Holding

The Supreme Court held that the requirements of Section 319(4) CrPC were complied with, the evidence was reliable, the offences were committed with a common intention under Section 34 IPC, and the convictions under Section 302 IPC stand.

Summary

The case involved three successive murders and related injuries in Punjab, for which the accused Nishan Singh, Pargat Singh‑I and others were convicted under Section 302 IPC, with some also charged under Section 34 IPC for common intention. The appellants challenged the convictions on procedural grounds, chiefly alleging non‑compliance with Section 319(4) of the CrPC (fresh examination in chief of prosecution witnesses) and contending that the evidence of injured witnesses was unreliable and that the acquittal of a co‑accused should invalidate the prosecution case. The Supreme Court held that the statutory requirements of Section 319(4) were satisfied, the evidence of eye‑witnesses was credible, and the link between the three incidents established a common intention attracting Section 34. It further ruled that the injuries were sufficient for murder under Section 302 and that procedural lapses did not amount to a failure of justice. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed and the convictions upheld.

Issues considered

The trial complied with the mandatory requirement of fresh examination in chief of prosecution witnesses under Section 319(4) CrPC.
Whether the acquittal of a co‑accused undermines the prosecution case against the remaining accused.
Whether the three murders were committed with a common intention attracting Section 34 IPC.
Whether the injuries caused constitute murder under Section 302 IPC or only culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II.
Whether the informant’s son being a victim creates a risk of false implication.
Whether the testimony of injured witness PW‑4 is reliable despite his injuries.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 319(4), s. 375, s. 465
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 304(2), s. 307, s. 34

Subjects

murdercommon intentionSection 319 CrPCprocedural irregularityfalse implicationinjured witness testimonySection 34 IPCSection 302 IPCappeal

Judgment

· {1008] 4 S.C.R. 500

,\ NISHAN SINGH
v.
STATE OF PUNJAB
'·
(Criminal Appeal No. 325 of 2007)
MARCH 7, 2008
B
(S.B. SINHA AND HARJIT SINGH BEDI, JJ.)

Penal Code, 1860:
i
'~
Triple murder, one after another - Accused persons in
c first murder case attacked by member of victim party resulting
in death of two persons - FIR - Trial Court convicting accused
persons for commission of offence punishable u/s.302 and
s.302 r!w s.34 /PC - Affirmed by High Court - Summoning
accused on the basis of statement of Prosecution witness
D without complying with provisions uls.319 (4) Cr.P.C. -
Correctness of - Held: Correct - Accused was named in FIR
but was not charge-sheeted ·- However, evidence of PW1
., ~

categorically attributed the role played by him in the
commission of mucder of one and injuring others - On the
E basis of deposition of PW1, fresh charges were framed against
him and he was examined in chief again - Hence,
requirtJments of sub-section 4 of S.319 Cr.P.C. complied with.
Murder - Plea of false implication - Held: When three
murders one after another took place, each had a link with the
F other, it cannot be held th~t the informant whose son was also
one of the deceased, would falsely implicate the accused-
"'
Appellants.
Injured witness - Testimony of - Held: PW4-an injured
witness, had given a complete account of entire occurrence,
G
there does not exist any reason to disbelieve his testimony.
Murder - Common intention - Held: Both the accused
came together- One of them exorted other to open fire - Other •
accused opened fire resulting in killing of one and injuring
H 500
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 501

. ~ another - Evidently more than one person involved in A
committing the crime - Hence, s.34 attracted.
Murder - Non-examination of independent witnesses ...:.
Effect of - Held: That by itself not sufficient to disregard the
statement of prosecution witnesses totally.
B
Acquittal of co-accused - Effect on prosecution case -
Held: Acquittal of one accused would not lead to conclude that
• ~ the entire case of prosecution was false.
Infliction of injuries causing death of the victim -
Conviction uls.302 or Part-II of s.304 - Held: Injuries inflicted · C
were sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death
of the victim - Hence, Part-II of S.304 /PC not attracted.
· According to the prosecution, on the fateful day,
there was an altercation between one 'RS' and his
0
brothers on one side and the deceased 'R' on the ·other.
Accused 'RS' picked up knife from orie 'P' and inflicted
an injury on the body of the deceased. Other accused also
gave blows from 'dang' injuring the deceased. As a result
of the injuries, deceased died on the spot. As an· off-shoot
to the murder of 'RS', brother of the deceased 'SS' armed E
with 'gandasa' came there and started abusing accused
persons. and gave gandasa blow on the head of one 'D'
(PW4), an accomplice of the accused persons in first
murder case and 'P', had fired a shot at '8', brother of
accused 'H' injuring him. While PW4 and 'H' were" F
proceeding to a hospital in a tractor for treatmentof the
injured persons, on the way, one 'N' at the instance of
brother of the deceased 'RS' fired a shot hitting 'H' as a ;
result whereof the tractor went out of control and dashed I
against a house. 'H' died on the spot. Other injured were ; G
shifted in a mini bus and taken to the Hospital and. an FIR ·
was lodged in the Police Station. Accused-appellant 'N'
• was charged for commission of an offence punishable u/
s. 302 IPC; brother of the deceased 'RS' was charged u/'..
ss. 307 and 302/34 IPC and another accused 'M' was H
502 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S. C.R.

A charged for commission of offence punishable u/s.302 r/ ,.
w S.34 IPC. Trial Court convicted 'N' for commission of
the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code;
'P' was convicted for commission of the offence under
~
Section 302/34 and 'M' was acquitted of the charges
B framed against him. Aggrieved, the accused persons filed
three appeals, of which two were filed in relation to fi~t
incident and another was filod in relation to 3rd incident,
~
which were dismissed by the High Court. Hence the ')
present appeals.
c It was contended for the accused-appellant in the
first murder case that as after summoning the appellant
·in terms of Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
PVli1 was not examined afresh by the prosecution and
-
was only tendered for cross examination, the entire trial
D as against him became vitiated in law as the provision
contained in sub-section 4 of Section 319 CPC wt11 not ...
complied with, which is mandatory in nature; that tho •
Courts below committed a serious error in regnrd to tho
identity of the appellants, namely, 'P' who had nothing to
E do with the first incident; that the Courts below failed to
take into consideration the effect of the deposition of tho
injured persons in the incident who had stated thtit neither
of the appellants was present when the incident took
place; that although appellant 'N' .was named in the
F examination in chief by PW1, as in his cross examination
he has attributed the overt act of firing the shot to 'P', no "
case can be said to have been made out as against the
appellant in Criminal Appeal No.325 of 2007; that reliance
placed on the evidence of injured 'D' by the Courts below
is wholly misplaced inasmuch as keeping in view the
G
nature of injuries suffered by him as was described by
DW.2, the medical officer, evidently he was not in a ....
position to witness the occurrence; and that the
prosecution case being commission of overt acts of 'P'
•
to extortion, the evidence of the prosecution that the
H
)

NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 503

accuoed ·~· hlld Slr::>d c ohot Ci:lnnot be accepted. A
Tho appellnnt In Criminal Appeal No. 326 of 2007
contended th&:t hcvlng regcrd to the fact that the appellant
was not armed \"Jith any l."JOilpon Dnd as he is said to have
snatched the !mife from P-11, ho cannot be said to have
any intention to cause the murder of 'RS' and, thus, his 8
conviction under Section 302 IPC is not sustainable; that
t
the statement of the l."Jitneooeo have been recorded by
the inveatigating officer obt hours after the incident, no
reliance could hcvo boen placed thereupon by the Court!!
belo•:1; th&t all the prosecution l."!itnesses eltamined in the C
matter boing intorootod l."Jltneosea, the Courts below
miodiracted thomcolvoo by plc::cing e::plicit reliance on
thorn; ond thct the ofi'oct of &cquittcl of one 'S' having not
be~n conoidor0d by tho Courto bolot<! \"Jhilo tippreciating
the avidonco brought on roconl by t;lo prooocutlon, the D
impugned judf!mont io litible to l:o not acido.
' Rooponciont-Stllto oubmlttod thct the judgmont of
acqultttl In rcvour 0¥ '$'- !'~!1, l."Jco pnooed by the
Seooiono Judeo ac no evi~onco could be brought on
record q;idm.:t 11!m ond inm;much co the prosecution had E
octc::bliohod thct It t"JOC cppcllc;nt who caused all the
injuries upon tho doco&iaod; that there is no infirmity in
the impugned judgment; that it is correct to contend tlTat
'S' was not eltamined again after oummoning of accused
'N'.As charges were framed on 30th November, 2001 and F
he was 'eltamined afresh on 5.9.2003 as PW3, the
requirements of sub-section 4 of Section 319 were fully
complied with; that in any event, keeping in view the
provisions contained in Section 465 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, the judgment of conviction should G
not be reversed unless a real prejudice is shown to have
been suffered by the accused; that accused 'N' and 'P'
having charged for commission of an offence under
Section 302/34 IPC and the same having been established,
it was not necessary to prove any specific overt act on H
504 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008) 4 S.C.R.

A the part of each of them; and that there is nothing to show
as to why the evidence of 'D' shall not be accepted
inasmuch as he suffered a brain injury and was examined
by DW2 after three years of the incident.
Dismissing the appeals, the Court
B
HELD: 1.1 Accused-appellants 'N' and 'P1' were
named in the F.l.R. The first informant attributed overt acts
to them. They had the motive to commit the offence.
Offences were committed one after the other with a view
C to take revenge. (Para -17) [513-E]
1.2 Accused-appellant 'N' however was not charge
sheeted for reasons best known to the investigating
officer. Evidence by PW-I categorically attributed the role
played by him in respect of the death of 'H' and causing
D injuries to PW4. (Para -18) [513-F]
1.3 Deposition of PW 1 was recorded on 12.9.2000.
After summoning 'N' in terms of Section 319 of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, charges were framed afresh on
30th November, 2001. He was examined in chief again on
E 5.9.2003 as PW 3. It is, therefore, not correct to say that he
was not examined in chief afresh. Requirements of sub-
section (4) of Section 319 of Code of Criminal Procedure,
therefore, have been complied with. Sub-section 4 of
Section 319 Cr.P.C. must be read with the residuary
F provision contained in of Section 375 thereof. Complaint
in regard to non compliance of statutory provisions must
be made at the earliest opportunity. When a judgment is
pronounced; a case must be made out that by reason of
a procedural irregularity, failure of justice has occurred.
G Section 465 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeks to
achieve a salutary principle. (Paras - 19 & 20) [513-G, H;
514-A; 515-8, C]
Dr. M. C. Sulkante vs. State of Mysore AIR (1971) SC 508;
Central Bureau of Investigation vs. VK. Sehgal & Anr. (1999)
H 8 SCC 501 and State of Haryana vs. Ram Singh (2002) 1
)

NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 505

SCR 208 - relied on. A
Shashikant Singh vs. Tarkeshwar Singh & Ors. (2002) 3
SCR 400 - distinguished.
2.1 The Courts below have clearly noticed the
supportive role of 'P-1' and 'P-11'. They have proceeded on B
that basis. Whereas P-11 was connected with the first
occurrence, the appellant P-1 was connected with the third
occurrence. The Courts below had not committed any
mistake whatsoever in that behalf. (Para - 23) [517-8, C]
2.2 Both the appellants had been named in the FIR. C
They were tried together. Evidently, they came at the spot
with a common intention. Both of them had weapon in
their hands. The prosecution witnesses had to take the
injured PW-4 to the hospital by arranging a mini bus.
Whereas one of the injured '8' died in the hospital, PW 4 D
survived. (Para - 25) [517-E]
..,
3.1 One First Information Report was lodged in
respect of all the three incidents. Three murders took
- place one after the other. Some other persons also
received injuries. When three instances occurred one after E
the other, keeping in view the fact that each had a link
with the other, it is difficult for this Court to know that the
appellants would be falsely implicated by the informant,
whose son was one of the deceased. (Para -26) [517-F, G]
F
3.2 It is true that 'S', one of the prosecution witness,
had stated that he could not identify the assailants, but
no reliance can be placed on the said statement that the
death of 'H' was caused by a gunshot injury is not denied
by him. He was a prosecution witness. He was given up G
by the prosecution presumably on the basis that he had
been won over. Strangely, the Public Prosecutor did not
confront him with his earlier statements. It demonstrates
how poorly the prosecution case was conducted.
(Para - 27) [518-A, 8]
H
l
506 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A 3.3 'PW 4' is an injured witness. He has given a
... ~

complete account of the entire occurrence. This Court
does not see any reason to disbelieve his testimony. He
had been put to stringent cross examination. Even no
suggestion was made to him that he could not have
B witnessed the incidence. If it was within the knowledge
of the defence that he was not in a position to speak about
the occurrence, he should have been accosted therewith.
He could have given an explanation. If his being carried t

to the hospital in an injured condition is accepted and if
c furthermore it stands established that all injured persons
were brought to the hospital together, it is difficult to
accept the contention of the counsel that PW 4 could not
be present at the time when the occurrence took place.
(Para - 28) [518-C, D, E]
D 4.1 Both PW-1 and 'N' came together; at least one of
them armed with a fire arm. One of them exhorted and
another fired. It is accepted by the defence that at least
"
one person was killed and two other were injured in the
said firing. Evidently, more than one shot was fired.
E (Para - 31) [519-B]
4.2 The question as to whether common intention
was formed for commission of an offence or not depends
upon the facts of each case. (Para - 32) [519-C]
F Prem Sagar vs. Dharambir & Ors. (2004) 1 SCC 113;
Suresh & Anr. vs. State of UP (2001) 3 SCC 673; Rotash vs.
State of Rajasthan (2006) 13 SCALE 186 and State of Haryana
vs. Ram Singh (2002) 1 SCR 208 - relied on.

G 5.1 PW 3 and PW 4 were the eye-witnesses. Both
•the trial Judge as also the High Court considered their
depositions in great details. No contention has be~n
raised that the said findings are in any way perverse or ..
not in conformity with the evidences or record. (Para-34)
H [520-B, C]
~ ,
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 507

. - ~
5.2 One of the accused may be acquitted as the A
prosecution witness might not have attributed any overt
act to him. But it is \"Jell-settled that acquittal of one
accused itself would not le&1d to the conclusion that the
entire prosecution cz:so was false. (Para - 35) [520-C, D]
cc
Sukhdev Yadav & Ors. vs. State of Bihar (2001) 8 SCC
86 and Appabhai & Anr. vs. State of Gujarat (1288) Supp. 1
... t sec 241 - referrad to.
5.3 The injuries \"Jero inflicted on the vit&::I pc.:rhl of the
body and some of them \"!ere suHicicnt in tho ordincry c
course to cause death or li~ely to c&1use do&th. Pi!rl II of
Section 304 of tho lndiim Penal Code shilll hz:vo, thus, no
application in this case. 'R' might havo boon umirmed, but
with a view to inflict injury on the deceased, he snatched
the lcnife which was being carried by 'P-11'. 'P 4' saw the
D
entire occurrence. He examined himself as PW 4. If ~
.. ~
person snatches a wecipon carried by someone else and
brutally !tills another, it cannot be said that he did not have
any intention to cause death. Whether the accused had
any intention to !till the deceased must be judged upon
taking into consideration the fact situation obtaining in E
each case. (Para - 37) [521-C, D, E]
Harendra Nath Mishra & Ors. vs. State of Bihar JT (2002)
10SC157; Suresh &Anr. vs. State of UP (2001) 3 SCC 673;
Ramashish Yadav vs. State of Bihar (1999) 8 SCC 555; Gajjan
,. Singh vs. State of Punjab & Pandurang (1976) 3 SCC 391;
F
Tukia and Bhillia vs. State of Hyderabad (1955) 1 SCR 1083
and Rotash vs. State of Rajasthan (2006) 13 SCALE 186 -
relied on.
Virsa Singh vs. State of Punjab AIR (1958) SC 465 and G
Hari Yadav vs. State of Bihar (2007) 14 SCALE 656 - referred
,. to.
~

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal
Appeal No. 325 of 2007
H
~ ~
508 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A From the final Judgment and Order dated 15.2.2006 of . ~

the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Crl. A.
No. 833-08/2004
WITH

B Criminal Appeal Nos. 326 and 467 of 2007.
Uma Datta and Manjeet Chawla for the Appellant.
Kuldip Singh, R.K. Pandey and Sanjay Katya! for the t ~

Respondent.
c The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
S.B. SINHA, J. 1. These Appeals arising out of a common
judgment.
2. We would, at the outset, place on record that three trials
D were held one after the other and the judgments therein were
delivered also one after the other in relation to an incident which ~

took place one after the other but wherefor only one First ..,,

Information Report had been lodged.
3. On or about 301h June, 1999 at 2.30 p.m., Rachhpal
E
Singh along with Sawinder Singh and Hardev Singh had an
altercation with one Resham Singh S/o Subeg Singh. Rachhpal
Singh inflicted a knife injury on the right wrist and chest of
Resham Singh. He picked up the knife from which was with
Pargat Singh II S/o Shangara Singh who was accompanying
F him. Resham Singh fell down. Hardev Singh and Sawinder
..
Singh also allegedly inflicted 'dang' blows on Resham Singh.
An alarm was raised by Resham Singh's father Subeg Singh.
Resham Singh died on the spot.

G The said incident is the subject matter of Criminal Appeal
No. 326 of 2007.
4. As an off shoot to the murder of the said Resham Singh ...
-1
for which the said Rachhpal Singh was tried and convicted,
another incident took place on the same day. Hardev Sihgh,
H Dilbagh Singh and Baljit Singh were in their house when
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 509
[S.B. SINHA, J.)

Savinder Singh came there armed with a gandasi and started A
• · hurling abuses on them. It was objected to by Dilbagh Singh.
I Sawinder Singh inflicted a gandasi blow on the head of Dilbagh
Singh, who purportedly in exercise of his right of private defence
inflicted a blow on .Sawinder Singh. Parga! Singh -II s/o of
Shangara Singh who was a witness to the murder of Resham B
Singh arrived there with his brother Mehal Singh. Whereas
Parga! Singh -II was armed with a rifle, Mehal Singh came
• empty handed. Baljit Singh allegedly climbed on the roof of a
nearby Gurudwara and started hurling brickb.ats. A exhortation
was given by Mehal Singh asking Parga! Singh-II to shoot Baljit c
Singh whereupon a shot was fired by him hitting the left shoulder
of Baljit Singh. He was brought to his house in an injured
condition. Mehal Singh and Parga! Singh-JI are said to have run
away from the said place of occurrence.
· 6. The third incident took place when brother of Baljit Singh, D
Hardev Singh and Dilbagh Singh (PW 4) after arranging a tractor
.... trolley were proceeding with the injured persons to Amritsar.
The tractor was being driven by Hardev Singh. When they were
passing through Jasraur and reached near the house of one
Karaj Singh, Pargat Singh-I s/o of Subeg Singh, the appellant E
in Criminal Appeal No. 467 of 2007, and Nishan Singh, the
appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 325 of 2007, arrived. They
were accompanied by Major Singh. Nishan Singh is said to
have been armed with a .12 bore gun ..
i Pargat Singh-I exhorted. that as Hardev Singh had F
murdered his brother Resham Singh, he should not be allowed
to go alive. Nishan Singh fired a shot from his gun which hit
Hardev Singh on his left ear as a result whereof the tractor went
out of control and dashed against the house of Jagtar Singh.
Hardev Singh died on the spot. More shots were fired as a result G
whereof Sudagar Singh, Chowkidar, and another person of
Sheikh Bhatti were injured. Baljit Singh, Dilbagh Singh and the
• chowkidar were taken by Swaran Singh to Guru Nanak Dev
Hospital in a mini Bus. A First Information Report was recorded
by the sub inspector Ajit Singh PW 11. H
( )
510 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A 8. Nishan Singh was charged for commission of an offence . -·
under Section 302 and 307 of IPC; whereas Pargat Singh-I was
charged under Section 307 and 302/34 IPC. Major Singh was
charged for commission of alleged offence under section 302
• read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
B 9. Whereas Nishan Singh was acquitted of the charges
under Section 307 IPC, he was convicted for commission of
the offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Pargat
~ <f
Singh-II was convicted for commission of the offence under
Section 302/34 and acquitted for commission of offence under
c Section 307 IPC. Major Singh was acquitted of the charges
framed against him.
10. Originally, however, no charge sheet was filed as ....
against Pargat Singh-I PW1, Swaran Singh was examined
before the learned Sessions Judge in the Sessions Case on
D
12.9.2000. On the basis of the statements made by him, an
application was filed on 25th September, 2000 for summoning
.,,
Nishan Singh on which was allowed.
11. Upon appearance of Nishan Singh, fresh charges were
E framed against all the three accused persons.
12. Statement of PW 1 was recorded again and he was
cross examined as PW3. Although three eye-witnesses were
examined on behalf of the prosecution, the learned Additional
Sessions Judge did not place any reliance on the evidence of
F PW 5 constable lnder Singh. Reliance has been placed both by
the Sessions Judge as also High Court on the testimonies of
..
PW3, Swaran Singh and PW4, Dilbagh Singh.
13. Three appeals have been filed, two in relation to the
3rd incident and one preferred by Rachhpal Singh in relation to
G
first incident.
14. Mr. Uma Datta, learned counsel appearing on behalf
"
of the appellants in Criminal Appeal No. 325 of 2007 and 467 -f

of 2007, would, inter alia, submit:
H
( ~
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 511
{S.S. SINHA, J.]

1. As after summoning Nishan Singh 'n terms of Section A
• 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Swaran
Singh was not examined-in-chief afresh by the
prosecution and was only tendered for cross
examination, the entire trial as against him became
vitiated in law as the provision contained in sub- B
section 4 of Section 319 of Code of Criminal
Procedure was not complied with, which is mandatory
in nature.
,.
' 2. The learned courts below committed a serious error in
regard to the identity of the appellants, namely, Pargat c
Singh who had nothing to do with the first incident.

3. The learned courts below failed to take into
consideration the effect of the deposition of Sudagar
Singh, chowkidar, who admittedly was one of the
D
persons injured in the incident as he categorically
stated that neither of the appellants was present when
the incident took place.
4. Although Nishan Singh was named in the examination
in chief by PW1, as in his cross examination he has E
attributed the overt act of firing the shot to Pargat
Singh-I, no case can be said to have been made out
as against the appellant in Criminal Appeal No.325
of 2007.
5. Reliance placed on the evidence of Dil.bagh Singh F
;.
by the learned courts below is wholly misplaced
J'
inasmuch as keeping in view the nature of injuries
suffered by him as was described by D.W.2 Dr.
Gurmanjit Rai, evidently he was not in a position to
witness the occurrence. G
6. The prosecution case being commission of overt
'>
acts of Pargat Singh-I to extortion, the evidence of
~
the prosecution th"at Nishan Singh had fired a shot
cannot be accepted.
H
512 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R. .'
A 15. Mrs. Manjeet Chawla, Ld. Counsel appearing on behalf
of Rachhpal Singh, the appellant in Criminal Appeal No. 326 of
2007, submitted :
•
1) Having regard to the fact that the appellant was not
arrned with any weapon and as he. is said to have
B snatched the knife from Pargat Singh -II, he cannot
be said to have any intention to cause the murder of
Resham Singh and, thus, his conviction under
Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code is not . 1
sustainable.
c
2) The statement of the witnesses having been recorded
by the investigating officer six hours after the incident,
no reliance could have been placed thereupon
thereupon by the courts below.
D 3) All the prosecution witnesses examined in the matter
being interested witnesses, the Courts below
misdirected themselves by placing explicit reliance
on them. ·~ --
4) The effect of acquittal of Sawinder Singh having not
E been considered by the Courts below while
appreciating the evidence brought on record by the
prosecution, the impugned judgment is liable to be
set aside.·

F 16. Mr. Kuldip Singh, learned counsel appearing on behalf
of the State, on the other hand, submitted
• ..
1. The judgment of acquittal in favour of Sawinder Singh
was passed by the learned sessions judge as no
evidence could be brought on record against him
G and inasmuch as the prosecution had established
that it was appellant Rachhpal Singh who caused all
the injuries upon Resham Singh, there is no infirmity
in the impugned judgments. ~

~

2. It is incorrect to contend that Say.1arn Singh was not
H
I ~ NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 513
[S.B. SINHA, J.]

examined .again after summoning of Nishan Singh. A
As charges were framed on 30th November 2001
and he was exa1T1ined afresh on 5.9.2003 as PW3;
the requirements of sub-section 4 of Section 319
were fully complied with.
3. In any event, keeping in view the provisions contained B
in Section 465 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
the judgment of conviction should not be reversed,
unless a real prejudice is shown to have been suffered
~ ... by the accused.
c
4. Nishan Singh and Pargat Singh having been charged
for commission of an offence under Section 302/34
IPC and the same having been established, it was
not necessary to prove any specific overt act on the
part of each of them.
D
5. There is nothing to show as to why the evidence of
Dilbagh Singh shall not be accepted inasmuch as
,~, he suffered a brain injury and was examined by DW2
... after three years of the incident.
E
17. Indisputably, Nishan Singh and Pargat Singh-I were
named in the F.l.R. The first informant attributed overt acts to
them. They had the motive to commit the offence. Offences were
committed one after the other with a view to take revenge.
18. Nishan Singh however was not charge sheeted for F
reasons best known to the investigating officer. PW -1 Sawinder
Sing h's evidence categorically attributed the role played by him
,. in respect of the death of Hardev Singh and causing injuries to
Dilbagh Singh PW 4.
19. Deposition of PW 1 was.recorded on 12.9.2000. After G
summoning Nishan Singh in terms of Section 319 of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, charges were framed afresh on 30th
November, 2001. He was examined in chief again on 5.9.2003
;
as PW3. It is, therefore, not correct to say that he was not
~
examined in chief afresh. Requirements of sub-section (4) of H
514 SUPREME COURTREPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R. ~ J

A section 319 of Code of Criminal Procedure, therefore, have
been complied with in this case.
.~
Strong reliance has been placed by Mr. Datta on a decision
of this Court in Shashikant Singh v. Tarkeshwar Singh and Ors.
[(2002) 3 SCR 400]. It was held therein :
B
"The intention of the provision here is that where in the
course of any enquiry into, or trial of, an offence, it appears
to the court from the evidence that any person not being
the accused has committed any offence, the court may
proceed against him for the offence which he appears to -1 f
c
have committed. At the stage, the court would consider
that such a person could be tried together with the accused
who is already before the Court facing the trial. The
-safeguard provided in respect of such person is that, the
proceedings right from the beginning have mandatory to
D
be commenced afresh and the witnesses re-heard. In
short, there has to be a de nova trial against him. The
provision of de nova trial is mandatory. It vitally affects the
rights of a person so brought before the Court. It would not -t::
...
be sufficient to only tender the witnesses for the cross-
E examination of such a person. They have to be examined
afresh. Fresh examination in chief and not only their
presentation for the purpose of the cross-examination on
the newly added accused is the mandate of Section 319(4).
The words 'could be tried together with the accused' in
F Section 319(1), appear to be only directory. 'Could be'
cannot under these circumstances be held to be 'must
be'. The provision cannot be interpreted to mean that since •
'I'
the trial in respect of a person who was before the Court
has concluded with the result that the newly added person
G cannot be tried together with the accused who was before
the Court when order under Section 319(1) was passed,
the order would become ineffective and inoperative,
nullifying the opinion earlier formed by the Court on the
basis of evidence before it that the newly added person
H appears to have committed the offence resulting in an ~ "
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 515
[S.B. SINHA, J.]

order for· his being brought before the Court." A
20. In that case, two separate trials were held in the sense
that the examination in chief and the cross examination of the
prosecution witnesses were over, when the trial restarted. It was
in that factual matrix, this court laid down the afore-mentioned
proposition of law. B
• )'

Sub-section 4 of Section 319 Cr.PC., however, must be
read with the residuary provision contained in of Section 375
thereof. Complaint in regard to non compliance of statutory
provisions must be made at the earliest opportunity. When a c
judgment is pronounced; a case must be made out that by reason
of a procedural irregularity, failure of justice has occurred.
Section 465 of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeks to achieve
a salutary principle.
'
~>
21. What would constitute 'failure to justice' came up for D
consideration before this Court in State of Madhya Pradesh v.
Bhooraji & Ors. [(2001) 7 SCC 679], wherein, inter alia, it was
held that:
"We conclude that the trial held by the Sessions Court
reaching the judgment impugned before the High Court in E
appeal was conducted by a court of competent jurisdiction
and the same cannot be erased merely on account of a
• procedural lapse, particularly when the same happened
"' at a time when the law which held the field in the State of
Madhya Pradesh was governed by the decision of the Full F
Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court."

In Dr MC. Sulkunte v. State of Mysore [AIR 1971 SC
508], this Court held :

#
"It has been emphasized in a number of decisions of this G
> Court that to set aside a conviction it must be shown that
there has been miscarriage of justice as a result of an
irregular investigation."
22. In Central Bureau of Investigation v. VK. Sehgal &
H
\ I

516 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A Anr. [(1999) 8 SCC 501], it was held:
"10. A court of appeal or revision is debarred from
reversing a finding (or even an order of conviction and
sentence) on account of any error or irregularity in the
sanction for the prosecution, unless failure of justice had
B been occasioned on account of such error or irregularity.
For determining whether want of valid sanction had in fact
"f
"
occasioned failure of justice the aforesaid sub-section (2)
enjoins on the court a duty to consider whether the accused
had raised any objection on that score at the trial stage.
c Even if he had raised any such objection at the early stage
it is hardly sufficient to conclude that there was failure of
justice. It has to be determined on the facts of each case.
But an accused who did not raise it at the trial stage cannot
possibly sustain such a plea made for the first time in the
D appellate court."· ~

It was observed :
"11 .. In a case where the accused failed to raise the
question of valid sanction the trial would normally proceed
E to its logical end by making a judicial scrutiny of the entire
materials. If that case ends in conviction there is no question
of failure of justice on the mere premise that no valid
sanction was accorded for prosecuting the public servant
because the very purpose of providing such a filtering
..
If

F check is to safeguard public servants from. frivolous or
mala fic:le or vindictive prosecution on the allegation that
they have committed offence in the discharge of their
official duties .. But once the judicial filtering process is
over on completion of the trial the purpose of providing for
the initial sanction would bog down to a surplusage. This
G ~
could be the reason for providing a bridle upon the 1
appellate and revisional forums as envisaged in Section
465 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.'~
It does not appear that even any contention was raised in
H that behalf.
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 517
[S.B. SINHA, J.]

{See also State of Haryana v. Ram Singh [2002 (1) SCR A
208]}.
However, in view of the factual matrix obtaining herein, it
is not necessary to delve deep into the said question as in this
case the statutory requirements have been complied with.
B
23. The Courts below have clearly noticed the supportive
.. .,. role Pargat Singh-I and Pargat Singh-II. They have proceeded
on that basis. Whereas Pargat Singh-II was connected with the
first occurrence, the appellant Pargat Singh-I was connected
with the third occurrence with which we are concerned herein. c
The courts below had not committed any mistake whatsoever
in that behalf.

24. The fact that the injured persons were being removed
to a hospital in a tractor trolley is not in dispute. It is also not in
dispute that as a result of being hit by a shot fired by Nishan D
Singh, the tractor dashed into the wall of Jagtar Singh's house
and the got damaged. Sudagar Singh who was a Chowkidar
was also injured in the incident.

25. Both the appellants herein had been named in the FIR.
They were tried together. Evidently, they came at the spot with a E
common intention. Both of them had weapon in their hands. The
prosecution witnesses had to take the injured Dilbagh Singh to
the hospital by arranging a mini bus. Whereas Baljit Singh died
• in the hospital, PW 4 Dilbagh Singh survived .
"' 26. The First Information Report was lodged at 8.30 p.m.
F

by Subeg Singh. One First Information Report was lodged in
respect bf all the three incidents: Three murders, as noticed
hereinbefore, took place one of after the other. Some other
persons also received injuries. When three instances occurred
G
one after the other, keeping in view the fact that each had a link
with the other, it is difficult for us to know that the appellants
would be falsely implicated by Subeg Singh whose son was
one of the deceaseds.

27. It has not been denied or disputed that Pargat Singh- H
518 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2008] 4 S.C.R.

A I and Nishan Singh had a motive to commit the offence.

It is true that Sudagar Singh had stated that he could ·not
identify the assailants, but no reliance can be placed on the
said statement that the death of Hardev Singh was caused by a
gunshot injury is not denied by Sudagar Singh. He was a
B prosecution witness. He was given up by the prosecution
presumably on the basis that he had been won over.
'f
•
Strangely, the Public Prosecutor did not confront him with
his earlier statements. It demonstrates how poorly the
c prosecution case was conducted.

28. Dilbagh Singh is an injured witness. He has given a
complete account of the entire occurrence. We do not see any
reason to disbelieve his testimony. He had been put to stringent
cross examination. Even no suggestion was made to him that
D he could not have witnessed the incidence. If it was within the
knowledge of the defence that Dilbagh Singh was not in a
position to speak about the occurrence, he should have been
accosted therewith. He could have given an explanation. If tiis
being carried to the hospital in an injured condition is accepted
E and if furthermore it stands established that all injured persons
were brought to the hospital together, it is difficult to accept the
contention of the learned counsel that PW 4 Dilbagh Singh could
not be present at the time when the occurrence took place. In
his cross examination, Dilbagh Singh categorically stated that ...
F he was fully conscious at the time of the death of Baljit Singh.
'(

29. OW 2, Dr. Gurmanjit Rai who was examined on behalf
of the defence in his deposition stated that he had examined
Dilbagh Singh at 5.30 p.m on 2.7.1999 and to the said extent,
he corroborated the statements PW1, Rishi Ram and PW2 Dr.
G Ashok Chanana.
30. Furthermore, according to DW2, he examined Oilbagh
Singh on 2. 7 .1999. How he could depose in regard to the
condition of the patient as on 13th June, 1999 is not known. He
H declared the injury as grievous only after he received the report
NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 519
[S.B. SINHA, J.]
~
of the radiologist and that of the surgeon. His right upper limb A
function was found to have been impaired.
31. Reliance has been placed on Prem Sagar v.
Dharambir & Ors. [(2004) 1 SCC 113] by Mr. Datta to contend
that Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code is not attracted. We
are not in a position to agree with the said submission. Both B
Pargat Singh-I and Nishan Singh came together; at least one of
~
them armed with a fire arm. One of them exhorted and another
fired. It is accepted by the defence that at least one person was
killed and two other were injured in the said firing. Evidently,
more than one sr.ot was fired. c
32. The question is as to whether common intention was
formed for commission of an offence or not and it depends upon
the fact of each case.
It was in the factual scenario obtained therein, this court in D
Prem Sagar (Supra) opined that the accused was not proved
to be linked in the manner so as to bring the applicability of
Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The common intention of
the accused persons was not found to be present therein, when
the incident took place, in the backdrop of the facts of the said E
case. It was submitted that the court should be slow to interfere
with a judgment of acquittal. {See Suresh & Anr. v. State of UP
[(2001) 3 SCC 673] followed in Rotash v. State of Rajasthan
[2006 (13) SCALE 186]}.
Reliance has also been placed on State of Haryana v. F
Ram Singh [(2002) 1 SCR 208] wherein this Court held :
"While it is true that the law is well settled in regard to the
issue that in an appeai against conviction for the offence
of murder Supreme Court would be rather slow to intervene
G
in the event of there being a concurrent finding of fact but
it is equally settled that in the event the finding, which
).
suffers from the vice of perversity of any fundamental rules
or even a definite procedural injustice going to the root of
the prosecution case question of the Apex Court being
H
52-0 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A slow in intervention would not arise."
We have herein proceeded on applying the principles laid
down therein.
34. So far as the case of Rachhpal Singh is concerned, it
B may be true that no independent witness was examined. But
that by itself is not sufficient to disregard the statements of the
prosecution witnesses totally.
PW3 Swaran Singh and PW 4 Dilbagh Singh were the
~
-
eye-witnesses. Both the Ld. Trial Judge as also the High Court
c considered their depositions in great details. No contention has
been raised that the said findings are in any way perverse or
not in conformity with the evidences or record.
35. One of the accused may be acquitted as the
prosecution witness might not have attributed any overt act to
D
him. But it is well settled that acquittal of one accused itself would
not lead to the conclusion :that the entire prosecution case was
false.
In Sukhdev Yadav & Ors. v. State of Bihar [(2001) 8 SCC
E 86), this Court held :
"It is now well-settled that the Court can sift the chaff from
the grain and find out the truth from the testimony of the
witnesses. The evidence is to be considered from the
point of view of trustworthiness and once the same stands
F satisfied, it ought to inspire confidence in the mind of the
Court to accept the stated evidence."
It was further held by this Court while relying upon appabhai
& Anr. v. State of Gujarat [1988 Supp.1 SCC 241 ], that
discrepancies which do not shake the basic version of the
G
prosecution case may be discarded.
36. The deceased Resham Singh suffered as many as .(
four injuries. The folllwing injuries have been shown in the autopsy
report:
H
I .

NISHAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB 521
> [S.B. SINHA, J.]

1) "An oblique incised wound 4 x 1.2 cm with clotted A
blood was present on the front and right side of chest,
7.00 cm below and medical to right nipple at 4 O'
clock position.
2) An oblique incised wound 4.3 x 1.00 cm with clotted
blood was present on the left infra scapular region. B
>
3) An oblique incised wound 3 x 1.2 cm with clotted
blood was present on the back and left side of the
chest, 7.00 cm below and medical to injury no.2.
4) A slashed incised wound 3.5 x 2.8 cm with clotted c
blood was present on the posterior lateral aspect of
right wrist."
37. The injuries were inflicted on the vital parts of the body
and some of them were sufficient in the ordinary course to cause
.., D
death or likely to cause death, Part II of Section 304 of the Indian
Penal Code shall have, thus, no application in this case.
Rachhpal Singh might have been unarmed, but with a view to
inflict injury on the deceased, he snatched the knife which was
being carried by Pargat Singh-II. Dilbagh Singh saw the entire
occurrence. He examined himself as PW 4. If a person snatches E
a weapon carried by someone else and brutally kills another, it
cannot be said that he did not have any intention to cause death.
. Whether the accused had any intention to kill the deceased must
be judged upon taking into consideration the fact situation
obtaining in each case. {See Harendra Nath Mishra & Ors. v. F
State of Bihar [JT 2002 (10) SC 157] relying upon Suresh
(supra); Ramashish Yadav v. State of Bihar [(1999) 8 SCC
555]; Gajjan Singh v. State of Punjab and Pandurang [(1976)
3 SCC 391]; Tukia and Bhil/ia v. The State of Hyderabad
[(1955) 1 SCR 1083]}. [See also Rotash (Supra)] G
.The matter has been considered in some details by Vivian
Bose J, in Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab [AIR 1958 SC 465]
wherein it was opined :
"In considering whether the intention was to inflict the injury H
522 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A found to have been inflicted, the enquiry necessarily
proceeds on broad lines as, for example, whether there·
was an intention to strike at a vital or a dangerous spot,
and whether with sufficient force to cause the kind of injury
found to have been inflicted. It is, of course, not necessary
B to enquire into every last detail as, for instance, whether
the prisoner intended to have the bowels fall out, or whether
he intended to penetrate the liver or the kidneys or the
heart. Otherwise, a man who has no knowledge of anatomy
could never be convict, for, if he does not know that there
c is a heart or a kidney or bowels, he cannot be said to have
intended to injure them. Of course, that is not the kind of
enquiry. It is broad-based and simple and based on
commonsense; the kind of enquiry that 'twelve good men
and true' could readily appreciate and understand."
D {See also Hari Yadav v. State of Bihar [2007 (14) SCALE
656]}
38. For the reasons above mentioned, there is no merit in
these appeals, which are hereby dismissed.
E S.K.S. Appeals dismi~sed.