{"id":3526,"date":"2015-08-07T10:35:47","date_gmt":"2015-08-07T05:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mynation.net\/docs\/?p=3526"},"modified":"2015-08-07T10:35:47","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T05:05:47","slug":"1081-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mynation.net\/docs\/1081-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"SC: Guidelines on appeals against acquittal"},"content":{"rendered":"

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA<\/strong><\/p>\n

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
\nCRIMINAL APPEAL NO.551 OF 2011<\/p>\n

Muralidhar @ Gidda & Anr. \u2026 Appellants
\nVersus
\nState of Karnataka \u2026 Respondent<\/p>\n

WITH CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.791 OF 2011 AND CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1081 OF 2011<\/p>\n

JUDGMENT<\/p>\n

R.M. LODHA, J.<\/p>\n

These three criminal appeals arise from the common judgment and, therefore, they were heard together and are being disposed of by the common judgment.<\/p>\n

2. The statement (Ex.P-22) recorded by the police on 17.08.2002 between 9.55 P.M. and 10.20 P.M. at K.R. Hospital, Mandya triggered the prosecution of the appellants and one Swamy. Ex.P-22 is in Kannada, which in English translation reads:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe statement of Pradeep son of Swamygowda, 28
\nyears, Vakkaligaru by community, agriculturist
\nresiding at Majigepura village, Srirangapatna Taluk.
\nToday at about 8.30 p.m. night, I was sitting in front
\nof shaving shop by the side of shop of Javaregowda
\non K.R.S. \u2013 Majigepura Road along with Vyramudi,
\nPrakash and Umesh. At that time Naga, S\/o
\nAmmayamma, Jagga S\/o Sentu Kumar\u2019s sister,
\nGunda, Gidda, S\/o Fishari Nanjaiah, Swamy, Manju
\nand Hotte Ashoka and others who were having old
\nenmity assaulted me by means of chopper, long on
\nmy hand, head, neck and on other parts of the body
\nwith an intention to kill me and they have assaulted
\nUmesh who was with me. Vyramudi said do not kill
\nus and went away. Prakash ran away. Please take
\naction against those who have attempted to kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. After registration of the First Information Report (Exhibit P-5) on the basis of the above statement made by Pradeep which has become dying declaration in view of his death, the investigation commenced. In the course of investigation, 37 witnesses were examined. The investigating officer, on completion of investigation, submitted challan against Naga @ Bagaraju (A-1), Jaga @ Santhosh Kumar (A-2), S. Sathish @ Gunda (A-3), Muralidhar @ Gidda (A-4), Swamy @ Koshi (A-5) and Manju (A-6).<\/p>\n

4. The concerned Magistrate then committed the accused to the court of Sessions for trial. The Court of Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court\u2013I, Mandya conducted the trial against A-1 to A-6 for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 307, 144, 148 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, \u201cIPC\u201d). The prosecution examined 37 witnesses of which PW-4 (Umesha), PW-5 (Prakash) and PW-15 (Vyramudi) were produced as eye-witnesses. Exhibit P-22 is recorded by PW-30 (Rajashekar) on the oration of PW-36 (Kodandaram, PSI) in the presence of PW-25 (Dr. Balakrishna).<\/p>\n

5. The three eye-witnesses PW-4, PW-5 and PW-15 have turned hostile to the case of prosecution and have not supported the prosecution version at all. In the circumstances, the only evidence that has become significant is the dying declaration (Ex.P-22). The trial court by its judgment dated 28.09.2004 on consideration of the entire oral and documentary evidence reached the conclusion that prosecution had failed to prove the offence against the accused persons and, accordingly, acquitted them.<\/p>\n

6. The State of Karnataka preferred an appeal before the Karnataka High Court against the judgment of the Fast Track Court-I, Mandya acquitting the accused. The High Court on hearing the public prosecutor and the counsel for the accused vide its judgment dated 21.10.2010 maintained the acquittal of A5 (Swamy) but convicted A1 to A4 and A6 for the offences under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC and sentenced them to undergo imprisonment for life with fine and defaulting sentence. The High Court has also convicted them for the offence under Section 148 IPC and they were sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for one year. Both sentences have been ordered to run concurrently. It is from this judgment that these appeals, by special leave, have arisen.<\/p>\n

7. The High Court has convicted the appellants on the basis of dying declaration alone, as in its view the dying declaration is credible and genuine. In this regard, the reasoning of the High Court is broadly reflected in paragraphs 16 and 17 which reads as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201c16. Having heard both sides and carefully gone
\nthrough the evidence of the witnesses and on
\nreappreciation of the evidence we find that Ex. P22
\nwhich is the dying declaration of the deceased has
\nbeen recorded naturally and truthfully. PW25 \u2013
\nDoctor has categorically stated that the injured was
\nin a position to speak and give statement and further
\nhe has signed Ex.P.22. Under these circumstances,
\nit could be gathered that PW25 \u2013 the Medical Officer
\nwas not only a person present when Ex. P.22 was
\nrecorded, but also asserted that the patient was in a
\nposition to give such statement. However, on a
\ncareful scrutiny of Ex.P.22, it is seen that the name
\nof Swamy \u2013 Accused No.5 has been added
\nsubsequently and there is no initial of any officer by
\nthe side of the name of Swamy and the colour of the
\nink differs from the other handwriting. In view of the
\nforegoing discussions we hold that the dying
\ndeclaration of deceased Pradeep \u2013 Ex. P.22 is
\ngenuine and has been recorded by PW30 \u2013
\nRajshekhar in the presence of PW25 \u2013 Dr.
\nBalakrishan when the deceased was in fit condition
\nto give statement and hence, a conviction can be
\nbased on the said dying declaration.<\/p>\n

17. So far as the capacity of the deceased to
\nnarrate the incident regarding the cause of his
\ninjuries is concerned, on perusal of Ex. P.3 the
\naccident register it is clear that Ex.P.3 was brought
\ninto existence at 9.30 p.m. and in Ex.P3 it is
\nmentioned that the assault was by six persons and
\nthe names of all the six persons are mentioned
\ntherein without any over writing. The over writing
\npertains only to the presence of Vyramudi and it is
\nthe contention of the learned counsel for the
\naccused that over the name of Vyramudi name of
\nPradeep is written. In Ex.P.23 \u2013 requisition letter it
\nis seen that signature of Vyramudi is separately
\ntaken by the doctor as brought by him and,
\ntherefore, the presence of either Vyramudi or
\nPradeep in the hospital at the time when the
\ndeceased was brought to the hospital cannot be
\ndisputed at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. The trial Court, however, held that it was not safe to act on the dying declaration (Ex.P-22). The trial court on consideration of Ex.P-22 and the evidence of PW-25, PW-36 and PW-30 concluded that the time of recording Ex. P-22 did not inspire confidence and the credibility of Exhibit P-22 had not been established to the satisfaction of the court and conviction cannot be based on Exhibit P-22 and the deposition of PW-36, PW-25 and PW-30.<\/p>\n

9. The only question that arises for our consideration in these appeals is, whether the High Court was justified in upsetting the view of the trial court on re-appreciation of the evidence of PW-25, PW-30 and PW-36 and Exhibit P-22.<\/p>\n

10. Lord Russell in Sheo Swarup , highlighted the approach of the High Court as an appellate court hearing the appeal against acquittal. Lord Russell said, \u201c\u2026 the High Court should and will always give proper weight and consideration to such matters as (1) the views of the trial Judge as to the credibility of the witnesses; (2) the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused, a presumption certainly not weakened by the fact that he has been acquitted at his trial; (3) the right of the accused to the benefit of any doubt; and (4) the slowness of an appellate court in disturbing a finding of fact arrived at by a Judge who had the advantage of seeing the witnesses.\u201d The opinion of the Lord Russell has been followed over the years.<\/p>\n

11. As early as in 1952, this Court in Surajpal Singh dealing with the powers of the High Court in an appeal against acquittal under Section 417 of the Criminal Procedure Code observed, \u201c\u2026\u2026\u2026.the High Court has full power to review the evidence upon which the order of acquittal was founded, but it is equally well settled that the presumption of innocence of the accused is further reinforced by his acquittal by the trial court, and the findings of the trial court which had the advantage of seeing the witnesses and hearing their evidence can be reversed only for very substantial and compelling reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

12. The approach of the appellate court in the appeal against acquittal has been dealt with by this Court in Tulsiram Kanu<\/p>\n

Mohan Singh
\nNoor Khan
\nKhem Karan
\n, Atley
\n, Aher Raja Khima
\n, Khedu Mohton
\n, Bishan Singh
\nSurajpal Singh v. State; [AIR 1952 SC 52]
\nTulsiram Kanu v. State;[AIR 1954 SC 1]
\n, Balbir Singh
\n, Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade
\n, Umedbhai Jadavbhai
\nMadan Mohan Singh v. State of U.P.; [AIR 1954 SC 637]
\nAtley v. State of U.P.; [AIR 1955 SC 807]
\nAher Raja Khima v. State of Saurashtra; [AIR 1956 SC 217]
\nBalbir Singh v. State of Punjab; [AIR 1957 SC 216]
\nM.G. Agarwal v. State of Maharashtra; [AIR 1963 SC 200]
\nNoor Khan v. State of Rajasthan; [AIR 1964 SC 286]
\nKhedu Mohton v. State of Bihar; [(1970) 2 SCC 450],
\nShivaji Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra; [(1973) 2 SCC 793]
\nLekha Yadav v. State of Bihar; [(1973) 2 SCC 424]
\nKhem Karan v. State of U.P.; [(1974) 4 SCC 603]
\nBishan Singh v. State of Punjab; [(1974) 3 SCC 288]
\nUmedbhai Jadavbhai v. State of Gujarat; [(1978) 1 SCC 228]
\nK. Gopal Reddy v. State of A.P. ; [(1979) 1 SCC 355]
\nwhile
\n, Madan
\n, M.G. Agarwal
\n, Lekha Yadav
\n, K. Gopal Reddy
\nTota Singh
\n, Ram Kumar
\nHarijana Thirupala
\nand Chandrappa
\n, Madan Lal
\n, C. Antony
\n, Sambasivan
\n, K. Gopalakrishna
\n, Bhagwan Singh
\n, Sanjay Thakran.
\nIt is not necessary to deal with these cases individually. Suffice it to say that this Court has consistently held that in dealing with appeals against acquittal, the appellate court must bear in mind the following:
\n(i) There is presumption of innocence in favour of an accused person and such presumption is strengthened by the order of acquittal passed in his favour by the trial court,
\n(ii) The accused person is entitled to the benefit of reasonable doubt when it deals with the merit of the appeal against acquittal,
\n(iii) Though, the power of the appellate court in considering the appeals against acquittal are as extensive as its powers in appeals against convictions but the appellate court is generally loath in disturbing the finding of fact recorded by the trial court. It is so because the trial court had an advantage of seeing the demeanor of the witnesses. If the trial court takes a reasonable view of the facts of the case, interference by the appellate court with the judgment of acquittal is not justified. Unless, the conclusions reached by the trial court are palpably wrong or based on erroneous view of the law or if such conclusions are allowed to stand, they are likely to result in grave injustice, the reluctance on the part of the appellate court in interfering with such conclusions is fully justified, and
\n(iv) Merely because the appellate court on re-appreciation and re-evaluation of the evidence is inclined to take a different view, interference with the judgment of acquittal is not justified if the view taken by the trial court is a possible view. The evenly balanced views of the evidence must not result in the interference by the appellate court in the judgment of the trial court.<\/p>\n

13. In Ghurey Lal , the Court has culled out the principles relating to the appeals from a judgment of acquittal which are in line with what we have observed above.<\/p>\n

14. Now, we shall examine whether or not the impugned judgment whereby the High Court interfered with the judgment of acquittal is justified.<\/p>\n

15. Of the 37 witnesses examined by the prosecution, PW-4, PW- 5 and PW-15 are the eye-witnesses but they have turned hostile to the case of prosecution. The first medical examination of the deceased Pradeep and so also the injured Umesha was done by PW1 (Dr. Latha) at about 9.30 P.M. on 17.08.2002. She has not certified that Pradeep was in Ghurey Lal v. State of U.P.; [(2008) 10 SCC 450] fit state to make any statement. PW-25 (Dr. Balakrishna) at the relevant time was Assistant Professor of Surgery at K.R. Hospital where deceased Pradeep was taken immediately after the incident. At about 9.40 p.m. on 17.08.2002, PW-36 (Kodandaram, PSI) gave a memo to PW-25 stating that one patient (Pradeep) was admitted in the hospital and requested him to verify as to whether the patient was in a position to give statement. In his cross-examination, PW-25 has stated that at 9.35 P.M., he saw the patient (Pradeep) when he was kept in operation theatre of casualty for emergency treatment. He has also deposed that a group of doctors was providing treatment to him. His deposition does not establish that Pradeep was under his treatment. The recording of Pradeep\u2019s statement by a constable (PW-30) as dictated by PW-36 (PSI) in this situation raises many questions. The trial court found this absurd. It is the prosecution version that PW-30 has recorded Ex.P-22 as dictated by PW-36 (PSI). Thus, Ex.P-22 is not in actual words of the maker. The trial court in this background carefully considered the evidence of PW-25, PW-30 and PW- 36 along with Ex.P-22. The trial court has noted that PW-25 failed to confirm in his testimony that he was treating deceased Pradeep when he was brought to the hospital. Moreover, PW-25 admitted over-writing with regard to the time written on Ex.P-22. The trial court also observed that though there was lot of bleeding injuries found on the person of Pradeep, PW-25 did not say anything about the quantity of loss of blood.<\/p>\n

16. Dealing with the testimony of PW-30, the trial court has observed that in his cross-examination, he has admitted that he did not record the statement in the words of the maker (Pradeep) but wrote the statement as dictated by PW-36. Moreover, PW-30 in his cross- examination had admitted that at the time Pradeep was attended to by the doctors, he was not inside.<\/p>\n

17. Then, in respect of Ex.P-22, the trial court observed that the names of accused Gunda (A-3) and Swamy (A-5) appear to have been inserted in different ink later on.<\/p>\n

18. On a very elaborate consideration of the entire evidence, the trial court was of the view that Ex.P-22 did not inspire confidence and the credibility of Ex.P-22 has not been established to the satisfaction of the court. Accordingly, the trial court held that conviction of the accused persons cannot be based on Ex.P-22 and the deposition of PW-36, PW-25 and PW-30.<\/p>\n

19. The sanctity is attached to a dying declaration because it comes from the mouth of a dying person. If the dying declaration is recorded not directly from the actual words of the maker but as dictated by somebody else, in our opinion, this by itself creates a lot of suspicion about credibility of such statement and the prosecution has to clear the same to the satisfaction of the court. The trial court on over-all consideration of the evidence of PW-25, PW-30 and PW-36 coupled with the fact that there was over-writing about the time at which the statement was recorded and also insertion of two names by different ink did not consider it safe to rely upon the dying declaration and acquitted the accused for want of any other evidence. In the circumstances, in our view, it cannot be said that the view taken by the trial court on the basis of evidence on record was not a possible view. The accused were entitled to the benefit of doubt which was rightly given to them by the trial court.<\/p>\n

20. The High Court on consideration of the same evidence took a different view and interfered with the judgment of acquittal without properly keeping in mind that the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused has been strengthened by their acquittal from the trial court and the view taken by the trial court as to the credibility of Ex.P-22 and the evidence of PW-25, PW-30 and PW-36 was a possible view. The High Court while upsetting the judgment of acquittal has not kept in view the well established principles in hearing the appeal from the judgment of acquittal.<\/p>\n

21. Accordingly, the appeals are allowed. The impugned judgment is set aside. The judgment of the court of Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court\u2013I at Mandya dated 28.09.2004 is restored. The appellants shall be set at liberty forthwith, if not required in any other case.<\/p>\n

New Delhi,
\nApril 09, 2014.<\/p>\n

(R.M. Lodha)
\n(Shiva Kirti Singh)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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