Prayer: Appeal filed under Section 374 of Criminal Procedure Code to set aside the conviction and sentence dated 30.06.2010 made in S.C.No.80 of 2009 by the Additional Sessions Judge [Fast Track Court No.IV], Tiruppur.
J U D G M E N T
P.DEVADASS,J.,
1. The appellant is accused in S.C.No.80 of 2010 before the learned Additional Sessions Judge [Fast Track Court No-IV], Tiruppur.
2. On 30.06.2010, in the said Court, he was found guilty and sentenced as under:-
Sl.No. Conviction sentence
1 Under Section 323 IPC (for having caused simple hurt to P.W.1 Jayammal)
6 months rigorous imprisonment.
2 Under Section 323 IPC (for having caused simple hurt to P.W.2 Sheela)
6 months rigorous imprisonment .
3 Under Section 302 IPC (for having caused the death of Jayapaul)
Life plus fine Rs.1000/-, in default 3 months rigorous imprisonment.
All the sentences were directed to run concurrently.
3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is as follows:-
(i) Deceased Jayapaul and Yesudass are brothers. Yesudass's son is the accused. In their ancestral house, in Karavazhi Madhapur, in Palladam Taluk, Jayapaul and the accused were residing in different portions. With regard to this house, there is dispute between them. On 11.5.2007, at about 8.30 p.m., the accused demanded the deceased to vacate the house. The deceased replied him that till his life time he will not vacate. The accused slapped P.W.1-Jayammal, wife of the deceased. When their daughter P.W.2-Sheela questioned this, the accused dashed her head on the wall. She sustained injury. She went to P.W.4-Palaniammal's house for first aid. The deceased followed her. The accused picked up a fire-wood (M.O.1) in front of P.W.1's house and followed the deceased. P.W.1 followed them crying. Near the C.S.I. Church, adjacent to P.W.4's house, the accused beaten the deceased with M.O.1 on his head and face. He fell down. The accused ran away with M.O.1. The whole occurrence was witnessed by P.Ws.1, 2 and P.W.7-Sruthi, granddaughter of P.W.1.
(ii) P.Ws.1, 2 and P.W.5-Saroja took the injured in the Ambulance driven by P.W.9-Velmurugan to P.W.8-Dr.Selvakumar's Nursing home in Somanur. Since his condition was very serious, P.W.8 directed them to take the injured to the Govt. Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore. Since P.W.1 did not took sufficient money with her and male persons did not accompany them, they took the injured back to his house in the same Ambulance. The injured was kept on the pial of his house. At about 9.30 p.m., he died. On phone message from his sister P.W.2, P.W.3-Jayakumar came from Palakkad. At about 2.30 a.m., at the Karumathampatti Police Station, P.W.1 gave Ex.P1 complaint to P.W.13-Aruchamy, Head Constable. He registered this case in crime No.144 of 2007 under Sections 323 and 302 I.P.C. He sent P.W.2 with memo to the Govt. Medical Collage Hospital, Coimbatore. He sent the express F.I.R. (Ex.P.12) to the Court and copies of the same to P.W.16-Jayachandran, Inspector and to superior Officers.
(iii) At about 3 a.m., on receipt of copy of a F.I.R., P.W.16 commenced his investigation. At about 3.30 a.m., at the scene place, in the presence of P.Ws.6 and 10-Arunkumar and Pravinkumar, P.W.16 prepared Ex.P2 Observation Mahazar. Drew Ex.P16 Rough Sketch. Recovered blood stained sand and plain sand under Ex.P17 Mahazar. In the presence of Panchayatars, he held inquest over the dead body. Ex.P18 is his Inquest Report. He examined the material witnesses and recorded their statements. He sent the dead body through Head Constable Ramasamy to the Govt. Medical Collage Hospital, Coimbatore with requisition to conduct post-mortem.
(iv) On 12.05.2007, at about 9.30 a.m., at the said Hospital, P.W.18 Dr.Saravanakumar examined P.W.2 and seen laceration 2 x 1 cm. on her right parietal region. (See Ex.P25 Accident Register Cpy).
(v) On 12.05.2007, at about 11.30 a.m., at the said hospital, P.W.14 Dr.Menaga Sridhar conducted post-mortem on the dead body of Jayapaul and noticed the following:-
External Injuries:-
(a) linear abrasion 7 cm in length left lower jaw 2.5 cm below medially from left ear end to end of lobule.
(b) Linear abrasion 9 cm over left lower jaw 2 cm above wound (a).
(c) 2 x 2 cm over left cheek 4 cm above from left angle of mouth.
(d) 3 x 2 cm over right cheek 2 cm above from right upper lip.
(e) 2 x 2 cm over right cheek 3.2 cm below wound (d)
(f) 1 x 1 cm over right cheek 2 cm below wound (e)
(g) 2 x 2 cm over right lower cheek 2 cm below laterally from wound (f)
(h) 3 x 0.5 cm over lateral aspect of middle part of right side of neck 3 cm below lateral to wound (g)
Lacerations:-
(a) 2 x 0.75 cm over left upper cheek 3 cm away from left tragus of ear muscle deep
(b) 3 cm x depth of hip seen at right end of upper lip with both upper lower part of part of lip found contusion.
(c) 0.5 x 0.5 cm over right side of chin, wound is muscle deep
(d) An irregular vertically oblique laceration 10 cm x 8 cm x bone deep involving right anterior frontal region of head. Upper end of wound is 7 cm above from root of nose, lower end of wound is 13 cm above medially from left upper portion of ear.
Internal Injuries:-
Sub scalp contusion involving both frontal, left temporal and right temporal region. Right temporalis muscle contused. Fissure fracture in curvilinear matters measuring 11 cm involving right temporal bone and it joined with right coronal suture line fractured.
- Vertically oblique crack fracture of 8 cm near the mid-line of frontal bone.
- Vault temporal bone fracture extended downwards involving right middle cranial fossae measuring 6 cm.
- Right side of mandible fractured near the angle and widely separated.
- Left mandible fractured and widely separated near the body of mandible.
- Upper jaw of right side found fractured and all teeth loosened and brokened except 3rd molar teeth.
-Sub arachnid hemorrhage seen over left frontal temporal and right fronto temporal both cerebellum.
(vi) P.W.14 opined that the deceased would appear to have died of shock and hemorrhage due to facio cranial cerebral injuries. The probable time of death is 8 hours to 12 hours prior to autopsy.
(vii) After post-mortem, the Head Constable recovered blood stained Towel (M.O.2), Banian (M.O.3), Lungi (M.O.4), Jatti (M.O.5) from the dead body and handed over them to P.W.16. He received them under Form-95.
(viii) In the course of his further investigation, on 14.05.2007, at about 11 a.m., before the Panchayat Office, Somanur, in the presence of P.Ws.11 and 12 Arokiyanathan and Moses, P.W.16 arrested the accused. He recorded Ex.P.20- confessional statement of the accused. In pursuance of its admissible portion, at about 2 p.m., near a bush, in Ponnusamy's house, in Karavazhi Madhapur, the accused produced M.O.1 stick. P.W.16 seized it under Ex.P.21-Mahazar. At about 2.30 p.m., from his house, the accused produced his shirt M.O.6. P.W.16 seized it under Ex-P22-Mahazar. He returned to his station with the accused and the case-properties. He sent the accused to court for judicial custody. He produced the case-properties to the court for sending them to chemical Lab for examination. P.W.16 examined the doctors, obtained the post-mortem certificate and Accident Register Copy. Concluding his investigation, P.W.16 filed the Final Report for offences under Sections 302 and 323(two counts) IPC.
4. To substantiate the charges under section 323(two counts) and section 302 IPC., prosecution examined P.Ws.1 to 18, marked Exs.P1 to P25 and exhibited M.Os.1 to 6.
5. On the incriminating aspects appearing as against him in the prosecution evidence, the Trial Court examined the accused. He stated that he has been falsely implicated in this case and on the occurrence day P.Ws.1, 2 and 7 and their relatives have assaulted him and he was hospitalised for 20 days. He did not examine any witness, nor mark any document nor exhibit any material object.
6. Appreciating the above evidence and the arguments of both sides, the Trial Court found him guilty under section 323 IPC(2 counts) and under section 302 IPC and sentenced him as already stated.
7. Mr.R.Sankarasubbu, learned counsel for the appellant contended that the prosecution has not established its case beyond all reasonable doubts. Elaborating his contentions, he had submitted as under:-
(i) P.Ws.1, 2 and 7 could not have witnessed the occurrence. There are lot of inconsistency in their evidence. They are closely related to the deceased. They are highly interested witnesses. They could not be believed.
(ii) There is inconsistency between the evidence of P.W.2 and the medical evidence of P.W.18 with respect to the injury sustained by P.W.2.
(iii) Since the recovery witnesses P.Ws.11 and 12 have not supported the recovery of M.Os.1 and 6 weapon and shirt, the section 27 of Evidence Act Recovery cannot be accepted.
(iv) There was no medical evidence to show that P.W.1 sustained any injury.
(v) The cross-examination of P.Ws.1, 2, 5 and 7 shows that at the time of occurrence, there was quarrel between both sides and they have beaten the accused with a burning fire-wood, he sustained injuries and he was also hospitalized. Thus, prosecution has not put forth true version of the case.
(vi) There was six hours delay in lodging the complaint and there was delay in handing over of the F.I.R. to the Court.
8. On the other hand, Mr.V.M.R.Rajendran, learned Additional Public Prosecutor submitted as under:-
(i) P.Ws.1, 2 and 7 have clearly spoken about they having witnessed the entire occurrence.
(ii) Their oral evidence has been corroborated by the medical evidence.
(iii) Recovery of M.Os.1 and 6 has been established by sufficient oral and documentary evidence.
(iv) When the accused was produced before the learned Judicial Magistrate for remand, he did not make any complaint that he was assaulted by P.Ws.1, 2 and 7.
(v) Mere suggestion of the defence to the prosecution witnesses will not probabilise their version. Either by independent evidence or from the evidence of prosecution witnesses, it has not been established that the accused have beaten the deceased and he was hospitalized for about 20 days.
9. We have given our careful consideration to the arguments of either side and carefully perused the entire evidence on record and also gone through the judgment of the Trial Court.
10. In Karavazhi Madhapur, in Palladam Taluk Jayapaul and his brother's son Ebaneser(accused) resided in adjacent houses, with regard to the division of the house, bad blood was brewing between them. In the circumstances, on the night of 11.05.2007, in his house, Jayapaul died. He was found with serious head injury. The medical evidence of P.W.14 Dr.Menaga Sridhar revealed that Jayapaul died of shock and hemorrhage due to facio cranial cerebral injuries (see Ex.P13 post-mortem certificate and her Final Opinion).
11. Undoubtedly, Jayapaul died due to homicidal violence. On the same night, Jayapaul's daughter P.W.2 Sheela was also found with injuries on her head.
12. The accused has been accused of having beaten P.W.2 and also beaten the deceased to death with a fire-wood. This case is mainly based on the evidence of eyewitnesses, namely, P.Ws.1, 2 and 7, Jayammal, Sheela and Sruthi, who are wife, daughter and daughter's daughter respectively of the deceased.
13. Merely that the witnesses are closely related to the deceased, we are not to discard their evidence unless they are speaking falsehood. It is relevant here to note that in BALRAJE V STATE [2010 (6) SCC 673], the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that mere fact that the witnesses were related to the deceased cannot be a ground to discard their evidence. It was further held that when the eyewitnesses are stated to be interested and inimically disposed towards the accused, it has to be noted that it would not be proper to conclude that they would shield the real culprit and rope in innocent persons. The truth or otherwise of the evidence has to be weighed pragmatically and the Court would be required to analyse the evidence of related witnesses and those witnesses who are inimically disposed towards the accused. [Also see PRAHALAD PATEL Vs. STATE [AIR 2011 SC 961] and JEYARAJ Vs. INSPECTOR OF POLICE, THALAVAIPURAM POLICE STATION, VIRUDHUNAGAR DIST. [2012(2)MLJ (Crl) 312].
14. P.W.1-Jayammal is wife of the deceased. She is an eyewitness in this case. She is also the complainant. Her evidence is that on 11.05.2007, at about 8.30. p.m., the accused came to her house, shouted at her husband for having not vacated the house, her husband replied him that he will not vacate, thereupon, the accused slapped her and also beaten her daughter P.W.2. It is also in the evidence of P.W.1 that, when P.W.2 had gone to the nearby P.W.4 Palaniammal's house for taking first aid treatment, the deceased followed her, at that time, the accused picked up a fire-wood stick near P.W.1's house, went behind her husband, she followed them crying and near the house of P.W.4 and the C.S.I Church, the accused had beaten the deceased on his head with stick, who had fallen down, bleeding profusely. These aspects were also clearly stated by P.W.1 in her complaint Ex.P1. She had withstood the lengthy cross-examination of the defence. Nothing, disturbing her cogent evidence has been obtained from her.
15. P.W.2 is an injured witness. She had corroborated P.W.1. She had stated that on that day at about 8.30 p.m., the accused had pulled her by hair and dashed her head against the wall and she sustained injury on her head. She had very clearly stated that near the Church her father was beaten by the accused on his head with a stick.
16. P.W.7-Sruthi, granddaughter of the deceased corroborated P.Ws.1 and 2. She had stated that the accused had chased her grandfather with a stick towards the Church, she also went behind them and witnessed the entire occurrence.
17. The evidence of P.W.14, who had conducted autopsy on the dead body of the deceased reveals that the injuries were on his head and face. This has been consistently spoken to by P.Ws.1, 2 and 7. P.W.18-Dr.Saravanakumar found lacerated injury on the right parietal region of P.W.2 (see Ex.P25 Accident Register copy).
18. The evidence of P.Ws.1, 2 and 7 is that P.W.2 had sustained injury when the accused dashed her head against the wall. Of course, in his cross-examination, P.W.18 had stated that the injury on P.W.2 can also be caused by a stick. It is his answer to the suggestion made to him. But, P.W.18 did not say that her injury is not possible in the manner spoken to by P.Ws.1, 2 and 7. Thus, the medical evidence corroborates the ocular testimony of P.Ws.1, 2 and 7.
19. The occurrence was on 11.05.2007, at about 8.30 p.m. The injured was taken in an Ambulance driven by P.W.9-Velmurugan to P.W.8-Dr.Selvakumar's Private Hospital in Somanur, about 5 k.ms. away from the scene village. Since his condition was serious, P.W.8 asked them to take him to the Govt. Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore. Then, in the Ambulance, there were only ladies. In her anxiety to save her husband's life, P.W.1 did not brought enough money with her. In the circumstances, in the same ambulance they have returned to the house to collect enough money and some male persons. This has been spoken to by P.W.9 also. At about 9.30 p.m., in the pial of his house, the deceased breathed his last. P.W.1 waited for her son P.W.3 Jayakumar, who had arrived at about 1.30 p.m., from Palakkad and thereafter, after travelling 6 k.ms., all have went to the karumathampatti police station and at about 2.30 a.m., P.W.1 gave Ex.P1 complaint to P.W.13 Aruchamy, Head Constable, who registered the F.I.R. It was midnight. So, in the early morning, Ex.P12 express F.I.R. was handed over to the Judicial Magistrate, Avinashi. Thus, in the circumstances, either in lodging the F.I.R. or in handing over it to the Court, there was no delay. So, we repel the contention of defence.
20. According to P.W.16, Jayachandran, Inspector, who had Investigated the case that he had arrested the accused on 14.05.2007, near the Somanur Panchayat Office and in the presence of P.Ws.11 and 12 Arokiyanathan and Moses, he had recorded Ex.P20 confessional statement of the accused and in pursuance of the information of the accused, in the presence of P.Ws.11 and 12, he had seized M.O.1 stick and M.O.6 blood stained shirt produced by the accused from certain places. However, P.Ws.11 and 12 did not support this version of P.W.16.
21. P.W.16's evidence also did not establish this. De hors the evidence of P.Ws.11 and 12, the recovery evidence remains as confession to a police officer. In view of Sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (also see PULLUKURI KUTAYYA Vs. KING EMPEROR [AIR 1947 PC 67] and KUMAR & ORS. Vs. INSPECTOR OF POLICE, DINDIGUL TALUK POLICE STATION [2012 (2) MLJ (Crl.) 494], it cannot be accepted. Thus, the recovery evidence cannot be used as an incriminating piece of evidence as against the accused. So, it has to be eschewed from our consideration.
22. Except the suggestion made by the defence to P.Ws.1 to 5 and 7 during their cross-examination that in the same occurrence they have assaulted the accused and also the reply of the accused to that effect made by him when he was examined under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. nothing concrete has been elicited from the prosecution witnesses or independent evidence has been produced probabilising the defence version.
23. The evidence of eyewitnesses, namely, P.Ws.1, 2 and 7 are clear and cogent. There is no artificiality in their evidence. There is nothing to reject their testimony. They inspire confidence in them. They could be safely believed.
24. It is clearly established that on the occurrence day, the accused had caused injury on the head of P.W.2. She had sustained simple injury. Thus, with respect to the overt act attributed as against P.W.2, the Trial Court had rightly found him guilty under Section 323 I.P.C.
25. The Trial Court also convicted the accused under Section 323 I.P.C. for having slapped P.W.1. No charge for this has been framed by the Trial Court. The accused had no opportunity to defend himself as to this allegation. That is why, there was no cross-examination by the accused as to the alleged injury caused to P.W.1. There is no evidence that at least she had complained of pain. Absolutely, there is no medical evidence that she had sustained injury. Absolutely there is no material. In facts and circumstances, with respect to P.W.1 no valid charge could be framed. Thus, the finding of the Trial Court that the accused is also guilty under Section 323 of IPC for having caused simple hurt to P.W.1 is not in accordance with law.
26. In this connection, one more aspect required to be seen is with regard to a charge framed under Section 323 IPC as regards the deceased.
27. With respect to the deceased, the Trial Court had framed two charges. One is under Section 323 IPC., for having caused injury on his head and face with a stick. The other one is under Section 302 of IPC for having caused his death by beating him on his head and face with a stick. Such framing of twin charges for the very same overt act is not in accordance with law.
28. In the same occurrence, when the deceased was beaten on his head and face with a stick by the accused, the deceased had received more than one blow and there cannot be a charge for each blow and separately a charge for the combined effect of the blows, namely, his death. Section 71 IPC prohibits such framing of charges.
29. Thus, there cannot be separate charges one for beating him and another one for killing him. So, with respect to the deceased, the Trail Court ought not to have framed a charge under Section 323 of IPC. Fortunately, for this unnecessary charge, no finding of guilty has been recorded by the Trail Court under section 323 IPC.
30. Considering the arguments of Mr.R.Sankarasubbu, learned counsel for the appellant that at the time of occurrence there was quarrel between both sides, as regards the killing of the deceased, it becomes necessary to find out what was the nature of the offence made out as against the accused.
31. Ex.P.20 is the confessional statement of the accused to P.W.16, Inspector of Police. In view of Sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, it cannot be used against the accused. But, it can be used in his favour. (see In re MOTTAI THEVAR [AIR 1952 Madras 586], MANICKAM Vs. STATE [2011(3)Crimes 509(Mad.)], and ROHIDAS MANIK KASRALE Vs. STATE [2012 CRL L.J.917]).
32. In his Ex.P.20 confessional statement, the accused had stated that just before the occurrence, when he went to the bathroom to have a shower, he had seen the deceased, he shouted at him to vacate the house without any further delay, however, the deceased raised his voice and told him that he will not do so and quarrel arose between both and the deceased went towards the C.S.I. Church, the accused chased him, then the occurrence had taken place. In her Ex.P.1 complaint, P.W.1 had also stated that in the course of wordy altercation her husband told the accused that during his life time he will not vacate the house. The cross-examination of P.W.5 reveals that quarrel arose between the accused and the deceased and she had separated them. Quarrel having been taken place between both sides has been spoken to by P.Ws.1, 2, 5 and 7 also.
33. Thus, it is seen that due to the sudden provocation the accused had lost his power of self control and beaten the deceased to death. The occurrence had taken place during a sudden fight. There was no premeditation. The accused did not bring any weapon along with him. In a fit of anger, suddenly, he had picked up a stick lying in front of the house of the deceased and with that he had assaulted the deceased on his head. The medical evidence of P.W.14 shows that the deceased sustained serious injuries on his head. There was fracture also. The accused had caused him injury on a vital part of his body. The accused assaulted him wishing his death.
34. In the facts and circumstances, the offence committed by the accused will fall under Exception 1 to Section 300 of IPC. It will not be murder. It will be culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It is punishable under Section 304 Part I of IPC.
35. In the result, this Criminal Appeal is allowed in part. The conviction and the sentence imposed upon the appellant under Section 323 of IPC for having caused simple hurt to P.W.2 Sheela are upheld. The conviction under Section 323 of IPC with respect to P.W.1-Jayammal and the sentence imposed upon him for the same are set aside. His conviction under Section 302 of IPC and the life sentence awarded to him are set aside. Instead, he is convicted under Section 304 Part I of IPC and sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment. The fine amount imposed upon him is maintained. All the sentences shall run concurrently.