Holding

The High Court's invocation of Section 34 IPC was a manifest error, and the appellants are acquitted of murder and related charges.

Summary

The appellants, owners of a brick kiln, were charged with murder, rioting and related offences after a violent clash at a village panchayat meeting that left two persons dead. The trial court convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 149 IPC, while the High Court acquitted them of the 149 charge and convicted them under Section 302 read with Section 34, treating each as liable for his individual act. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the High Court erred in invoking Section 34 after finding liability for individual acts and that the prosecution failed to explain the injuries sustained by the appellants, especially given their plea of self‑defence. The Court noted the lack of evidence of a common intention, the unexplained delay in arrest, and the possibility that the appellants acted in private defence. Consequently, the Court acquitted the appellants of all charges and set aside the convictions.

Issues considered

Whether Section 34 IPC can be applied when the court has already held the accused liable only for their individual acts.
Whether the prosecution must explain the nature and cause of injuries on the accused when a plea of private defence is raised.
Whether the prosecution proved a common intention under Section 149 IPC to commit murder.
Whether the delay in arrest and the manner of filing the FIR affect the prosecution's case.
Whether the appellants can be convicted for murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 in the facts of the case.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 147, s. 148, s. 149, s. 302, s. 307, s. 324, s. 34

Subjects

murderself-defenceSection 34 IPCSection 149 IPCcommon intentionunlawful assemblyburden of proofinjuriesdelay in arrestacquittal

Judgment

NA GARA THINAM AND ORS. A
v.
ST ATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE

APRIL 5, 2006

[S.B. SINHA AND P.P. NAOLEKAR, JJ.] B

Penal Code 1860-Sections 147, 148, 324, 302, 307, 149 and 34-
Fight between two groups-Accused and prosecution witnesses sustained
stab injuries--Two died in the fight-Plea of self defence raised by the
accused-Trial Court convicted the accused for murder under section 302 C
read with section 149 1PC and for other charges-High Court convicted the
accused under section 302 read with section 34 !PC after holding that they
were liable to be convicted for their individual acts-Correctness of-Held,
High Court committed a manifest error by invoking section 34 /PC after
holding that they were liable for their individual acts-Prosecution has D
failed to explain the injuries on the person of the accused; the delay in
arresting the accused; and that the accused were aggressors with their
common intention to cause death of the deceased-Possibility of exercising
right of self defence cannot be ruled out-Hence, the accused are acquilted
since the prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond all reasonable
~~ E
Appellant No. I was running a brick-kiln in a land belonging to a village
temple. On a complaint by villagers President of the Panchayat Board lodged
a complaint with Block Development Officer who imposed a fine on the
appellant. The President later convened a panchayat meeting for taking action
against the appellant for non-accounting of the amount entrusted by the F
villagers with him for temple festival. Appellant no. I along with his sons
appellant nos. 2 and 3 attended the meeting. The meeting was attended by a
large number of persons. At the meeting there was a wordy quarrel which
resulted in a fight between the two groups. Appellant no. I stabbed the first
deceased with a small knife which was brought by appellant no. 2 from a nearby G
tea stall. Appellant no. I also assaulted on the head of the second deceased
with a stick. Appellants and prosecution witnesses sustained injuries in the
fight. Appellants and three others were charged by prosecution for offences
under sections 147, 148, 324, 302 and 307 read with section 149 IPC. The
trial court found the appellants guilty of all the offences. The High Court,
833 l-1
834 Sl'PREME CUlJRT REPORTS [200613 S.C.R.

A however, acquitted the appellants of the charges against sections 324, 147,
148, and 302 read with section 149 IPC but held liable to be convicted for
-
their individual acts and hence convicted them under section 302 read with
section 34 I PC.

In appeal to this Court, the appellants contended that the High Court
B was wrong in invoking section 34 IPC after holding that they are liable for
their individual acts; that the injured witnesses did not state as to how the
appellants received stab injuries on their person; the First information report
was lodged at the instance of the President of the Panchayat, who was not
examined by the prosecution; that the allegations made against appellant no.
C 3 are not supported by medical evidence; and that the plea of self-defence raised
was not considered.

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: I.I. The High Court committed a manifest error in invoking
D Section 34 IPC. Once it was held that the appellants were liable to be convicted
only for their individual acts, the question was required to be addressed
different!)'. The High Court failed to consider the question that the prosecution
has not been able to explain the injuries on the person of the appellants. The
High Court also wrongly held that the burden of proof in respect thereof was
on the appellants. 1843-BI
E
1.2. The High Court, after finding the injuries suffered by the accused
on the vital parts of their bodies, without discussing the evidences brought on
record held that the same were not sustained by them while exercising their
right of self-defence. It is true that it is not for the prosecution to prove injuries
on the person of the accused, in each and every case irrespective of the nature
F thereof, but in a case of this nature the same would require serious
consideration as a plea of right of exercise of self-defence was raised. It is in
that context that the apprehension of death or bodily injury in the mind of the
accused persons would have to be determined having regard to the number of
people assembled to take part in assaulting them, the manner in which they
G were assaulted, the arms used as also the situs of injury received by them. It
is now well settled that a person apprehends death or bodily injury cannot be
weighed in golden scales on the spur of the moment and in the heat of
circumstances, the number of injuries required to disarm the assailants who
were armed with weapons.1843-F-G; 844-AI

H 1.3. The prosecution witnesses belonged to one group. They were
NAGARATHINAM 1·. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR Of POLICE 835
supporting one influential person of the village. The appellants were accused A
of defalcation of the temple property. The President of the Panchayat Board
not only saw to it that a heavy penalty is imposed upon the appellants, but also
called a Panchayat meeting to reprimand appellant No. I for not furnishing
of accounts. It is difficuit to believe that despite the fact that a large number
of persons were present near the tea shop, the appellants would kill two
persons one after another, without receiving any injury or threat to their B
lives or bodily injury or without having been not provoked by any of them or
in any manner whatsoever. The fact that they were not armed is not disputed.
It is not the case of the prosecution that they were carrying sticks with them.
It is admitted that appellant no. 2 all of a sudden picked up a small knife from
the shop of P. W. 4. The knife has not been identified in the court. The C
accusation made as against the appellant no. 3 that he had assaulted the 2nd
deceased with a stick, is not corroborated by medical evidence. None of the
appellants have been attributed of the said overt acts. How and in what manner
the appellants came to have such bamboo sticks in their possession had not
been disclosed. All the appellants have suffered at least three injuries each.
Whereas only one injury is said to have been caused by the appellant no. 2 in D
the stomach of the 1st deceased by a knife, all other injuries have been caused
by hard and blunt substance, whereas the appellants suffered injuries inflicted
on them by knife and bottles. 1846-A-GI

1.5. The Investigating Officer did not explain as to why the appellants E
were not put under arrest on the date of occurrence itself, despite the fact
that they were admitted in the hospital. The cause for delay in arresting the
accused has not been explained at all.

1.6. In the facts and circumstances of this case, it was obligatory on the
part of the prosecution to explain the injuries on the person of the appellants. F
The prosecution has not been able to show beyond all reasonable doubt that
the appellants were the aggressors. The prosecution has also not beeri able
to establish any common intention on the part of the appellants to cause the
death of that person. Keeping in view the totality of the circumstances, the
possibility that the appellants have exercised their right of private defence
cannot be totally ruled out. The prosecution had made all attempts to suppress G
a part of the occurrence. The genesis of the occurrence has, thus, not been
proved. The totality of the circumstances brought on record do not point out
to the guilt of the appellants. They are, therefore, entitled to be acquitted.

- 1847-B-F; 848-F-G]

Bis/ma (Ii) Bhiswadeh Mahato & Ors. v. State of West Bengal. (2003) 9 H
836 SUPREME COlJRT REPORTS [2006] 3 S.C.R.

A Scale 204; Jalaram v. Stale of Rajasthan, (2005) 9 Scale 505 and Munna
Chanda v. Stale of Assam. JT (2006) 3 SC 366, referred to.

CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 397 of
2005.

From the Judgment dated 23.6.2004 of High Court of Judicature at
B Madras in Crl. A. No. 234/J 996.

R. Sundaravaradan, V.G. Pragasam and G.N. Reddy for the appellants.

Subramonium Prasad, Abbay Kumar, Gopal Krishnan and Jai Kishore
Singh for the Respondents.
c The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

S.B. SINHA, J. Maiyoor is a small village situate in the district of
Chenglepet. Appellant No. I had a brick-kiln therein, which was being run in
a land belonging to a villag.: temple known as one Gangaiamman temple. The
D villagers were opposed to it. They complained thereabout to one Rajendran,
who was president of the Panchayat Board. He. in turn. lodged a complaint
with the Block Development Officer who imposed a fine of Rs.25,000/- on the
said appellant. The amount of fine was not paid. The President. Panchayat
Board filed a suit therefor. which was decreed. Furthermore, allegedly a sum
of Rs.12,000/- collected by the villagers for temple festival and entrusted to
E the lst appellant had not been accounted for by him. Rajendran convened
a meeting of the Gram Panchayat for taking further action against the I st
appellant. The appellant Nos. 2 and 3 are sons of the Ist appellant.

They, allegedly, having felt insulted and aggrieved over the convening
of the meeting, formed themselves into an unlawful assembly at about 2.00
F p.m. on 22. 7.1990 and questioned the authority of the said Rajendran to
convene it. He used some filthy language whereupon Shanmugam (the l st
deceased), a nephew of the said Rajendran, asked him not to do so and
express his grievance, if any, in the meeting itself which was to be held at 5.00
p.m on that day. On that, the first appellant allegedly caught hold of his
hands from the back side and asked the others to finish him once for all
G whereupon the appellant No.2, Sankar, brought a small knife from the tea stall
and stabbed him (lst deceased) in his stomach. Krishnan, (the 2nd deceased),
was coming from his agricultural field. He, on witnessing the said incident.
cried. He tried to lift the I st deceased whereupon the appellant No. I with a
Thadi (stick) assaulted him on his head. The third appellant is said to have
H assaulted Krishnan with another stick on his shoulder. He also fell down.
.... NAGARATH!NAM v. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE [S.B. SINHA, J.] 837

P. W. l- Gajendran, P.W.2- Elumalai, P.W.3-Paramasivam and P.W.10-Chandran, A
were sitting near a tea stall. They went to the place of occurrence and made
an attempt to lift the two deceased persons. The appellant then, allegedly,
threatened them also. One Mohan, who allegedly had come with the appellants
is said to have assaulted P. W.1 with a stick. The appellant No.3 is said to
have stabbed P.W.3 on his back and when P.W.2 came near him, caused injury
on his right hand fingers. Accused No.4, who is not an appellant before us, B
is said to have caused a cut injury on the head of P. W. \ 0. The appellants
allegedly fled from the scene after the prosecution witnesses started assaulting
them with stones and sticks.

Indisputably, all the appellants were also injured. They went to hospital C
and in view of the nature of injuries on their persons were admitted as indoor
patients. The hospital registers indicate that they were admitted in the hospital
at about 4.00 p.m. In the Accident Register the nature of injuries on their
persons were said to have been caused by knife and bottle. The injuries on
the person of the appellants herein were found by the attending doctors as
under: D
"Appellant No. I:

(1) Stab wound extending to the muscle 3 x 2 ems. over the left thigh.
(2) Stab wound extending to the muscle and (NC) 5 x 6 ems. over the
~~= E
(3) Incised wound over the scalp over frontal region 6 x I ems.

Appellant No. 2:

(I) Deep cut wound 5 x 6 ems. over the left knee joint.
F
(2) Incised wound over the scalp left side parietal region 4 x 5 ems.
Appellant No. 3 :
(I) Incised scalp over the front parietal region 7 x 1 ems."

The prosecution witnesses, together with the deceaseds, also came to G
the hospital. The said Rajendran also came to the hospital at 7.00 p.m. A
detailed First Information Report was lodged by P.W. l at about 8.00 p.m. He
gave the history about the dispute between the parties as noticed hereinbefore
in the First Information Report. He stated about the incident in great details.

Although, the appellants were admitted as in-door patients in the hospital H
838 SUPRUvll, COURT REPORTS [2006] 3 S.C.R.

A and despite the fact that two persons, namely, Shanmugam and Krishnan, had
allegedly been done to death by them, they were arrested only on 26th July,
-
1990.

The appellants herein. together with three others, were prosecuted fot
alleged commission of an offence under Sections 147, 148, 324, 302 and 307
B read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code ('the Code, for short). The appellants,
while pleading not guilty, also raised a plea of self-defence.

They moreover raised a conkntion that having regard to the manner in
which the occurrence took place, could not have been held to be the
C aggressors. In any event as they had no intention to kill the deceased and
as such, they could not be held to be guilty for commission of an offence
under Section 302/149 of the Code. So far as the appdlant No.3 is concerned,
the contention raised was that no material was brought on record to sustain
the judgment of conviction.

D The Trial Court found all the six accused before it to be guilty of
commission of all the offences with which they were charged. The appellants
Nos. I and 2 were found guilty under Section 302/34 of the Code for causing
the death of the Ist deceased and were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment
for life. The appeliants Nos. I and 3 were also convicted under Section 302/
34 of the Code for causing the death of the 2nd deceased and were awarded
E the same sentence. The accused No. I, accused No.3, accused No.5 and
accused No.6 were convicted under Section 14 7 of the Code, whereas accused
No.2 and accused No.3 were convicted both under Sections 147 and 148 of
the Code. Accused Nos. 3 to 6 were also convicted under Section 302 read
with Section 149 of the Code for causing the death of the I st deceased and
F were awarded life imprisonment, whereas accused Nos.2, 4, 5 and 6 were held
to have caused the death of 2nd deceased and were awarded the sentence
of life imprisonment. All the accused were furthermore convicted under
Section 324 of the Code and were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment
for one year.

G On appeal, the High Court while recording a judgment of acquittal in
favour of accused Nos. 5 and 6 of all the charges, convicted the accused No.4
only under Section 124 of the Code. The appellants herein, as also accused
Nos.5 and 6 were acquitted from the charge of Section 324 of the Code. They
were also acquitted of commission of the offences punishable under Sections
147, 148 and 302 read with Section 149 of the Code. The High Court, upon
H recording a finding that there was no sufficient material to show that all the
NAGARA THINAM r. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE [S.B. SINHA, J ] 839

accused persons have committed offences under Section 302 read with Section A
149 of the Code, opined :

"Therefore, the accused persons are liable to be convicted for
their individual acts. Accordingly, the conviction imposed upon A 1
and A2 for the offence under Section 302 read with 34 I.P.C. for having
caused the death of the first deceased is confirmed." B
The conclusion of the High Court are as under :

"To sum up:

(i) The conviction and sentence imposed upon Al (two counts) A2
., and A3 for the offence under Section 302 read with 34 1.P.C. is
c
confinned;

(ii) The conviction and sentence imposed upon A4 under Section 324
l.P.C. is confinned;
(iii) The conviction and sentence imposed upon A I to A6 for the D
offence under Sections 147, 148 and 302 read with 1491.P.C. is set
aside they are acquitted of these charges;
(iv) The conviction and sentence imposed upon A 1 to A3, AS and A6
for the offence under Section 324 l.P.C. is set aside and they are
acquitted to this charge." E
Mr. R. Sundaravaradan, learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of
the appellants took us through the depositions of the principal prosecution
witnesses and contended:

(1) The materials placed on record clearly go to show that the First p
Information Report was lodged at the instance of Rajendran, who for reasons
known had not been examined by the prosecution.

(2) Although, P.W.I, P.W.2, P.W.3, P.W.9 and P.W.10 are stated to be
injured witnesses, they have not in their depositions stated as to how the
appellants received stab injuries on their person; G
(3) The allegations made against appellant No.3 are not supported by
medical evidence.

(a) The High Court having come to the conclusion that a case under
Section l 49 of the Code was not made out, wrongly invoked the provisions H
840 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] l S.C.R.

A of Section 34 thereof.
(b) If the appellants, in view of the findings of the High Court, were
liable for the individual acts, Section 34 of the Code could not have been
invoked, particularly in view of the fact:

B (i) None of the appellants were armed.

(ii) They were not aware as to whether the prosecution witnesses were
armed or not.

(iii) Appellant No.2 suddenly picked up a small knife used for cutting
C lemon from the shop of P.W.4 and inflicted the stab injury to the I st deceased
and thus, it is not a case where it can be said that there was any common
intention on the part of the appellants to commit an offence of murder.

(4) It was for the prosecution to prove the manner in which the incident
took place. The Trial Court or the High Court did not consider the plea of
D right of private defence raised on behalfofthe appellants in its right perspective.

(5) The courts had also not considered that a private complaint was
filed by the appellants against the prosecution witnesses and the deceased.

Mr. Subramonium Prasad, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
E State, on the other hand, would submit that from the perusal of the injuries
on the dead bodies of the deceased it would appear that the nature of injuries
caused to them was sufficient to cause death. In this regard, our attention
was drawn to the fact that \st deceased suffered 11 injuries, the 2nd
deceased also suffered multiple injuries which, in view of the depositions
F made by the prosecution witnesses, were caused by the appellants herein.

Admittedly, an occurrence took place in which two persons on the one
side and four persons on the other received injuries on their person. The
appellants also admittedly suffered injuries on their person. Each of them has
suffered injuries on vital pa1ts of their bodies.
G In the aforementioned backdrop of events, we may notice the evidences
adduced by the prosecution.

P. W. I is the informant. He accepted that he, in view of the dispute as
regard encroachment caused by him on the land where the appellants were
H running their brick-kiln, was assaulted by Sankar. He accepted that they
NAGARATHINAM v. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE [S.B. SINHA, J] 841

reached the hospital at about 4.30 p.m. and at that time Krishnan, the 2nd A
deceased, was alive and at that time the appellants had already been admitted
in the hospital. On that day the police did not come to the hospital. He went
to the police station, but did not think it fit to receive any treatment for his
injuries. Although, when he went to the police station his clothes were blood
stained, but despite the same he was not sent to the hospital by the Sub-
Inspector although h.is injuries had been noticed by him. According to him, B
he made a very brief statement before the police at the time of lodging of the
FIR. He had merely stated that two lives were in danger and Shanmugam was
dead which they took down and obtained his signatures. According to him,
he told only that much. When he was examined by the Investigating Officer
on the next day, his statement was confined only to that extent. He said that C
he had not stated any other thing.

The First Information Report lodged by him, however, runs in three
typed pages. Not only the incident was fully described, the First Information
Report discloses overt acts attributed to each of the appellants, as also the
accused No.4, in great detail as if he witnessed the entire occurrence very D
minutely. In his cross-examination he accepted that he did not make any
statement that 2nd deceased, Krishnan, was assaulted by the appellant No.3
twice on his shoulder. He accepted that the President of the Panchayat Board

,__ . Rajendran had been demanding share in the brick-kiln run by the appellants.
He, however, denied the suggestions relating to the plea of self-defence E
raised by the appellants herein.

P.W.2 is also an injured witness. In his deposition he admitted thathe
did not make any attempt to rescue the deceased and did not even go near
them. According to him, 'at the time when the c/ashe~ took place', the
prosecution witnesses were sitting on cemented bench near the bus stand. F
According to him, the knife with which the appellant No.2 inflicted the injury
on the 1st deceased, onions or lemons could be cut. The knife is said to have
a handle but the one which he identified, did not have any. In his statements
under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code made by him, he had stated
the appellants were armed with sticks. He could not, however, say about the
nature of the Sticks. Before the investigating officer he made statements that G
both the deceased were beaten by wooden logs. He accepted that except the
appellants herein, the other accused did not do anything. According to him,
till next day morning when he informed the Investigating Officer as regard role
played by each of the appellants, the same was not known to them. It was
also not known as to whether if any other person received injuries. H
842 SUPREME COURT REPOR IS 12006] 3 S.C.R.

A P. W.3 accepted that on the date of occurrence the police did not come.
He did not say as to how the appellants received injuries on their persons.
P.W.9, Saroja, is the wife of P.W.3. According to her, the quarrel continued
for a long time. She stated that for obtaining the presence of the appellants
in the Panchayat meeting, announcements were made by beating of drums.
She accepted that when the appellants came they had not been carrying any
B weapon. She accepted that the appellant No.2 got the knife only after the
quarrel started. She could not say as to whether her husband was involved
in the quarrel and according to her, she only took her husband to the hospital.
Admittedly, as regard the incident or the stab injuries received by her husband,
she did not infom1 any other person till the police came to the village. She
C furthermore accepted that the accused were also injured and she also took
part in throwing stones at them. She alleged that she also received injuries,
although no such statement was made before the Investigating Officer. She
admitted that Rajendran, President of the Panchayat Board came to the
hospital at about 7.00 p.m., after the darkness had set in. She found the
respective wives of the appellants present in the hospital.
D
P.W.10 is said to be another eye-witness. He admitted that the appellants
were assaulted with sticks and stones. He also took part in assaulting the
appellants. His statement was recorded by the Investigating Officer after four

E
or five days of the incident. According to him, all the persons were assaulted
separately and not conjointly. According to this witness that assaults were
from both sides and actual beating could not be seen. According to him, he
was the last person to be assaulted.
-
The genesis of the occurrence is, therefore, shrouded in mystery. This
occurrence, admittedly, took place, but who were thus initial aggressors, i.e ..
F the prosecution witnesses or the appellants, is difficult to say. The High
Court has found that the prosecution had not been able to prove the charge
of rioting. The appellants and others did not have any common object to
cause death of the accused of the prosecution witnesses. We have noticed
hereinbefore the nature of injuries on the person of the appellants. The first
appellant received two stab wounds and also an incised wound over the scalp
G at frontal region. The appellant No.2 received deep cut wound and an incised
wound over the scalp left side parietal region. The appellant No.3 also
received an incised scalp wound over frontal parietal region. It is not denied
and disputed that they were in the hospital as indoor patients for a few days.
We have furthermore noticed hereinbefore that they were also arrested after
H a few days.
NAGARA THIN AM r. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE [S.B. SINHA. J] 843

On the afore-mentioned factual backdrop the findings of the High Court A
that the appellants had formed common intention to cause the murder of two
persons must be considered.

In our opinion, the High Court committed a manifest error in invoking
Section 34 of the Code. Once it was held that the appellants were liable to
be convicted only for their individual acts, the question was required to be B
addressed, in our opinion, differently. The High Court failed to consider the
question that the prosecution has not been able to explain the injuries on the
person of the appellants. The High Court also wrongly held that the burden
of proof in respect thereof was on the appellants stating that:

"The question is whether those injuries could have been caused by C
Kattai, Thadi and all as stated by the witnesses. Exs.P7, PS and P9
would show that A I to A3 were attacked with knife and bottles.
When those were the statements made by these accused persons
before the Doctor as mentioned in Exs.P7, PS and P9, no attempt has
been made by the defence to elicit from P.W.5, the Doctor who examined D
them, that those injuries found on A I to A3 could not have been
caused by Thadi and Kattai. One of the witnesses would and threw
it at the accused. In such circumstances, the nature of the injuries
could depend upon the shape of the weapon used. In the absence
of any medical evidence to show that these injuries could not have
been caused by Thadi and stone, we are not able to reject the evidence E
of the injuries eye witnesses that those injuries were caused by them
by using Thadi and stone for driving them out."

The High Court although saw that the injuries suffered by the accused
were on the vital parts of their bodies but without discussing the evidences,
brought on record held that the same were not sustained by them while F
exercising their right of self-defence. It is true that it is not for the prosecution
to prove injuries on the person of the accused, in each and every case
irrespective of the nature thereof, but in a case of this nature the same would
require serious consideration as a plea of right of exercise of self-defence was
raised. It is in that context that the apprehension of death or bodily injury G
in the mind of the accused persons would have to be detennined having
regard to the number of people assembled to take part in assaulting them, the
manner in which they were assaulted, the anns used as also the situs of injury
received by them. It is now well settled that a person apprehends death or
bodily injury cannot be weighed in golden scales on the spur of the moment
and in the heat of circumstances, the number of injuries required to disann H
844 St:PREME COURT REPORTS [2006] 3 S.C.R.

A the assailants who were armed with weapons.
In Bishna 'l!. Bhiswadeb Maha to & Ors. v. State of West Bengal, (2005)
9 SCALE 204 this Court held that :

".... In moments of excitement and disturbed equilibrium it is often
B difficult to expect the parties to preserve composure and use exactly
only so much force in retaliation commensurate with the danger
apprehended to him where assault is imminent by use of force. All
circumstances are required to be viewed with pragmatism and any
hypertechnical approach should be avoided.

C What would amount to private defence was stated therein in the following
terms:

·'Private defence can be used to ward off unlawful force to prevent
unlawful force, to avoid unlawful detention and to escape from such
detention. So far as ddence of land against trespasser is concerned.
D a person is entitled to use necessary and moderate force both for
prc:venting the trespass or to eject the trespasser. For the said
purposes, the use of force must be the minimum necessary or
reasonably believed to be necessary. A reasonable defence would
mean a proportionate defence. Ordinarily, a trespasser would be first
asked to leave and if the trespasser fights back, a reasonable force
E
can be used.

Defence of dwelling house, however. stand on a different footing.
The law has always looked with special indulgence on a man who is
defending his dwelling against those who would unlawfully evict him;
as for "the house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress"."
F
It was opined that private defence and prevention of crime are sometimes
indistinguishable. It was held that such a right cou Id be exercised because
there is a general liberty as between strangers to prevent a felony.

G In Jalaram v. State ufRajasthan, (2005) 9 SCALE 505, this Court upon
noticing that the appellant frowned dispossession from the agricultural lands
and furthermore only one blow was hurled on the forehead of the deceased
by the Appellant therein accepted his right of private defence but opined that
he exceeded the said right holding:

H "The right of way on the agricultural land belonging to Sonaram has
NAGARATHINAM v. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE [S.B. SINHA. J.] 845

not been established. If there was no established right of way by way A
of easement or otherwise and if there had been an apprehension in
the mind of the accused that there was a threat of trespass in their
land, indisputably they could exercise their right of private defence.
In any event, such an apprehension on the part of the Appellant and
other accused persons cannot be ruled out.
B
We have noticed hereinbefore, that the only one blow was hurled
by the Appellant herein was on the forehead of the deceased. The
genesis of the occurrence, appears also not to have been disclosed
by the prosecution: It is not the case of the prosecution that the
Appellant herein and other accused persons had been nurturing any
grudge against the deceased or the informant from before or had aily C
motive to commit the aforementioned offence. Any motive on the part
of the Appellant and other accused persons for hiding themselves
near the place of occurrence and committing the offence has not been
established. It is, thus, difficult to accept that part of the prosecution
case.
D
Sonaram and Kisana Ram had also received one injury each. It
is true, as has been held by the High Coui:t, that the nature of injuries
was simple one but it was, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of

- this case, obligatory on the part of the prosecution to prove as to how
they received the same. It is also true that in all situations the injuries E
received by the accused persons need not be explained but a different
situation may arise when a right of private defence is claimed. The
prosecution has not placed any material before this Court to prove
that it was the Appellant and other accused persons who were
aggressors. If they were not the aggressors, the plea of right of
private defence was available to them. Non-explanation of injuries on F
the person of Sonaram and Kisana Ram, thus, gains significance.
Injuries on the persons of the accused persons having not been
explained by the prosecution gives rise to the credibility to the defence
put forth by the Appellant as regard exercise of his right of private
defence."
G
The matter might have, thus, been otherwise if the prosecution could
have established that the appellants have exceeded their right of private
defence. The exercise of the right of private defence, in our opinion, must
be determined, having regard to the entire factual scenario.
H
846 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] 3 S C.R.

A The prosecution witnesses belonged to one group. They were
supporting one influential person of the village, namely, Rajendran, President
of Panchayat Board. There were motives and counter motives. The appellants
were accused of defalcation of the temple property. They were said to have
been running a brick-ki!n unauthorisedly. The President of the Panchayat
Board wanted a share in it. He not only saw to it that a heavy penalty is
B imposed upon the appellants. evidently a Panchayat meeting was called for
as to reprimand the appellant No. I for not furnishing of accounts. They were
summoned by beating of drums. It may be that the appellants started the
quarrel. The first appellant might have used filthy language against Rajendran.
But it is difficult to believe that despite the fact that a large number of persons
C were present near the tea shop, the appellants wou Id ki 11 two persons one
after another, without receiving any injury or threat to their lives or bodily
injury or without hav~ng been not provoked by any of them or in any
whatsoever manner. The fact that they were not armed is not disputed. It
is not the case of the prosecution that they were carrying sticks with them.
It is admitted that appellant No.2 all of a sudden picked up a small knife from
D the shop of P. W.4. The knife has not been identified in the court. The
accusation made as against the appellant No. 3 that he had assaulted the 2nd
deceased with a stick, is not corroborated by medical evidence. The I st
deceased is said to have received 11 injuries. The prosecution case is that
only the appellant No.2 caused injury No.8 which was fatal. The deceased
E has received, according to the autopsy report, two injuries caused by hard
and blunt substance. None of the appellants have been attributed of the said
overt acts. The other eight injuries, according to opinion of the doctor, might
-
have been caused by fall. On the body of the 2nd deceased only one injury
was found which is said to have been caused by a bamboo stick by the
appellant No. I, whereas according to the prosecution witness, Appellant No.3
F also hurled blows on the person of the deceased.
How and in what manner the appellants came to have such bamboo
sticks in their possession had not been disclosed. All the appellants have
suffered at least three injuries each.

G Whereas only one injury is said to have been caused by the appellant
No.2 in the stomach of the I st deceased by a knife. all other injuries have
been caused by hard and blunt substance, whereas the appellants suffered
injuries inflicted on them by knife and bottles.

The Investigating Officer did not explain as to why the appellants were
H
NAGARATHINAM v. STATE REP. BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE [S.B. SINHA, J.) 847

not put under arrest on the date of occurrence itself, despite the fact that they A
were admitted in the hospital. The cause for delay in arresting the accused
has not been explained at all.

In the facts and circumstances of this case and keeping in view the
defence raised by them, we are of the view that it was obligatory on the part
of the prosecution to explain the injuries on the person of the appellants. In B
Bishna @ Bhiswadeb Mahato & Ors., (supra) this Court held:

"The fact as regard failure to explain injuries on accused vary from
cas·e to case. Whereas non-explanation of injuries suffered by the
accused probabilises the defence version that the prosecution side
attacked first, in a given situation it may also be possible to hold that c
the explanation given by the accused about his injury is not
satisfactory and the statements of the prosecution witnesses fully
explain the same and, thus, it is possible to hold that the accused had
committed a crime for which he was charged. Where injuries were
sustained by both sides and when both the parties suppressed the D
genesis in the incident, or where coming out with the partia I truth, the
prosecution may fail. But, no law in general terms can be laid down
to the effect that each and every case where prosecution fails to
explain injuries on the person of the accused, the same should be
rejected without any further probe. [See Bankey Lal and Ors v. The
State of U.P., AIR (1971) SC 2233 and Mohar Rai v. The State of E
Bihar, AIR (1968) SC 1281].

In that case, however. the injuries were held to have not been necessary
to be explained as the appellants therein were found to have been guilty of
commission of an offence under Section 148 of the Indian Penal Code. In the
instant case, the prosecution has not been able to show beyond all reasonable F
doubt that the appellants were the aggressors. The prosecution has also not
been able to establish any common intention on the part of the appellants to
cause the death of that person. In Munna Chanda v. State of Assam, reported
in (2006) AIR SCW I 058 : JT (2006) 3 SC 366. this Court held:

"It is, thus, essential to prove that the person sought ·to be G
charged with an offence with the aid of Section 149 was a member of
the unlawful assembly at the time the offence was committed.

The appellants herein were not armed with weapons. They except
Bhuttu were not parties to all the three stages of the dispute. At the H
848 ~l!PREMI:. COURT REPORTS [2006) 3 S.C'R.

A third stage of fae quarrel. they wanted to teach the deceased and
others a lesson. For picking up quarrel with Bhuttu, they might have
become agitated and asked for apologies from Moti. Admittedly, it
was so done at the instance of N irmal, Moti was assaulted by Bhuttu
at the instance of Rattan. However, it cannot be said that they had
common object of intentional killing of the deceased. Moti, however,
B while being assaulted could free himself from the grip of the appellants
and fled from the scene. The deceased, was being chased not only
by the appellants herein but by many others. He was found dead next
morning. There is. however, nothing to show as to what role the
appellants either conjointly or separately played. It is also not known
c as to whether if one or all of the appellants were present, when the
last blow was given. Who are those, who had assaulted the deceased
is also not known. At whose hands he received injuries is again a
mystery. Neither Section 34 nor Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code
is, therefore, attracted. l See Dharam Pal and Ors. v. State of Haryana,
reported in [1978 J 4 SCC 440 and Shamhhu Kuer v. State of Bihar,
D reported in AIR ( 1982) SC 1228.]

We are, however. not obliviously that in Bishna •a Bhiswadeb
Mahatu & Ors. v. S1a1e uf West Bengal. reported in JT (2005) 9 SC
290, it was stated:

E "For the purpose of attracting Section 149 and/or 34 !PC, a specific
overt act on the part of the accused is not necessary. He may wait
and watch inaction on the part of an accused; may some time go a
long way to hold that he shared a common object with others. ""
....
Keeping in view the totality of the circumstances, the possibility that
F the appellants have exercised their right of private defence cannot be totally
ruled out. We are satisfied that the prosecution had made all attempts to
suppress a part of the occurr~nce. The genesis of the occurrence has, thus,
not been proved. The totality of the circumstances brought on record do not,
thus. point out to the guilt of the appellants. They are, therefore, entitled to
G be acquitted.

The appeal for the foregoing reasons is allowed. The judgment of
conviction and sentence passed against the appellants are set aside. They
are directed to be set at liberty, unless wanted in connection with any other
-
case.
H
B.S. Appeal allowed.