Holding

The Supreme Court held that the High Court erred in acquitting the accused by ignoring the contradictions between medical and eyewitness evidence and the prosecution’s failure to comply with Section 27, thereby allowing the appeal and overturning the acquittal.

Summary

The State of Haryana prosecuted several accused for the murder of Manphool under Sections 302, 149 and 201 IPC. The trial court convicted all, but the High Court acquitted Ram Singh, citing inconsistencies between his thumb‑marked disclosure statement and his arrest date, and gave him the benefit of doubt. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the evidentiary value of the post‑mortem report, noting that a doctor’s testimony is significant only when corroborated by other prosecution evidence, and found that the medical findings contradicted the eyewitness accounts. The Court also held that the prosecution failed to produce crucial forensic material (bones, X‑ray, ballistic reports) and misused Section 27 of the Evidence Act, thereby undermining the credibility of the prosecution case. Consequently, the Court dismissed the appeal concerning the other accused (Criminal Appeal No. 78/1999) but allowed the appeal that sought to set aside the High Court’s acquittal of Ram Singh (Criminal Appeal No. 79/1999), ordering his release.

Issues considered

The evidentiary weight of a post‑mortem report versus the doctor's testimony.
Whether contradictions between medical evidence and eyewitness testimony create reasonable doubt.
Applicability of Section 27 of the Evidence Act to disclosures and recoveries.
Whether the benefit of doubt should be granted in view of procedural and evidentiary lapses.
Whether the High Court erred in not considering the medical evidence and the prosecution’s failure to produce forensic reports.

Legislation cited

Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 25, s. 26, s. 27, s. 3
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 149, s. 201, s. 302

Subjects

murderpost‑mortem evidenceeyewitness testimonybenefit of doubtSection 27 Evidence Actmedical evidenceprosecution burdeninterested witnesses

Judgment

A STATE OF HARYANA
v.
RAM SINGH

JANUARY IS, 2002

B [UMESH C. BANERJEE AND N. SANTOSH HEGDE, JJ.]

Penal Code, 1860/Evidence Act, 1872-Section 302/Sections 3 and 27.

Murder-Charges Framed-Prosecution case-Credibility of-
C Contradiction between medical evidence and eye witnesses account-
Evidence of availability of some bones at the place of occurrence not placed
before the post mortem doctor for examination-Inconsistency between the
date of the disclosure statement and the arrest of one of the accused-No
independent witnesses to all the disclosures, discoveries and arrest-All eye
witnesses relatives of the deceased-Trial Court finding the evidence trust
D worthy convicted all the accused-High Court acquitted one of the accused
giving him benefit of doubt and convicted the others-In the cross appeals,
held, High Court rightly acquitted one of the accused but erred in not
considering the evidence available on record in its proper perspective.

Criminal Trial:
E
Medical evidence and eye witness account-Contradiction between.

Post mortem report-Significance of-Report alone not substantive
piece of evidence-Significance of evidence of doctor conducting post mortem
lies vis-a-vis injuries appearing on the deceased 's body and the use of weapon-
F Has to be corroborated from other prosecution witnesses.

According to the prosecution, when the complainant and the deceased
were together, two accused persons fired shots at the deceased on exhortation
of the other two accused persons. Immediately, accused persons wrapped the
deceased body in the blanket, put it in the jeep and went away. Thereafter, on
G the statement of the complainant, FIR was registered. Accused persons were
charged under Section 302 IPC read with 201 IPC. Trial Court convicted one -.
of the accused under Section 302 IPC and all others under Section 302/149
and sentenced them to imprisonment. High Court acquitted accused-
respondent in the first appeal and upheld the conviction and sentence of all
H the others. Hence these cross appeals.
208
STA TE OF HAR YANA. v. RAM SINGH 209
Disposing of the appeals, the Court A
HELD : 1. Postmortem report by itself is not a substantive piece of
evidence, but the evidence of the doctor conducting the postmortem can by no
means be ascribed to be insignificant. The significance of the evidence of the
doctor lies vis-a-vis the injuries appearing on the body of the deceased person
and likely use of the weapon therefor and it would then be the prosecutor's B
duty and obligation to have the corroborative evidence available on record from
the other prosecution witnesses. [212-C-D]

2. In the instant case, medical evidence points out an injury having a
downward stint and to two several gun shot injuries one from the front and
one from the back. Eye-witnesses' account records that the two accused fired C
shots each from their respective guns which does not, however obtain any
support from the medical evidence, rather it runs counter thereto. Further,
definite evidence of availability of some bones at the place ofoccurrence was
not produced and placed for examination before the postmortem doctor as to
whether they can be co-related with that of the deceased person. Also only for D
the ascertainment of the weapon used, the body of the deceased was referred
for X-ray which was not shown to the doctor till the date of examination or
even produced before the court. The Serological Report of these bones did
not see the light; neither the Ballistic Experts' Report as to the nature of the
weapons used. It is a duty cast on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the
accused persons beyond all reasonable doubts. It is the same prosecutor, who E
has recovered the pieces of bones, had it exhibited but not produced before
the postmortem doctor, who would otherwise be able to identify the bones as
that of the deceased. This failure of the prosecution cannot be taken as a mere
omission but a failure which would go a long way in the matter of reposing
confidence thereon. [218-A-B-C-D; 219-8-C-EI p
3. High Court has dealt with the issue that the thumb marked disclosure
statements, of the accused-respondent in the first appeal, dated 29.2.1992 casts
a lot of doubt as to the involvement of accused-respondent since he was arrested
only on 13.2.1992 and as such his disclosure statement of29.l.1992 cannot
be had. High Court noticed this inconsistency and acquitted the accused at G
.. whose instance the ring was supposed to have been recovered, on the ground
of benefit of doubt The High Court, however, has not considered the medical
evidence vis-a-vis the eye-witnesses' account. The conflict and inconsistency
between the two also raises a very great suspicion in the mind of the Court.
Credibility of the prosecution case stands at zero level by reason of the
conclusion of the High Court. [219-C-D-EJ H
210 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] I S.C.R.

A 4. While it is true that the law is well settled in regard to the issue that
in an appeal against conviction for the offence of murder, this Court would be
rather slow to intervene 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
B injustice going to the root of the prosecution case, question of the Apex Court
being slow in intervention would not arise. 1219-F-G]

Arjun Marik and Ors. v. State ofBihar, [1994[ Supp. 2 SCC 372, referred
to.

C 5. The judgment under appeal admittedly does not contain a whisper
even pertaining to the contradictions between eye-witnesses' account and the
medical evidence. In the contextual facts, medical evidence runs positively
counter to the eye witnesses' account rendering the ocular testimony not being
dependable or trustworthy. There is no credible evidence on record.(220-CI

D 6. Admittedly all the supposed eye-witnesses are relations of the
deceased, as such they fall within a category of interested witnesses. It is not
that the evidence ought to be discredited by reason of the witness being simply
an interested witness but in that event the Court will be rather strict in its
scrutiny as to the acceptability of such an evidence. High Court has principally
E relied on the statements, and the contradictions available on the record have
not been taken note of. This is a clear error on the part of the High Court.
Some weapons have been seized along with the cartridges and it has been
stated that such recovery was effected in terms of the disclosure statement. It
has been strongly urged that the same is in contravention of Section 27 of
the Evidence Act. Undoubtedly, Section 27, though provides an exception, but
F the Court should always be vigilant about the circumvention of its provision.
[220-E-F-G[

Pulukuri Kotayya v. Emperor 74 Ind. App. 65, AIR (1947) PC 67 and
Prabhoo v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR ( 1963) SC 1113, referred to.

G Sarkar on Evidence, (15 Edition), referred to.

7. Significantly all disclosures, discoveries and even arrests have been
made in the presence of three specific persons. The ingenuity devised by the
prosecutor knew no bounds. Without any further consideration of the matter,
one thing can be more or less with certain amount of conclusiveness be stated
H that these at least create a doubt or suspicion as to whether the same has
''(

STATE OF HARYANA. v. RAM SINGH 211
been tailor-made or not and in the event of there being such a doubt, the benefit A

) must and ought to be transposed to the accused persons. Trial Court addressed
itself on scrutiny of evidence and came to a conclusion that the evidence
available on record is trustworthy but the High Court acquitted one of the
accused persons on the basis of some discrepancy between the oral testimony
and the documentary evidence. The oral testimony thus stands tainted with B
suspicion. If that be the case, then there is no other evidence apart from the
omni present of the interested witnesses. While it is true that legitimacy of
interested witnesses cannot be discredited in any way nor termed to be a suspect
witness but the evidence before being ascribed to be trustworthy or being
capable of creating confidence, the Court has to consider the same upon proper
scrutiny. Thus, High Court was wholly in error not considering the evidence C
in its proper perspective.1223-D-E-F-G-HI

8. The defence contended that the deceased was missing from village
for about 2/3 days and is murdered on 21.1.1992 itself and there is defence
evidence on record by defence witness. High Court rejected the defence D
contention by reason of the fact that it was not suggested to the prosecution
witnesses that the murder had taken place on 21.1.1992 itself and the defence
witness had even come to attend the condolence. Incidentally the evidence
tendered by defence witnesses cannot always be termed to be a tainted one.
They are entitled to equal treatment and equal respect as that of the
prosecution. The issue of credibility and trust-worthiness ought also be E
attributed to the defence witnesses at par with that of the prosecution. Rejection
of the defence witness has been effected rather casually by the High Court.
Suggestion was there to the prosecution's witnesses that the deceased was
missing for about 2/3 days prior to the day of the occurrence itself, what more
is expected of the defence case; a doubt or a certainty-jurisprudentially a doubt
would be enough. When such a suggestion has been made, prosecution has to F
bring on record the availability of the deceased during those 2/3 days with
some independent evidence. Rejection of the defence case only by reason
thereof is far too strict and rigid a requirement for the defence to meet. It is
prosecutor's duty to prove beyond all reasonable doubts and not the defence
to prove its innocence. This itself is a circumstance, which cannot be term.ed G
to be suspicious in nature. 1224-A to E]

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 78 of
I999.

From the Judgment and Order dated 2.7.97 of the Punjab and Haryana H
212 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] I S.C.R.

A High Court in Cr!. A. No. 421-DB of 1995.

Cr!. A. No. 79 of 1999.
WITH
(
B Mahabir Singh, S.D. Sharma, Uma Datta, Rishi Malhotra, Tarun Sharma,
Kishan Datta, Rajesh Kr. Sharma, Ms. Shalu Sharma, Pramod Kr. Yadav for
Goodwill Indeevar for the appearing parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
c BANERJEE, J. While it is true that the postmortem report by itself
is not a substantive piece of evidence, but the evidence of the doctor
conducting the postmortem can by no means be ascribed to be insignificant.
The significance of the evidence of the doctor lies vis-a-vis the injuries
appearing on the body of the deceased person and likely use of the
D weapon therefor and it would then be the prosecutor's duty and obligation
to have the corroborative evidence available on record from the other
prosecution witnesses.

These two criminal appeals being Crl. Appeal No. 78 of 1999 and Cr!.
E Appeal No. 79 of 1999 arising from the same Judgment of the High Court
against that of the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Hissar in Sessions
Case No. 80of1992 in which (1) Bhajan Lal (2) Rai Sahab, (3) Ram Singh
and (4) Ram Kumar faced trial. All the accused faced charge under Section
302 IPC read with Section 201 and the learned Additional Sessions Judge,
Hissar by his Judgment dated 9th/I 0th August, 1995 convicted Bhajan Lal
F under Section 302 !PC and sentenced him to imprisonment for life, whereas
the accused Rai Sahab, Ram Singh and Ram Kumar were convicted under
Section 302/149 IPC and sentenced in the manner alike. The learned Additional
Sessions Judge did not convict any of the accused under Section 20 I !PC
by reason of the conviction under Section 302 !PC read with Section 149
G IPC. The case of the prosecution however, runs as below:-
I

Complainant-Budh Ram is the brother of Manphool (deceased). They
are residents of village Chinder. On 22.1.1992, Budh Ram and Manphool
went to the temple at about 6 a.m. and returned at about 6.15 a.m. When
Manphool was ahead of Budh Ram by about I 0 paces and had reached
H near the house of Kishan Lal, a jeep RJI-3407 was there and Rich Pal, a
STA TE OF HARV ANA. v. RAM SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 213

resident of Chinder and Appellant Bhajan Lal were standing near it, armed A
with guns. Appellant Rai Sahab was sitting on the driver seat, while
Appellant Ram Kumar and Ram Singh alias Singha were also sitting by his
side on the front seat. Accused Ram Kumar and Ram Singh, on seeing
Manphool, stated that Manphool had won money in gambling dishonestly
from Ram Singh, and that he should be taught a lesson for dishonesty. B
Rich Pal and Bhajan Lal fired a shot each from their respective guns, and
as a result of receiving the shots, Manphool fell down. Complainant-Budh
Ram took shelter in the temple out of fear. Dholu Ram, son of Manphool
on hearing the report of the gunshot, reached there. Prosecution case
further has been that immediately thereafter Ram Kumar and Singha alighted
from the jeep and all four of them tied the body in a blanket and put the C
same in the jeep and then went away in their jeep after threatening the
persons present at site. Complainant-Budh Ram informed his brother -
Ranjit and thereafter chased the jeep in a truck. They made a thorough
search on the canals and roads at Badopal and Bhola etc. but did not find
any clue. Therefore, Complainant-Budh Ram along with Dholu Ram went
to Agroha Police Station, to lodge the report. The statement of Budh Ram D
was recorded at 3.05 p.m., which formed the basis of the FIR (Ex. PF).

The Station House Officer SI Kishan Dutt being PW-12 in the
examination-in-chief, inter a/ia, stated as below :-
E
"On 22.1.1992 I was posted as SHO P.S. Agroha. On that day, Budh
Ram came to me in the police station. He was accompanied by Dholu
Ram. He made statement before me upon which I recorded FIR Ex.PF
... which was read over and explained to him to which he signed in token
of its correctness. I recorded police proceedings on it, handed over
one copy of FIR to him and obtained his signature. Then I left for the F
post and reached the place of occurrence alongwith Budh Ram and
Dholu Ram. I lifted blood stained earth, 2-3 pieces of bones from the
spot, which were converted into separate sealed parcels. Seal of KO
was used. Seal after use was given to Dholu Ram PW. I lifted blood
stained earth Ex.P. 12 and three pieces of bones Exs. P.13/1-3 vide G
recovery memo Ex.PG, attested by Dholu Ram and Budh Ram. I
prepared rough site plan of the place of occurrence Ex.PR, recorded
statements of Dholu and Budh Ram. I raided the houses of the
accused but they were found absconding. I searched for the dead-
body in the canal. I stayed for the night in village Budha Khera. On
23. I. 92 l deposited the case property with the MHC. H
214 SUPREME COlJRT REPORTS [2002) I S.C.R.

c
A On 26.1.92 I along with Ranjit and Dholu Ram was going in search of
the accused and dead body. At Chable minor (Mori) Yad Ram met me
and told me that he along with Atma Ram has recovered dead body
of Manphool from the Chuli Bagrian minor near the field of Ram Pat.
Then I reached there I held inquest proceedings on the dead body of
Manphool and prepared inquest report Exs.PD/1. I recorded statements
B ofDholu, Ranjit, Yad Ram and Atma Ram in the inquest proceedings
I hand over the dead body along with application for post-mortem
examination Ex.PD to constable Sadhu Ram and HC Jagdish."

It is at this stage it would be convenient to note the postmortem report
which reads as below :-
c
"It was a dead-body of a man, moderately built and nourished, necked
without any belongings with mouth and eyes closed. Rigor mortis was
absent in all the limbs. The body was wet and smeared with mud, frass
and leaves. The skin of the hands was swollen and was sodden. The
D nails and the hair could be pulled out easily. A tattooed mark
"Manphool" was present on the anterior aspect of the right fore-arm
and also found the following injuries. The height of the dead-body -I
was 5 feet 11 inches :-

I. A crushed wound posterio and right lateral aspect of skull of
E irregular shape and size was I 0 ems anterio posteriorly and 12
ems side to side involving the skin, sub cutaneous tissues and
underlying bones which were right and left parietal bone, right
tern poral and occipital. Most of the brain matter was absent
except a few brain matter left in the posterior oranial fosse. Pieces
of bones involved were absent.
F
2. An oval punctured would in the left scapular area of the chest
(However I have written abdomen by mistake). Measuring 1.5.
ems x I cm with a collar of abrasion all around the wound. The
direction of the wound was oblique going downward and forward.
On dissection and 4th rib was fractured in the middle. The left
G lung was lacerated and congested. Clotted blood was present in
left pleural cavity. Few pellet and foreign body were recovered.
Anterior wall of pleural cavity was also congested and there was
sub contaneous harmorrhage in the left memory area.
3. A punctured would on left side of abdomen 8 ems away towards
H left from the umbilicus. Omentum and few lops of intenstines
STATE OF HARYANA. v. RAM SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 215

were coming out of the wound. The wound was showing a collar A
of abrasion along the whole margins of the wound. Black tattooing
was present around the wound. On dissection there was
congestion in the skin Sub Coetaneous tissue and huge blood
was present in the peritoneum cavity. Omentum was congested
and loop of small intestines were showing the congestion. Spleen B
was ruptured. Few pellets of fire-ann and foreign body was
recovered. Small intestines showed semi digested small amount
of food which was semi liquid/semi-digested."

The facts shortly put thus reveal the date of occurrence being 22.1.1992
at 6.15 a.m. and the body was recovered on 26.1.1992 by one Atma Ram and C
Yad Ram. Atma Ram stated :

"On 26/27 of January, 1993 i.e. about two years and two months ago,
I and Yad Ram were searching for th~ dead-body of Manphool. We
reached Chuli minor near the field of Raipat. There we saw a dead-
body floating in the Chuli Minor. That dead-body was that of D
Manphool. We took out that dead-body from Chuli minor (a canal).
Name of ManphooI was tattooed on he hand of the dead-body. I had
also identified the dead-body by seeing the face. The skull was empty
(khokhli), as the skull was in tom condition. Yad Ram then left to the
Police Station for giving intimation. I stayed at the spot near the dead-
body. Yad Ram brought the Police. Dholu and Ranjeet also E
accompanied the police. Police prepared the inquest report of the
dead-body and then recorded my statement.

. On 13.2.92 I and Ranjeet were going to the P.S. Agroha to enquire if
Singha alias Ram Singh had been arrested or not. Dead-body was
found 18/I 9 days prior to our going to the police station. Thanedar F
had met us at the Bus Stand of village Khara Kheri. There a secret
infonnation was received by Sub Inspector (Thanedar) that accused
Ram Singh was coming from the side of village Chinder. In the meantime
a four-wheeler came there from which accused Ram Singh had alighted.
On our pointing out SI apprehended Ram Singh now present in the G
court. Upon interrogation by the police he (Ram Singh) disclosed that
I 8/ I 9 days ago he along with four other persons after committing the
murder of Manphool Singh had thrown his dead-body in the canal
and before throwing the same he had removed a golden ring from the
finger of the dead-body of Manphool and the same was conceded by
him at his house in the Niwar (strings) of the Palang (bed) and could H
216 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] I S.C.R.

A get the same recovered. In this regard his statement Ex.PQ was recorded
which was thumb marked by Singh accused and attested by me and
Ranjeet Singh. Thereafter accused Jed the Police party in his house
situated at village Chinder and then got recovered the ring. (At this
stage, a sealed Parcel bearing seals of SS has been broken open and
ring taken out there-from). The ring is Ex.P.12. It is the same ring which
B was got recovered from the palang as stated above and the same was
made into a sealed parcel and taken into possession vide recovery
memo. Ex.PQ/1, attested by me and Ranjeet."

It is on this state of evidence, the High Court has passed an Order of
C acquittal so far as Ram Singh is concerned and as such partly allowed the
appeal. In its Judgment, the High Court recorded the reasoning for such an
Order of acquittal of one of the accused persons as below :

" ......... The evidence of PW-12 Kishan Dutt shows that accused-Ram
Singh alias Singha was arrested only on 13.2.1992. But Ex.PL/2 also
shows that Ram Singh alias Singha had allegedly thumb-Plarked the
D
disclosure statement on 29.1.1992. If accused-Ran Singh alias Singha
was arrested only on 13.2.1992, then he could not have made a
disclosure statement on 29.1.1992. Further Ex.PQ is the alleged
disclosure statement of Ram Singh alias Singha !J1ade on 13.2.1992.
Atma Ram (PW-I I) also stated in his evidence that Ram Singh alias
E Singha was arrested on 13.2.1992 and that he made the disclosure
statement (EX.PQ) in pursuance of which the ring (Ex. P.12) was
recovered. This inconsistency casts a lot of doubt as the involvement
of accused-Ram Singh. Even according to prosecution, he was only
sitting in the jeep and had raised a lalkara that Manphool should be
taught a lesson. It is further alleged that he along with 3 of the
F
accused wrapped Manphool in a blanket and put him in the jeep. But
in view of that we have pointed out above, we are of the view that
it is wholly unsafe to convict this accused on the basis of the available
material and therefore, we are of the view that he (Ram Singh alias
Singha) should be acquitted, giving him the benefit of doubt.. ...."
G
Incidentally, the factual score depicts that Rich Pal had expired during
the course of trial before the learned Additional Sessions Judge and having
regard to the death of Rich Pal, the conviction and sentence pertaining to two
other accused persons were maintained by the High Court and the present
appeal by the accused persons pertain thereto. The State Government, also
H however, being aggrieved by the Order of acquittal moved this Court in
STATE OF HARY ANA. v. RAM SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 217

appeal. Since these appeals arise out of the same. Judgment, appeals were A
consolidated and were heard together.

The principal contention raised in support of the appeal filed on behalf
. of the accused persons has been that medical evidence as is available on
record completely demolished the prosecution case. Let us, therefore, have
a look at the medical evidence as is available on record. The postmortem B
report has already been noticed above and as such we need not dilate on the
injuries inflicted on the body of the deceased what is required presently for
our purpose herein. Dr. R.K. Kataria conducted the postmortem examination
on the body of the deceased on 27.1.1992. In his evidence he has been rather
specific that injuries No. I, 2 and 3 were the result of three independent shots C
though, however, possibility of injury No. l being caused by some heavy
weapon cannot be ruled out. As regards direction of injury No. 2 Dr. Kataria
explained that the nature of the injury itself indicates that it was caused by
weapon from above to downward and injuries Nos. 2 and 3 were possible by
a firearm weapon within a range of 3 ft. : whereas injury No. 2 Dr. Kataria
stated could be caused by a firearm from behind, injury No. 3 is possible by D
firearm only from the front side. Dr. Kataria, however, went on to depose :

"Since I had X-rayed injury No. 1, therefore, I did not think it proper
to give any details about nature of injury being ante mortem or post
· · or whether is attributed in causing the death. 1 also did not E
mention the nature of weapon as no such column was there in the
Performa prepared for post-mortem report. Therefore, 1 also did not
give the nature of weapon used for injuries no. 2 and 3 also. In fact
I had referred the dead-body for X-ray examination of injury no. I in
order to ascertain the weapon used. It is correct that X-ray report was
not shown the pieces of bones in this case. It is correct that my F
opinion given in the post-mortem report the injuries nos. 2 and 3 were
sufficient to cause death due to shock and hemorrhage is wrong.
Volunteered in fact mentioning of injury no. I omitted I had referred the
X-ray examination of injury no. I. It is incorrect to suggest that I did
not mention about injury no. I while giving opinion about the cause G
of death as I wanted to toe the line of police."

A bare perusal of the evidence of the doctor depicts three specific
features, namely, (i) Dr. Kataria had referred to have injury No. I X-rayed; (ii)
nature of the weapon used by the accused persons has not been mentioned,
as no such column was there in the Performa prepared for postmortem report H
218 SUPREME COVRT REPORTS (2002) I S.C.R.

A and as such Dr. Kataria did not given the nature of the weapon used for
injuries. As a matter of fact only for the ascertainment of the weapon used,
the body of the deceased was referred for X-ray. The X-ray report, however,
was not shown to the doctor till the date of examination, or even produced
before the court; (iii) Dr. Kataria was also not shown the pieces of bones in
the case. These three factors go a long way in support of the defence
B contention that it was a blind murder and thus a false implication.

The state of evidence available on record has been quoted extensively
in this Judgment, which could otherwise be also avoided but has been so
done so as to appreciate the trustworthiness or the credibility of the prosecution
C case. Medical evidence points out an ,injury having a downward stint :
medical evidence points out two several gun shots injuries one from the front
and one from the back -the eye-witnesses account does not, however, obtain
any support from the medical evidence rather runs counter thereto. A definite
evidence of availability of some bones at the place of occurrence was admittedly
not shown to the postmortem doctor. Eye-witnesses' account (PW-8) Budh
D Ram records that after giving the lalkara accused Bhajan Lal fired upon his
brother Manphool and Rich Pal accused had fired one shot upon his brother.
Rich Pal accused had since died and the brother on receiving the firearm
injuries fell down on the spot. Immediately, thereafter an alarm was raised by
the eye-witness upon which accused Bhajan Lal and Rich Pal threatened him
E that in case of any alaram they would also kill the PW-8 by reason wherefore
the latter took the shelter by the side of the Mandir. The witness went on to
record that after Manphool, his brother, fell down and all the accused except
Rai Sahab wrapped him in a blanket and put in the jeep and the accused Rai
Sahab then drove the jeep. The witness thereafter stated that :-

" ....... We then i.e. Dholu Ram, Ranjit and myself followed the accused
F
in a truck. We went to the canal of Badopal. We also saw the accused
on the roads but they were not visible. We went on the bank of canal
of Badopal. We also went to Bhoda, Sarangpur, Kherampur. Kohli and
other roads and then on the canal but could not find the accused and
the jeep and Manphool. Ultimately, I lodged report Ex.PF in P.S.
G Agroha. In this regard my signature are there on FIR Ex.PF. The
contents of the FIR were read over to me and after admitting the same .,
to be correct put my signatures.
Police then came to the place of occurrence and lifted three pieces of
bones, blood stained earth. Both were made into parcel and then
H sealed. Both were sealed separately seal after use was handed over
STATE OF HARYANA. v. RAM SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 219
to me. Both the parcels were taken into possession vide recovery A
memo Ex.PG." (Emphasis supplied)
'
Significantly, the prosecutor produced the bundle containing three pieces
of bones, which are identified by PW-8 as the same pieces of bones, which
were under seizure by the police authorities at the place of occurrence - these
bones, however, were not produced and placed for examination before the B
postmortem doctor as to whether they can be co-related with that of the
deceased person. The Serological Report of these bones did not see the light
neither the Ballistic Experts' Report as to the nature of the weapons used. It
is a duty cast on the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused persons
beyond all reason'able doubts. High Court has dealt with the issue that the
thumb marked disclosure statement of Ram Singh dated 29 .1. I 992 casts a lot
c
of doubt as to the involvement of accused Ram Singh since Ram Singh was
arrested only on 13.2.1992 as such disclosure statement of 29.1.1992 cannot
be. had - it is this inconsistency which was noticed by the High Court and
Ram Singh, at whose instance the ring was supposed to have been recovered,
stands acquitted on the ground of benefit of doubt. The High Court, however, D
has not considered the medical evidical vis-a-vis the eye-witnesses' account
- the conflict and inconsistency between the two also raises a very great
suspicion in the mind of the Court : credibility of the prosecution case stands
at zero level by reason of the conclusion of the High Court and accordingly
benefit of doubt to Ram Singh. It is the same prosecutor, which has recovered E
the pieces of bones, had it exhibited but not produced before the postmortem
doctor, who would otherwise be able to identify the bones as that of the
deceased. This failure of the prosecution, in our view, cannot be taken as a
mere omission but a failure, which would go a long way in the matter of
reposing confidence thereon.
F
While it is true that the law is well settled in regard to the issue that
in an appeal against conviction for the offence of murder Supreme Court
would be rather slow to intervene 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 ofany fundamental rules or even a definite
procedural injustice going to the root of the prosecution case question of the G
Apex Court being slow in intervention would not arise. In this context,
reference may be made to the decision of this Court in Arjun Marik and Ors.
V. Stale o/Bihar, [1994] Supp. 2 sec 372 wherein this Court in paragraph 15
stated as below :-
"15. We are also aware of the fact that as a rule of practice, in appeal H
220 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] I S.C.R.

A against conviction for offence of murder Supreme Court is slow to
disturb a concurrent finding of fact unless it is shown that the finding
is manifestly erroneous, clearly unreasonable, unjust or illegal or
violative of some fundamental rule of procedure or natural justice.
Further it has also to be remembered that in a murder case which is
cruel and revolting it becomes all the more necessary for the Court to
B scrutinise the evidence with more than ordinary care lest the shocking
nature of the crime might induct instinctive reaction against a
dispassionate judicial scrutiny of the evidence in law."

The Judgment under appeal admittedly does not contain a whisper even
C pertaining to the contradictions between eye-witnesses' account and the
medical evidence. In the contextual facts and as noticed above, medical
evidence runs positively counter to the eye-witnesses' account rendering the
ocular testimony not being dependable or trustworthy. There is no credible
evidence on record. It is significant that all the so-called eye-witnesses were
produced in Court by the police from its custody in handcuff condition and
D it is only on the witness box that the handcuffs were released and taken up
from the body of the person. All of them are under-trail prisoners being
involved in a murder trail. The Court thus has to scrutinise its evidence with
a little bit of caution and scrutiny so as to judge their veracity. Admittedly
all the supposed eye-witnesses are relations of the deceased. As such they
E fall within a category of interested witness. It is not that the evidence ought
to be discredited by reason of the witness being simply an interested witness
but in that event the Court will be rather strict in its scrutiny as to the
acceptability of such an evidence. High Court has principally relied on the 161
statements and the contradictions available on the record have not been
taken note of. In our view this is a clear error on the part of the High Court.
F Some weapons have been seized alongwith the cartridges and it has been
stated that such recovery was effected in terms of the disclosure statements.
Before this Court it has been strongly urged that the same is in contravention
of Section 27 of the Evidence Act. Undoubtedly, Section 27, though provides
an exception, but the Court should always be vigilant about the circumvention
G of its provision - "Sarkar on Evidence (15th Edition)" has the following to
state on Section 27:-

" ......... The protection afforded by the wholesome provisions ofss. 25
and 26 is sought to be whittled down by the police by their ingenuity
in manipulating the record of the information given by the accused in
H the case-diary in such a manner as to make it appear that it led to the
•
STATE OF HARYANA. v. RAM SINGH [BANERJEE, J.] 221
discovery of some facts although the police might have made such A
discovery from other sources. When a fact is once discovered from
information receiv¢d from another source, there can be no discovery
again even if any information relating thereto is subsequently extracted
from the accused. A devise sometimes adopted by the police is to
stage a scene and take the accused to the place where the things B
discovered lay buried or hidden and require him to make a search for
them at the spot indicated to the accused, or sometimes the articles
are first produced before the accused and thereafter statements
purporting to have been made by him about the so-called discovery
are recorded. Court should be watchful that the protection afforded
by ss. 25 and 26 should not be dependent on the ingenuity of the C
police officer in composing the narrative conveying the information
relating to the alleged recovery of a fact."

In Pulukuri Kotayya v. Emperor, 74 Ind. App 65: AIR (I947) PC 67,
the Privy Council considered the provision of Section 27 of Evidence Act and
observed :- D
"It is fallacious to treat the 'fact discovered' within the section as
equivalent to the object produced; the fact discovered embraces the
place from which the object is produced and the knowledge of the
accused as to this, and the information given must related distinctly
to this fact. Information as to past user, or the past history, of the E
object produced is not related to its discovery in the setting in which
it is discovered. Information supplied by a person in custody that 'I
will produce a knife concealed in the roof of my house' does not lead
to the discovery of a knife : knives were discovered many years ago.
It leads to the discovery of the fact that a knife is concealed in the p
house of the informant to his knowledge, and if the knife is proved
to have been used in the commission of the offence, the fact discovered
is very relevant. But if to the statement the words be added 'with
which I stabbed A', these words are inadmissible since they do not
relate to the discovery of the knife in the house of the informant." (p.
77 of Ind App) : (at p. 70 of AIR)." G
The observations stand accepted by this Court in Prabhoo v. State of
Uttar Pradesh, AIR (1963) SC 1113.

Let us however, at this stage, analyse the evidentiary value of such
discoveries. H
222 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002) I S.C.R.

A (i) Licensed double barrel 12 bore gun bearing No. 70002-1978 along
with license No. 240-VIl/Fatehabad (valid upto 2.8.1992) along with three .12
bore cartridges and one fired cartridge case of .12 bore - this recovery memo
stands witnessed by Dholu Ram (PW-10) and Budh Ram (PW-8).

(ii) Recovery memo of Jeep No. RJl-3407 - this recovery stands witnessed
B by Dholu Ram and Budh Ram, PWs I 0 and 8.

(iii) Pointing out memo - Rai Sahib, Ram Kanwar, Rich Pal and Bhajan
Lal led the police party to Badipal Canal, at Chable Mori and pointed out the
place where on the left bank of the canal the jeep had been parked and
C thereafter the dead body was put into the canal : this pointing out memo also
stands witnesses by Dholu Ram and Budh Ram.

(iv) Four discloure statements ofBhajan Lal, Ram Kanwar, Rich Pal and
Rai Sahab accused persons and all the four statements stand witnessed by
Dholu Ram and Budh Ram, PWs 10 and 8.
D (v) Recovery memo of blood stained earth lifted from left bank .of
Badipal Canal near the bridge ofChable Mori stands witnessed by Dholu Ram
and Budh Ram.

(vi) Disclosure statement/memo of the accused Ram Singh : while in the
E process of throwing the dead body of Manphool in the canal, a golden ring
was removed from his person and that ring has been kept concealed though
led to the subsequent recovery of the same. This statement however stands
witnessed by Ranjit and Atma Ram (PW-11 ).

(vii) Recovery memo of golden ring in terms of the disclosure statement
F witnessed by Ranjit and Atma Ram (PW-I I).

Ranjit happens to be the brother of Manphool, the deceased : the
memos mentioned in Nos. 1-5 are all dated 29.1.1992 whereas 6th and
7th memos are dated 13.2.1992".

G Two of the recoveries, as noticed above, thus stood witnessed by Atma
Ram : let us briefly, at this stage, refer to the deposition of Atma Ram noticed
herein before to the extent that on 26/27 .1.1992 when Atma Ram was searching
for the dead body of Manphool, he reached Chable more and saw a dead
body floating - the dead body was then lifted to the bank of the canal and
whereas Atma Ram was keeping a watch, Yad Ram was sent to inform the
H police. The police came along with Dholu and Ranjit. On the second occasion

·~
STATE OF HARY ANA. v. RAM SINGH [BANERJEE, J.) 223
again Atma Ram and Ranjit enquired, after having discovered that though the A
dead body was recovered some time back, whether Ram Singh had been
arrested or not -when Thanedar met them and in the meantime a four wheeler.
came from which the accused Ram Singh had alighted and on the pointing
out by Atma Ram, Ram Singh was arrested and thereupon interrogation
started by the police, which made Ram Singh to disclose the commission of
the offence and throwing up of the dead body in the canal as also removal
B
of the golden ring from the finger of the dead body and subsequent recovery
thereof, as noticed herein before. The ring was identified. The High Court,
, however, thought it fit to acquit Ram Singh by reason of discrepancy in the
records.
~

c
These are, however, the evidence available on record for the recoveries
effected upon disclosure being made. The High Court obviously did not place
any reliance on the evidence of Atma Ram as otherwise no acquittal could
have. been ordered for Ram Singh.

Significantly all disclosures, and even arrests have been made in the D
.,, presence of three specific persons, namely, Budh Ram, Dholu Ram and Atma
Ram - no independent witness could be found in the aforesaid context - is
it deliberate or is it sheer coincidence - this is where the relevance of the
passage from Sarkar on Evidence comes on. The ingenuity devised by the
prosecutor knew no bounds - Can it be attributed to be sheer coincidence ?
E
Without any further consideration of the matter, one thing can be more or less
with certain amount of conclusiveness be stated these at least create a doubt
or suspicion as to whether the same has been tailor-made or not and in the
,,.
even of there being such a doubt, the benefit must and ought to be transposed
to the accused persons. The trial Court addressed itself on scrutiny of evidence
and came to a conclusion that the evidence available on record is trustworthy F
but the High Court acquitted one .of the accused persons on the basis of
some discrepancy between the oral testimony and the documentary evidence
as noticed fully herein before. The oral testimony thus stands tainted with
suspicion. If that be the case, then there is no other evidence apart from the
omni present Budh Ram and Dholu Ram, who however are totally interested
.. witnesses. While it is true that legitimacy of interested witnesses cannot be
G
discredited in any way nor termed to be a suspect witness but the evidence
before being ascribed to be trustworthy or being capable of creating confidence,
the Court has to consider the same upon proper scrutiny. In our view, the
High Court was wholly in error in not considering the evidence available on
record in its proper perspective. The other aspect of the matter is in regard H
224 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2002) I S.C.R.

A to the defence contention that Manphool was missing from village for about
2/3 days and is murdered on 21.1.1992 itself. There is defence evidence on
record by DW-3 Raja Ram that Manphool was murdered on 21.1.1992. The
High Court rejected the defence contention by reason of the fact that it was
not suggested to Budh Ram or Dholu Ram that the murder had taken place
on 21.1.1992 itself and DW-3 Raja Ram had even come to attend the condolence
B and it is by reason therefor Raja Ram's evidence was not accepted. Incidentally
be it noted that the evidence tendered by defence witnesses cannot always
be termed to be a tainted one - the defence witnesses are entitled to equal
treatment and equal respect as that of the prosecution. The issue of credibility
and the trustworthiness ought also to be attributed to the defence witnesses
C at par with that of the prosecution. Rejection of the defence case on the basis '
of the evidence tendered by defence witness has been effected rather casually
by the High Court. Suggestion was there to the prosecution's witnesses in
particular PW-I 0 Dholu Ram that his father Manphool was missing for about
2/3 days prior to the day of the occurrence itself - what more is expected of
the defence case : a doubt or a certainty - jurisprudentially a doubt would be
D enough : when such a suggestion has been made prosecution has to bring
on record the availability of the deceased during those 2/3 days with some
independent evidence. Rejection of the defence case only by reason thereof
is far too strict and rigid a requirement for the defence to meet - it is
prosecutor's duty to prove beyond all reasonable doubts and not the defence
E to prove its innocence - this itself is a circumstance, which cannot but be
termed to be suspicious in nature.

Considering the aforesaid, we do feel it expedient to record that the
High Court fell into a manifest error in coming to a conclusion as reflected
in the Judgment under appeal and which thus cannot be sustained. The
F appeal (Criminal Appeal No. 79/1999), therefore, succeeds and is allowed and
the appellants be released from the custody, if not required in any other
proceeding.

In view of the decision above, Criminal Appeal No. 78/1999 (State of
Haryana v. Ram Singh) fails and stands dismissed.
G
N.J. C.A. No. 78/99 dismissed.
C.A. No. 79199 allowed.