotofromohisolicensedo12-boreofirearmoinoself-defence,owhicho incidentlyostruckodeceasedoAmrikoSinghoandoresultedoinohisodeath.o

(b)o o Learnedo Senioro counselo alsoo arguedo thato theo seizureo ofo ao firearmofromotheocomplainantoPW3-GurbaxoSinghoandotheocorrespondingo FSLoReport,oconclusivelyoprovedothatotheocomplainantosideoalsoohadoopenedo fireo confirmingo ao caseo ofo cross-firing.o Theo injurieso sustainedo byo PW4-MohanoSinghoareoconsistentowithobeingowithinotheoblastoradiusoofoappellanto SubegoSingh'sofirearmoduringoaosingleodischarge,oandonotoindicativeoofoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -10-o o multipleoshotsofiredobyomultipleoaccused.oFurthermore,otheonatureoandoseato ofoinjuriesoonoPW5-HarinderoPaloSinghowereoopinedobyotheodoctorotoobeo possiblyocausedobyoaofalloandoothersowereosimpleoinonature,ofurtherodilutingo theo narrativeo ofo theo prosecutiono ofo ao coordinatedo armedo assaulto byo theo accusedoparty.o

(III)o o Falsityo ofo allegationso againsto co-accused/appellantso GurmukhoSingh,oJagjitoSingho@oMonuoandoAmandeepoSingho–oAbsenceo ofoCommonoObject:o

(a)o o ItowasocontendedothatotheoconvictionounderoSectiono302oreado witho Sectiono149o IPCo iso whollyo unsustainableoasothereoiso noo conclusiveo evidenceotooestablishothatotheseoappellantsosharedoanyocommonoobjectotoo commitomurder.oInofact,otheolackoofoanyospecificoovertoactoattributedotoomosto ofotheoappellants,obarringoappellantoSubegoSingh,obeliedotheoattemptsobyotheo prosecutionotooinvokeotheoprinciplesoofovicariousoliabilityounderoSectiono149o IPC.oTheodeceasedoAmrikoSinghohadonooprioroenmityowithotheoappellantso andowasomerelyoaccompanyingotheocomplainants.oTheomereopresenceoofotheo othero appellantso ato theo sceneo ofo crime,o particularlyo Gurmukho Singh,o JaswinderoSingh,oAmandeepoSinghoandoJagjitoSingh,ocouldonotobeoconstruedo asoparticipationoinoaocommonounlawfuloobjectotoomurder.o

(b)o o LearnedoSeniorocounseloalsooreferredotootheositeoplano(Ex.PH),o whichoshowedothatoexceptoforoappellantoSubegoSinghoandohisosonoJagbiro Singho@oMonu,otheorestoofotheoappellantsowereostandingooutsideotheohouse,o andothereowasonooevidenceoofothemohavingoenteredoorocommittedoanyoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -11-o o assault.oItowasoalsoohighlightedothatoduringoinvestigation,osimilarlyosituatedo certainopersons,oincludingoappellantoJagbiroSingho@oMonu,oGurmukhoSingh,o andoothersowereofoundoinnocentoandoplacedoinocolumnoNo.o2oofotheofinalo reportounderoSectiono173oCr.PC.oTheirosubsequentoimplicationoduringotrial,o asoperotheoLearnedoSeniorocounsel,owas,othus,oclearlyotaintedobyofalsehoodo andomalaofides.o

(c)o o Learnedo Senioro counselo foro theo appellantso vehementlyo contendedothatotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaocatenaoofojudgmentsohaso observedo thato theo criminalo liabilityo attributedo too theo accusedo personso ino furtheranceoofoaocommonoobjectocanobeoinferredofromotheomodeoandomannero ofoattackoandotheoweaponsoemployedobyoeachoofotheoaccused/assailants.oIno theopresentocase,oappellantsonamelyoJaswinderoSingho@oJass,oAmandeepo Singh,oJagjitoSinghoandoGurmukhoSinghowereonotopresentoatotheoprincipleo sceneoofooccurrence,owhichodemonstratesothatothereowasoinofactonoocommono objecto too commito murdero ofo deceasedo Amriko Singh.o Ino supporto ofo theo submissionsomadeobyotheolearnedoSeniorocounsel,orelianceohasoalsoobeeno placedo upono Rajuo @o Rajendrao ando anothero Vs.o Stateo ofo Rajasthan,o 2013(2)oSCCo233,owhereinotheofollowingoobservationsowereomade:o-o "12.o Fromo theo evidenceo ofo PW-2o Avtaro Singho (sono ofo deceased)oasowelloasoPW-o4oRamoNiwaso(declaredohostile)oito transpiresothatotheodeceasedoandotheopartyoofotheoaccusedohadoao disputeooverolandoand,oinofact,osomeoofotheoaccusedohadomadeo attemptsotooencroachouponolandobelongingotootheodeceased.oAllo theothreeoeyewitnesses,onamely,oPW-1,oPW-13oandoPW-19,oasoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -12-o o alreadyonoticed,ohadounequivocallyoandocategoricallyostatedoino Courtothatotheosixoaccusedopersonsohadocomeotogetherotootheo fieldo ofo deceasedo Mukhtyaro Singho armedo witho dangerouso weaponsoincludingofireoarms.oIfothisoisotheomanneroinowhichotheo accusedopersonsohadocomeotootheospotoitocannotobeosaidothatotheo accusedo hado noto formedo ano unlawfulo assemblyo withino theo meaningoofotheosaidoexpressionoasoappearingoinosectiono141oofo theo Indiano Penalo Code.o Whileo membershipo ofo ano unlawfulo assemblyo itselfo iso ano offenceo undero sectiono 143oIPC,o useo ofo forceobyomembersoofotheounlawfuloassemblyogivesoriseotootheo offenceo ofo riotingo whicho iso punishableo eithero underosectiono 147oorosectiono148oIPC.oMembershipoofotheo4oaccusedoinotheo unlawfuloassemblyoandouseoofoforceowithodangerousoweaponsoiso borneo outo byo theo evidenceo ono record.o Theo saido factso wouldo makeo theo acquittedo accusedo liableo foro theo offenceo undero Sectiono148oofotheoIndianoPenaloCode.oHowever,otheiroliabilityo underoanyootheroprovisionoofotheoIPCowouldodependoonowhato canoreasonablyobeounderstoodotoobeotheocommonoobjectoofotheo assemblyoinotheopresentocase."o o o Ino Vijayo Pandurango Thakreo ando otherso Vs.o Stateo ofo Maharashtra,o2017(4)oSCCo377oalso,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoaso under:-o "15.o Inotheofactsoofotheopresentocase,oweofindothatocommono objectoofotheoassembly,oevenoifoitoisopresumedothatothereowasoano unlawfuloassembly,ohasonotobeenoproved.oTheoexpressiono'ino prosecutiono ofo theo commono objecto occurringo ino thiso Sectiono postulatesothatotheoactomustobeooneowhichohaveobeenodoneowitho ao viewo too accomplisho theo commono objecto attributedo too theo membersoofotheounlawfuloassembly.oThisoexpressionoisotoobeoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -13-o o strictlyoconstruedoasoequivalentotooinoorderotooattainocommono object.oItomustobeoimmediatelyoconnectedowithocommonoobjecto byo virtueo ofo natureo ofo object.o Ino theo instanto case,o eveno theo evidenceoisonotolaidoonothisoaspect.oAsopointedooutoabove,otheo courtso belowo wereo influencedo byo theo facto thato oneo ofo theo injuriesoonotheopersonoofoAshokowasoonohisoheadowhichobecameo theocauseoofodeathoandofromothis,ocommonoobjectoisoinferred."o

(IV)o o ContradictionobetweenoOcularoandoMedicaloEvidenceo

(a)o o Ito waso alsoo submittedo thato theo ocularo testimonyo ofo theo prosecutiono witnesseso dido noto eveno aligno witho theo medicalo evidenceo ono record.oWhileotheoFIRoandotheodepositionsoofotheowitnessesoclaimedothato appellanto Jagbiro Singho @o Monuo firedo ato PW3-Gurbaxo Singho ando PW4-MohanoSingh,otheoMLRoofoPW3-GurbaxoSingho(Ex.PC)oandotheoevidenceoofo PW2oDr.VijayoAroraocategoricallyoestablishedothatononeoofotheoinjuriesoono PW3-GurbaxoSinghowereocausedobyofirearms.oSimilarly,otheofirearmoinjurieso onoPW4-MohanoSinghowereosimpleoandonon-fataloandoinconsistentowithoao directoshotofromocloseorange.oTheolearnedoSeniorocounseloalsooassertedothato asoperotheoprosecutionoitself,oPW4-MohanoSinghowasostandingobehindotheo deceasedowhenoappellantoSubegoSinghofired,otherebyosupportingotheopleaoofo theodefenceothatoPW4-MohanoSinghowasomerelyostruckobyostrayopelletsofromo aosingleodischarge.o

(b)o o Itowasofurtherosubmittedothatotheoinjuryoattributedotooappellanto JaswinderoSinghoonotheorightolegoofoPW3-GurbaxoSinghowasoallegedotoohaveo beenocausedobyoaokirpan,oyetomedicaloevidenceoconfirmedothatotheowoundo wasoaolaceratedoinjuryocausedobyoaobluntoobject,oandonotoaosharp-edgedoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -14-o o weapon.o Sucho contradictionso betweeno ocularo testimonyo ando medicalo findingso wento too theo rooto ofo theo caseo ofo theo prosecutiono ando therefore,o severelyoimpairedoitsocredibility.oRelianceowasoalsooplacedoonoHalluoAndo OthersovsoStateoOfoMadhyaoPradesh,o(1974)o4oSCCo300oandoSantaoSinghoVo StateoofoPunjab,o1991(2)oRCRo(Crl)o113,owhereoitowasoheldothatowhereo medicaloandoocularoevidenceoareoirreconcilablyoinconsistent,otheoprosecutiono caseomustofail.o

(V)o o RecoveryoVitiatedo–oProceduralooLapseso o o WithoregardotootheorecoveryoofotheoswordofromoappellantoJagjito Singh,oitowasoarguedothatotheosameowasoinadmissibleoinoevidence,ohavingo beingovitiatedobyonon-complianceowithoSectionso24oando27oofotheoIndiano EvidenceoAct.oNoodisclosureostatementowasorecorded;otheorecoveryomemoo (EX.PBB/1)odidonotobearotheosignatureoofotheoappellantoandotheorecoveryo wasowitnessedobyoGurdialoSingh,oaorelativeoofotheocomplainant,oASIoHarjito Singho ando Investigatingo Officero Yogio Raj,o noneo ofo whomo wereo eveno examinedoasoprosecutionowitnesses.ooLearnedocounsel,otherefore,oarguedothato theofailureotooexamineotheseomaterialowitnessesorenderedotheorecoveryohighlyo suspect,owarrantingoexclusionofromoconsideration.oLearnedoSeniorocounselo placedorelianceouponoBhimppaoJinnappaoNaganuroVoStateoofoKarnataka,o 1993o SCCo (Cri.)o 1053,o whereino theo Supremeo Courto reiteratedo thato theo recoveryounsupportedobyoindependentotestimonyoisodevoidoofoevidentiaryo value.oo o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -15-o o o(VI)o o DelayoinolodgingoFIRo–oIndicativeoofoAfterthoughto o o TheolearnedoSeniorocounseloalsooemphasizedouponotheodelayoofo nearlyoeightohours,oinolodgingotheoFIR,othoughotheoincidentotookoplaceoato abouto 2:00o pm,o ando theo FIRo waso registeredo ato abouto 9:05o p.m.o ono

19.12.2002,o whicho remainedo unexplained,o ando clearlyo suggestiveo ofo deliberateo embellishment.o Sheo submittedo thatonoosatisfactoryo explanationo waso offeredo byo theo prosecutiono foro thiso delay,o whicho underminedo theo spontaneityoandoveracityoofotheoallegationsomadeoinotheoFIR.o

(VI)o o Absenceoofoinjuriesoonoaccusedo-oNotofatalotooselfodefenceo o o Learnedo Senioro counselo stillo furthero arguedo theo absenceo ofo injuriesoonotheoaccusedocouldonotobeoaodeterminativeofactorotoodiscreditotheo pleaoofoself-defence,oespeciallyoinoaocaseowhereotheoincidentoaroseooutoofoao suddenoandomutualoaltercation.oSheoassertedothatotheopleaoofoselfodefenceo wasosupportedobyotheosequenceoofoevents,ositeoplan,oandoballisticoevidence,o andodidonotorequireotheoaccusedotoohaveosustainedoinjuriesotooproveothatotheo firingowasoinoresponseotooimminentothreat.o

(VII)o o AlternativeosubmissionounderoSectiono304oIPCo o o Inotheoalternative,olearnedoSeniorocounselosubmittedothatoeveno assumingoarguendo,othatoappellantoSubegoSingh'soactoofofiringoexceededotheo boundsoofoprivateodefence,otheocaseowould,oatobest,ofallounderoSectiono304o PartoIooroPartoIIoIPC,oandonotounderoSectiono302oIPC,oasothereowasonoointento tookill,oandotheoactowasocommittedoinotheoheatoofopassion,ouponograveoando suddenoprovocation.oTheoabsenceoofopremeditation,otheoexistenceoofociviloo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -16-o dispute,otheosuddenonatureoofotheoincident,oandotheofactothatoonlyooneoshoto waso firedo fromo appellanto Subego Singh'so licensedo firearmo areo significanto factorsowarrantingotheoinvocationoofoExceptiono2otooSectiono300oIPC.o SUBMISSIONSoONoBEHALFoOFoTHEoSTATE-RESPONDENTo

19.o o Learnedo Stateo counselo assistedo byo learnedo counselo foro theo complainantovigorouslyosupportedotheofindingsobyotheolearnedotrialoCourto andocontendedothatotheoimpugnedojudgmentowarrantedonoointerference.oTheo convictionoofotheoaccused-appellants,oasoperotheolearnedoStateocounsel,owaso foundedoonoaolegallyosoundoanalysis,oandoreliableoandotrustworthyoevidence,o bothoocularoandoscientific.oTheofollowingosubmissionsowereoadvancedoono behalfoofotheolearnedoStateocounsel:o-o

(A)o o CredibilityoandoPresenceoofoInjuredoWitnesseso o o Learnedo Stateo counselo arguedo thato thereo wereo cogent,o consistentoandocorroboratedotestimoniesoofothreeoinjuredowitnesseso–onamelyo PW3-GurbaxoSingho(complainant),oPW4-MohanoSinghoandoPW5-oHarindero Singho–owhoseopresenceoatotheosceneowasothereforeoincontrovertible.o o o Theoveryofactothatotheseowitnessesosustainedoinjuriesoduringotheo incidento madeo theiro presenceo naturalo ando unimpeachable,o ando therefore,o theiroevidenceocarriedoaohigherodegreeoofocredibility.oItowasoarguedothatotheseo witnesseso hado giveno mutuallyo corroborativeo accounto ofo theo sequenceo ofo events,oidentifyingoeachoofotheoaccusedowithoclarityoandoattributingospecifico rolesotooseveraloofothem,oincludingoexhortation,oactiveoassaultoandouseoofo firearms.o Theiro testimony,o reado ino totality,o revealedo ao coordinatedo ando violentoassaultouponotheocomplainantopartyobyotheoaccusedopersons.oo o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -17-o o o(B)o o MedicaloandoBallaisticoEvidenceoSupportsoOcularoTestimonyo o o Itowasofurtherosubmittedothatotheomedicaloandoforensicoevidenceo onorecordofullyosupportedoandoreinforcedotheoversionoofotheoprosecution.oTheo post-mortemo reporto ofo deceasedo Amriko Singho confirmedo thato theo fatalo injuriesowereocausedobyodischargeofromoaofirearmoandowereosufficientoinotheo ordinaryo courseo ofo natureo too causeo death.o Theo ballistico examinationo conductedo byo theo FSLo matchedo theo spento cartridgeso recoveredo fromo theo sceneowithoaolicensedo12-boreofirearmobelongingotooappellantoSubegoSingh,o provingobeyondodoubtothatotheoshotowhichocausedotheodeathoofoAmrikoSingho wasofiredobyoappellantoSubegoSingh.oTheoinjuriesoonotheootheroprosecutiono witnesseso hado beeno medicallyo examinedo ando wereo consistento witho theo weaponso attributedo too theo assailantso byo theo eyewitnesses.o Thereo was,o therefore,o completeo convergenceo betweeno ocularo ando medical/ballistico evidence,oleavingonooroomoforodoubt.o

(C)o o UnlawfuloAssemblyoandoCommonoObjecto–oAttractsoSectiono 149oIPCo o o LearnedoStateocounselovehementlyodisputedotheocontentionoofo theocounselooppositeothatotheoincidentowasoaospontaneousoactoorothatothereo waso noo commono object.o Ono theo contrary,o ito waso submittedo thato allo theo accusedopersonsocameoarmedowithodeadlyoweaponsoincludingoguns,oswordso ando sticks,o ando launchedo ao deliberate,o collectiveo assaulto upono theo complainantoparty.oAccusedoAmandeepoSinghoisospecificallyoallegedotoohaveoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -18-o o exhortedotheoothersonototoospareoanyone,owhichoindicatedopreconcertoando sharedo intent.o Sucho conduct,o aso pero theo learnedo Stateo counsel,o clearlyo broughto theo caseo withino theo ambito ofo Sectiono 149o IPC,o aso theo unlawfulo assemblyo hado ao definiteo commono objecto too commito murdero ando causeo grievousohurt.oTheomanneroinowhichotheoattackowasolaunched,otheonatureoofo theoweaponsocarriedoandotheofatalooutcomeoleftonoodoubtothatotheoassaultowaso notoaccidentalooroisolatedobutopremeditatedoandocollectivelyoexecuted.o

(D)o o DelayoinolodgingoFIRo–oExplainedoandoJustifiedo o o Learnedo Stateo counselo alsoo offeredo ao reasonableo ando satisfactoryoexplanationoforotheoallegedodelayoinolodgingotheoFIR.oItowaso contendedothatotheooccurrenceotookoplaceoatoabouto2op.m.,oandotheoFIRowaso registeredo aftero 8o hourso aroundo 10o p.m.o ono theo sameo evening.o Ito waso submittedothatotheopriorityoofotheocomplainantopartyowasotooseekoimmediateo medicalo treatmento foro theo injuredoando arrangeo foro theoshiftingo ofo Amriko Singh,owhoohadosustainedofataloinjuries.oItowasofurtheroarguedothatoinoruralo areas,ologisticalodifficultiesoinosecuringotransportoandomedicaloaidodoesoofteno accountoforosuchoaodelay,owhichowasoneitheroinordinateonoroindicativeoofo afterthought.oImportantly,otheoentireoincidentowasonarratedoinodetailoinotheo FIRoandothereowasonoomaterialodiscrepancyobetweenotheoFIRoversionoando subsequentodepositionsoduringotrialobyotheoprosecutionowitnesses.oItowas,o therefore,osubmittedothatotheodelay,oinotheopresentocase,owasodulyoexplainedo andonotofatalotootheocaseoofotheoprosecution.oo o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -19-o o

(E)o o PleaoofoPrivateoDefenceo–oRightlyoRejectedo o o LearnedoStateocounselofurtherosubmittedothatotheopleaoofoprivateo defenceoraisedobyotheoaccusedohadobeenorightlyorejectedobyotheolearnedotrialo Courtoandowasoentirelyounsubstantiated.oItowasopointedooutothatonotoaosingleo injuryowasofoundoonoanyoofotheoaccusedopersons,owhichocompletelyobeliedo theopleaoofoself-defence.oItowasoarguedothatotheopleaoofoprivateodefenceoundero Sectionso96-106oIPCocannotobeosustainedoinotheoabsenceoofoanyocredibleo evidenceo showingo imminento threat,o oro unlawfulo aggressiono fromo theo complainantoside.oOnotheocontrary,otheocomplainantosideosufferedomultipleo andoseriousoinjuries,oincludingoaofirearmodeath,owhereasotheoaccusedosideo emergedounscathed.oSuchoaoone-sidedoinjuryopatternodemolishedotheotheoryo ofomutualoaltercationooroprovocationoandostronglyosuggestedothatoitowasotheo accusedo whoo wereo theo initialo aggressors.o Furthermore,o theo learnedo Stateo counselosubmittedothatotheositeoplansoandoeyewitnessoaccountsoestablishedo thato theo occurrenceo occurredo ino closeo proximityo ofo theo houseo ofo theo complainant,o noto ato oro nearo theo residenceo ofo appellanto Subego Singh,o aso falselyoalleged,otherebyodiscreditingotheoversionoofotheoaccusedothatotheyo wereoattackedoandofiredoinoself-defence.o

(F)o o Presumptionoofoinnoncence-oRebuttedobyodirectedoevidenceo o o ItowasolastlyoarguedobyotheolearnedoStateocounselothatotheopleao ofo falseo implicationo ofo theo appellantso ando theiro innocenceo waso whollyo withoutomeritoinotheofaceoofodirect/reliable,ocorroboratedoevidence.oMerelyo becauseosomeoco-accusedowereoplacedoinocolumnoNo.2oduringoinvestigation,oo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -20-o o didonotovitiateotheocaseoofotheoprosecutionoagainstotheoremainingoaccused,o whoseo activeo participationo ino theo offenceo hado beeno establishedo beyondo reasonableo doubto througho injuredo eyewitnesses,o medicalo evidenceo ando scientifico corroboration.o Theo presenceo ofo motiveo (ao lando dispute),o prioro animosity,oandotheouseoofodeadlyoweaponsocollectivelyostrengthenedotheocaseo ofo theo prosecution.o Eveno aso pero theo caseo ofo theo prosecution,o appellanto GurmukhoSingho(brotheroofotheocomplainant)owasonotofoundopresentoatotheo sceneo ofo theo occurrence,o duringo theo inquiryo conductedo byo theo DSPo ManmohanoSingho(DW2),oandohence,onooinjury,omucholessomotive,ocouldo notobeoattributedotoohimotoocommitotheocrimeoinoquestion.o FINDINGSoOFoTHISoCOURTo

20.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoperusedotheo evidenceoonorecord.o

21.o o Theo convictiono ofo theo accusedo personso particularlyo accusedo Subego Singh,o JagjitoSingho @o Monu,o isobasedoono consistent,o cogento ando corroboratedo testimonieso ofo injuredo eyewitnesses,o PW2-Harindero Singh,o PW3-GurbaxoSinghoandoPW4-MohanoSingh.oTheseowitnessesowereopresento ato theo sceneo ofo occurrenceo ando sufferedo injurieso themselves,o therebyo reinforcingotheoauthenticityoofotheiroaccounts.oTheiroversionsowereocoherent,o detailed,oandotheyoremainedosteadfastoduringotheirocross-examination.o

22.o o Theomedicaloevidenceoandoballisticoreportsolendofurtherosupporto tootheoocularoversion.oTheopost-mortemoreportoofodeceasedoAmrikoSingho clearlyoattributesotheocauseoofodeathotoofirearmoinjury,owhichowasosufficientoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -21-o o inoordinaryocourseoofonatureotoocauseodeath.oTheoFSLoanalysisoconfirmedo thatotheospentocartridgeorecoveredoatotheositeomatchedotheolicensedo12-boreo gunoofoappellantoSubegoSingh,otherebyoforensicallyoalsoolinkingohimotootheo fataloshot.o

23.o o Similarly,o theo injurieso sustainedo byo PW3-Gurbaxo Singho ando PW4-Mohano Singh,o thougho noto fatal,o areo consistento witho theo useo ofo ao firearm,oandoareoattributedotooappellantoJagbiroSingho@oMonu.oTheoocularo account,o too theo extento implicateso theseo twoo accused-appellants,o iso fullyo corroboratedobyomedicaloandoforensicoevidence.oo

24.o o Theo claimo ofo self-defenceo madeo byo theo accusedo particularlyo appellantoSubegoSinghowasoexaminedobyousoinodepthoandoweofindotheosameo toobeountenable.oNotoaosingleoinjuryowasoreceivedoonoanyoofotheoaccusedo makingotheopleaoimplausible,oespeciallyoconsideringotheogrievousoinjurieso sufferedobyotheocomplainantoside.oTheoclaimothatocross-firingotookoplaceoiso notosupportedobyoanyoevidenceo–owhileoPW3oGurbaxoSingh'soweaponowaso recoveredoandosentoforoexamination,othereowasonooproofoofoitobeingousedooro causingoanyoinjury.o

25.o o Theolegaloparametersoforoaovalidoclaimoofoprivateodefenceo–o suchoasoimminentothreat,oproportionalityooforesponseoandotheoabsenceoofo premeditationo –o wereo clearlyo noto met.o Theo acto ofo dischargingo ao firearmo resultingoinofataloinjury,oespeciallyoinotheoabsenceoofoanyothreatoorobodilyo harmotootheoaccusedocannotobeocloakedoinotheogarboofoself-defence.oTheoo o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -22-o o learnedotrialoCourt,otherefore,orightlyorejectedotheopleaoasoanoafterthought,o unsupportedobyoeitherooraloorodocumentaryoevidence.o

26.o o Theo learnedo Senioro counselo foro theo appellantso strenuouslyo arguedoquaotheodelayoofo8ohoursoinolodgingotheoFIR.oHowever,othiso8ohours'o delayo standso satisfactorilyo explained.o Theo immediateo priorityo ofo theo complainantopartyowasotooattendotootheocriticallyoinjuredovictimsoandoshifto themofromoGuruoNanakoDevoHospital,oAmritsarotooSGTBoHospital.oTheo FIR,olodgedolateroinotheoevening,oisonotosuggestiveoofoanyofabricationooro embellishment,o particularlyo ino lighto ofo consistento narrativeso byo theo eyewitnessesoandomedicallyocorroboratedoinjuries.o

27.o o Now,oweoproceedotoore-examineotheoconvictionoofoappellantso Jaswindero Singho @o Jass,o Amandeepo Singh,o Jagjito Singho ando Gurmukho Singh.oTheiroconvictionsounderoSectiono302oando307oIPCowithotheoaidoofo Sectiono49oIPC,obesidesocertainolesserooffences,orequireocarefuloscrutiny.o Theocaseoofotheoaforementionedofouroappellants,owhooareonotoallegedotoohaveo firedogunshotsoorocausedoanyofataloinjury,ostandsoonoaodistinctofootingofromo thatoofoco-appellantsoSubegoSinghoandoJagbiroSingho@oMonu,oagainstowhomo theoallegationsoofofiringoandocausingogunshotoinjuriesoareodirectlyopressed.oo

28.o o Upono ao closeo re-appraisalo ofo theo evidence,o theo followingo positionoemergesoquaotheseofouroappellantsonamelyoJaswinderoSingho@oJass,o AmandeepoSingh,oJagjitoSinghoandoGurmukhoSingh:o-o o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -23-o o l Theorolesoattributedotoothemoareoconfinedotootheiropresenceoino ano unlawfulo assembly,o carryingo stickso oro swords,o raisingo lalkaras,oandoallegedlyocausingosimpleoblows;o l Noofirearmouseoisoattributedotoothem;o l Noofataloorogrievousoinjuryoisoprovedotoohaveobeenocausedobyo them;o l Theo siteo plano (Ex.PH)o iso ofo utmosto significance.o Ito placeso appellantoSubegoSinghoatoMarko'F',owhichoisotheopreciseolocuso ofo theo fatalo gunfire,o whereaso theseo remainingo appellantso areo showno ato Marko 'H',o situatedo insideo Subego Singh'so house,o whichoisoinocloseovicinityotootheohouseoofotheocomplainant.oThiso spatialodistanceofromotheoepicentreoofotheo murderousoassaulto accordsowithotheoocularotestimonyothatotheogunfireoemanatedo fromonearoMarko'F'.o

29.o o Ito iso noto ino disputeo thato theseo appellantso wereo noto ino theo immediateovicinityoofotheoplaceowhereotheofataloinjuriesowereocaused.oRather,o theyowereoseparatedobyotheowalloofotheohouseoofotheocomplainantoandowereo positionedoatoaodistance.oSuchocircumstancesorenderodoubtfulotheoattributiono ofoeitherointentionooroknowledgeoonotheiropartotoocommitomurderooroattempto toomurder.o

30.o o Theomedicaloevidenceoalsoolendsonoosupportotootheoallegationoofo active,o mucho lesso homicidalo participationo byo theseo fouro appellants.o Noo grievousoorolife-threateningoinjuriesoareolinkedotoothemoexceptotooappellantoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -24-o o JagjitoSingh,owhooinflictedotheosaidogrievousoinjuryoonotheoleftolegoofotheo complainant.o

31.o o Theoinjuriesoagainstotheseoappellantsoareosimpleoinonature,onoro isoanyoinjuryoinflictedobyoaofirearm,otherebyonecessitatingoidentifyingothemo individuallyoasotheoauthorsothereof.o

32.o o Furthermore,otheorecordodisclosesonooprioroenmityooromotiveo involvingotheseofouroappellants,onoroisothereoanyomaterialotooindicateothato theyosharedoanyoplanooroknowledgeothatoaomurderowouldobeocarriedoout.o

33.o o Sectiono149oIPCopostulatesoconstructiveoliabilityoinotwoodistincto situations:-o l Firstly,owhereoanooffenceoisocommittedoinoprosecutionoofotheo commonoobjectoofotheounlawfuloassembly;oandoo l Secondly,o whereo theo memberso knewo thato sucho offenceo waso likelyotoobeocommittedoinoprosecutionoofothatoobject.o

34.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoRajuo@oRajendraoandoanothero (supra)oandoVijayoPandurangoThakreoandootherso(supra)ohasolaidodowno thatomereomembershipoofoanounlawfuloassemblyoisonot,obyoitself,osufficiento tooattractoliabilityoforomurder,ounlessoeitheroofotheotwoolimbsoofoSectiono149o IPCoisosatisfied.o

35.o o Foro theo firsto limbo too apply,o theo commono objecto itselfo musto comprehendo theo offenceo actuallyo committed.o Whereo theo objecto ofo theo assemblyoisoconfinedotoointimidationoorocausingoofosimpleohurt,oaounilateraloo o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -25-o o homicidaloactobyoanotheromemberocannotobeosaidotoobeoinoprosecutionoofothato object.o

36.o o Forotheosecondolimb,otheoelementoofo'knowledge'omustorestoono concreteoinferencesofromoprovedocircumstancesosuchoasoprioroconcert,otheo natureoofotheoweaponsocarried,ohistoryoofohostility,opositioningoofomembers,o andotheiroconcertedoacts.oSuchoknowledgeocannotobeopresumedooroinferredoino absenceoofocredibleomaterial.o

37.o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasorepeatedlyocautionedoagainsto anoundulyoexpansiveoapplicationoofoSectiono149oIPCoinocasesowhereo(i)osomeo membersoofotheoassemblyocarriedoonlyosimpleoweapons,o(ii)otheofataloactso wereosuddenoandoindividualoinonature,oando(iii)otheospatialopositioningoofo members,o dido noto justifyo ano inferenceo ofo ao sharedo homicidalo objecto oro knowledge.o

38.o o Applyingotheoaboveoprinciples,oweoareoofotheoviewothatoneithero limboofoSectiono149oIPCostandsoattractedoagainstotheofouroappellantsonamelyo Jaswindero Singho @o Jass,o Amandeepo Singh,o Jagjito Singho ando Gurmukho Singh.o

39.o o Asoregardsotheofirstolimb,otheoevidenceoonlyoshowsothatotheseo appellantsowereoarmedowithosticksoandoswords,oinflictedooroattemptedosimpleo blows,oandowereostationedoawayofromotheolocusoofotheogunfire.oNothingoino theo prosecutiono evidenceo establisheso thato theo commono objecto ofo theiro assemblyoextendedotookillingoofoAmrikoSinghoorotheoattemptedokillingoofo others.oTheiroplacementoatoMarko'H'onegatesoanyoparticipationoinotheoo o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -26-o o transaction,obyowhichotheogunshotsoatoMarko'F'owereofired.oConsequently,o theohomicidaloactsocannotobeosaidotoohaveobeenocommittedo"inoprosecutiono of"otheoobjectoofotheseoappellants.o

40.o o Asoregardsotheosecondolimb,othereoisoequallyonooevidenceothato theseoappellantsohadotheoknowledgeothatoaomurderousoassaultowasolikely.oNoo pre-concert,oprioroenmityooroconductoisoproved,ofromowhichosuchoknowledgeo canobeoinferred.oTheiroactsowereoconfinedotooraisingolalkarasoandoinflictingo simpleoblows,owhichoareoconsistentoonlyowithointimidationoorocausingohurt.o Inotheseocircumstances,oimputingotoothemoknowledgeooroaomurderousoassaulto wouldobeospeculativeoandounjustified.o

41.o o Ito thuso emergeso thato theo constructiveo liabilityo ofo theo fouro appellantsounderoSectiono149oIPCoforotheooffencesounderoSectionso302oando 307oIPCoisounsustainable.o

42.o o Whereotheoevidenceoadmitsoofoambiguityoasotootheosweepoofotheo commono object,o theo benefito ofo doubto musto necessarilyo goo too theseo appellants.oConsequently,owhileotheiroliabilityoforooffenceounderoSectionso 302oando307oIPCostandsoexcluded,otheiroparticipationoinocausingosimpleohurto isoprovedobeyondoreasonableodoubt.o

43.o o Onothisofooting,otheiroconvictionocanosafelyobeorestrictedotootheo followingosimplicitor:-o Sr.oNo.o Appellantso Section(s)o-oIPCo

1.o JaswinderoSingho@oJasso 323o

2.o AmandeepoSingho 323o

3.o JagjitoSinghoo 326o

4.o GurmukhoSingho 323o o o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -27-o o

44.o o TheoallegationounderoSectiono148oIPCoisonotoprovedobeyondo doubtoagainstothemosinceotheoweaponsoallegedlyocarriedowereoneitherousedotoo inflicto grievouso oro anyo life-threateningo injury.o Ito would,o therefore,o beo insufficientotoosustainotheoconvictionoagainstothemounderoSectiono148oIPC.o

45.o o Learnedo Senioro counselo foro theo fouro appellantso namelyo Jaswindero Singho @o Jass,o Amandeepo Singh,o Jagjito Singho ando Gurmukho Singhohasourgedothatotheoperiodoofocustodyoalreadyoundergoneobyothemomayo beotreatedoasoadequateopunishment.o

46.o o Havingoregardotoo(a)otheolapseoofomoreothanotwoodecadesosinceo theoincident;o(b)otheofactothatoonlyosimplyoinjuriesoareoattributedotooJaswindero Singho@oJass,oAmandeepoSingh,oJagjitoSinghoandoGurmukhoSingh;o(c)otheo absenceoofoevidenceoofoanyointentooroknowledgeotoocommitomurder;oandooooo

(d)otheoprotractedopendencyoofoproceedings,othisoCourtofindsomeritoinotheiro submissions.oo

47.o o Accordingly,o theo convictiono ofo allo theo appellantso iso upheld,o however,o ino viewo ofo theo above-discussedo findings,o appellantso namelyo Jaswindero Singho @o Jass,o Amandeepo Singh,o Jagjito Singho ando Gurmukho SinghocannotobeoconvictedoforooffencesounderoSectionso302/307oIPCowitho theo aido ofo Sectiono 149o IPCo ando thiso Courto deemso ito fito too convicto theo aforementionedoappellantsounderoSectiono326/323oIPCoandotheirosentenceobeo reducedotootheoperiodoalreadyoundergone.o o CRA-D-4-DB-2005o&oCRA-D-312-DBA-2006o o o o -28-o o

48.o o Comingo nexto too CRA-D-312-DBA-2006o filedo byo theo complainanto Satnamo Singho againsto theo judgmento acquittingo accused-respondentoJasmailoSingh,othisoCourtofindsonoomeritoinothisoappealoandoisonoto inclinedotooacceptotheoprayeroinoviewoofotheoaboveodiscussion.oTheolearnedo trialo Courto haso rightlyo acquittedo respondento Jasmailo Singh,o too whomo noo overtoact,omucholessoanyoinjuryohasobeenoattributed.oAdmittedly,orespondento JasmailoSinghowasomerelyoallegedotoobeoarmedowithoaodang,oandothus,oeveno hiso benigno presenceo iso doubtful.o Ino thiso eventuality,o noo interferenceo iso warrantedo byo thiso Courto quao reasoningo ofo theo learnedo trialo Courto ino acquittingo theo respondent.o Consequently,o theo appealo filedo byo theo complainantoSatnamoSinghostandsodismissed.o o o o o o o o o o (MANJARIoNEHRUoKAUL)o o o o o o o o o o JUDGEo o o o Julyo28,o2025oo o o o o o ooo(H.S.oGREWAL)o ????????o???? o o o o o o o JUDGEo o o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :oo Yes/Noo o o o Whetheroreportableoo o :oo Yes/Noo