Holding

The High Court erred in its appreciation of the evidence; the conviction under Sections 302 r/w 34, 307 r/w 34 and 452 IPC stands.

Summary

The State of U.P. alleged that the accused entered the house of Raghubir (PW3) at midnight, assaulted him with the butt of a pistol and, when his wife intervened, also struck her, leading to her death the next day. The trial court convicted the accused under Sections 302 r/w 34, 307 r/w 34 and 452 IPC. The Allahabad High Court acquitted them, relying on alleged lack of electric light, contradictions in witness statements, and a medical opinion that the injuries were caused by a sharp‑edged weapon. The Supreme Court held that the husband’s testimony about the presence of electric light was corroborated, that minor inconsistencies do not undermine credibility, and that the medical evidence was consistent with injuries inflicted by a blunt weapon (the pistol’s butt). Consequently, the High Court’s appreciation of evidence was erroneous, and the conviction was restored. The appeal was allowed, reinstating the sentences of the accused.

Issues considered

Whether minor contradictions and improvements in prosecution witnesses’ testimony affect their credibility.
Whether the alleged absence of electric light at the scene precludes identification of the accused.
Whether the medical opinion that injuries were caused by a sharp‑edged weapon contradicts the ocular testimony and warrants overturning the conviction.
Whether the conviction under Section 302 r/w 34 should be reduced to Section 304 IPC.
Whether the Supreme Court can interfere with an acquittal on the ground of miscarriage of justice.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 161
Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 304, s. 307, s. 34, s. 452

Subjects

murderidentificationwitness credibilitymedical evidenceelectric lightSection 302 IPCSection 34 IPCSection 307 IPCSection 452 IPCappellate jurisdictionmiscarriage of justice

Judgment

A STATE OF U.P.
v.
PREMI AND ORS.

FEBRUARY 20, 2003

B . [Y.K. SABHARWAL AND H.K. SEMA, JJ.]

Penal Code, 1860; Sections 34, 302, 304 and 452:.

Murder and other offences-Conviction by Trial Court-Reversed by
C High Court doubting the testimony of prosecution witness on contradiction
and improvements in the evidence, and in identification of accused as a,lso
difference between ocular and medical evidence~n appeal, Held, since
statement of husband of the deceased regarding availability of light at the
time and place of incident was corrobr;11:ated by Investigating Officer, conclusion
D as to absence of light and doubting the. identification/recognition of accused
by the prosecution witness could not be drawn-When improvements and
contradictions are minor and natural, truthfolness of the evidence/witness
cannot be doubted-Testimony of evidence of medical officer must not be read .
in isolation but should be read as a whole-Evidence Act, 1872.

E Appeal against acquittal-Power of the Supreme Court to interfere-
Limitation-Held: when miscarriage of justice results due to erroneous
appreciation of evidence by the High Court, it is necessary to interfere.

According to the prosecution, accused entered the house of the
deeeased at mid-night and hit on the head of her husband with a pistol.
F When the deceased tried to save her husband, accused hit her with the
butt of the pistol as well. On hearing cries of the deceased and other family
members, neighbours came to their rescue, whereupon accused fled away.
The deceased succumbed to her injuries O!J the next day. In the meanwhile,
FIR was lodged by the husband of the deceased. Trial Court convicted
and sentenced the accused, his brothers and father, for the offences under
G Sections 302 r/w 34, 307 r/w 34 and under Section 452 IPC. On appeal,
High Court set aside conviction and sentence. Hence the present appeal.
During the pendency of the appeal, one of the accused died; appeal thus
abated against him.

Allowing the appeal, the Court
H 266
STATE OF U.P. v. PREM! 267
.
e HELD: 1.1. The testimony of PW3 (husband of the deceased) clearly A
f
shows that the electric connection was made available less than a year ago
' and PW3 was referring the date of the incident and not the date when his
statement was recorded. PW3 also stated that the electric light was on at
the time of occurrence of crime. By no stretch _of imagination anyone can
come to" the conclusion that there was no electric connection in the house
of the deceased. The mention of the electric bulbs at various places was
B
also made in the site plan prepared by the Police. Thus, the High Court
committed grave illegality in coming to the conclusion that in the absence
of light, the assailants could not be recognized. (270-D-F]

1.2. High Court has completely misread the FIR and come to the
conclusion that the factum of the respondents having caught hold of PW3
c
has not been mentioned in the FIR. In fact, FIR specifically states that
the respondents caught hold of PW3. The High Court seems to have made
too much of the minor contradictions about the non-mention of the dandas
in the FIR. The contradictions and improvements, according to the High
Court, are the result of darkness, in view of the absence of the electric D
connection. This is a finding which is not at all sustainable. The finding
of the High Court that testimony of P~3 is uncorroborated is again
unsustainable. PW4, who is deposed to have seen the respondents coming
out of the house of PW3, was living in the same compound. His name was
mentioned in the FIR as well. He is a natural witness of the occurrence.
E
Thus a well reasoned judgment of the Sessions Court on critical analysis
of the evidence was reversed by the High Court on consideration of

-- improvements and contradictions which are minor and natural and rather
go to show the truthfulness of the evidence. [270-G, H; 271-A, B]

1.3. High Court took the view that the injuries were inflicted by a F
sharp edged weapon and has placed strong reliance on the testimony of

--
'
PW8, a medical officer. According to another medical officer, PWI, who
conducted the postmortem,
I
injuries must have been caused with a blunt
weapon. His categorical testimony is that none of these injuries was incised
wound caused with a sharp weapon; and. that it becomes difficult to say
I
whether a wound on a bony part is lacerated or incised one. PW9, a senior G
surgeon, also opined that depressed fractures are generally caused with
blunt weapons; and that such an injury is possible with a blunt object like
the butt of the pistol. The testimony of PW8 that the injuries were caused
with sharp-edged weapon and not with a blunt weapon, is in the nature
of the opinion of one of the doctors. In any case, testimony of PW8 cannot
H
268 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003) 2 S.C.R.

A be read In isolation. His evidence is to be read as a whole and when so
read It becomes clear that the injuries of the kind inOicted on PW3 and
the deceased could be caused with the butt of the revoiver. It has also to
be borne in mind that generally injury on head is caused by a blunt
weapon. According to medical officers, injuries in question could be
B inDicted with the butt of the revolver and it would look like incised wound
(
having been inDicted with a sharp-edged weapon. Besides the medical
evidence, what is also to be kept in view is that in the FIR recorded on
the oral statement of PW3 immediately after the occurrence, it was
specifically stated that the injuries were caused by the butt of.the country
J -
made pisto~. The medical evidence and the ocular evidence is wholly
C consistent as was rightly held by the Sessions Court. \,
(272-H; 273-C-F; 274-A, D-Fl

2. Having found that miscarriage of justice has resulted by an
entirely faulty and erroneous appreciation of evidence by the High Court,
It becomes necessary to interfere in the matter. From the evidence, the
D only view possible is one taken by the Sessions Court. On the facts and
circumstances of the case, it is also not possible to accept the contention
that the res~ndents had no int~ntion to kill and, therefore, conviction of
accused should be altered to one under Section 304 IPC. The conviction
and sentence imposed on respondents I and 2 by the Sessions Court is
E restored. (274-F-H; 275-8)

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.
486 of 1996.

From the Judgment and Order dated 13.4.1992 of the Allahabad High
F Court in Crl. A. No. 1968 of 1979.

Vivek Singh and Pramod Swarup, for the Appellant.

K.B. Sinha and S.C Birla, for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
G
Y.K. SABHARWAL, J. Respondents I and 2 in this appeal who are
brothers were convicted by the Sessions Court for the offence under Sections
452,307 read with Section 34 and Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC.
Their father, respondent no. 3, was also convicted for offence under Sections
H 452, 307 and Section 302 read with Section 34 !PC. Their conviction and
STATE OF U.P. v. PREM! [Y.K. SABHARWAL, J.] 269

consequently the sentence that had been imposed on them by the Sessions A
Court was set asid.e in appeal by the High Court in tenns of the impugned
judgment. The State is in appeal to this Court on grant of leave. During the
pendency of the appeal, respondent no.3, Devi Das died. The appeal thus
abates against him.

The prosecution case in brief is that respondents I and 2, their father B
and another person entered the house of Raghubir (PW3) at about midnight
of I 5th-16th January, 1977 while he was sleeping with his wife and children.
After removing the guilt, the respondents held fast PW3 and he was hit on
the head with the butt of the country-made pistol. When Budh Wati @ Ved
Wati, wife of PW3, came to save him, she was also assaulted with butt of the C
pistol. On hearing their cries, Mathuri (PW4) and Balwant, living in the same
compound, came whereupon the accused ran away. PW3 and his wife were
assaulted because PW3 was cited as a prosecution witness against the
respondents and their father in the case of murder of one Rajinder son of
Prem Sahai where they were accused. The place of occurrence is at a distance
of about 9 Kilometer from the Police Station. The FIR was recorded on the D
statement of PW3 at 8.30 a.m. Budh Wati succumbed to her injuries at about
9.00 p.m. on 16th January.

The Sessions Court, on appreci~tion of the evidence of PW3, PW4,
Police officials and the medical evidence, convicted the three accused. The E
fourth person was not identified and, thus could not be apprehended.

In reversing the judgment of the Sessions Court, the factors that have
been taken into consideration and weighed with the High Court are:

I. Absence of proof of light;
F
2. Improvements and contradictions in the testimony of prosecutioq
witnesses; and

3. Difference between the ocular and medical evidence regarding
injuries.

The incident took place around midnight. The reasons for the High G
Court's coming to the conclusion that there was no source of light available
to the witness to recognize the assailants are:

.(a) Non-mention of the presence of electric bulb in the FIR;
(b) Admission of PW3 that electric connection was not available in H
270 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003) 2 $.C.R.

A his house before incident; and

(c) Fact of source of light being not mentioned in the statement of
PW3 recorded during investigation under Section 161 of the
Criminal Procedure Code.

PW7, SJ. S.P. Singh, inspected the place of occurrence on 16th January (
B and prepared a site plan which mentions one eiectric bulb in the Kothri of
Raghubir, one in his courtyard and another in the Kothri of PW4. These I-
electric points have been shown in site plan (Exhibit Ka-I 0). The witness was
hardly challenged. The existence of the electric bulbs was also not seriously
challenged in the cross-existence of other witnesses. The omission to mention
C about light in the FIR or in the statement of PW3 recorded by the police
under Section 161 Cr.P.C. was wholly inconsequential. PW3 had made a
categorical statement of having recognized the assailants. There is also no
admission in the statement of PW3 about the non-availability of the electric
connection. The finding as also the reasoning is wholly contrary to evidence
and established facts . The High Court has held that the statement of PW3
D was recorded on 9th May, 1979 and he admitted that the electric connection
was made available about one year ago and from this, the admission of PW3
was inferred about the non-availability of the electric connection. The
testimony of PW3 clearly shows that when he stated that the electric connection
was made available less than a year ago he was referring to the date of the
E incident and not the date when his statement was recorded. After deposing
about the time when the electric connection was installed, PW3 further stated
that he told the Police about the electric light being on. By no stretch of
imagination anyone can come to the conclusion that PW3 admitted that when
occurrence took place, there was no electric connection. The mention of the
electric bulbs at various places, as earlier noticed, was also made in the site
F plan prepared by the Police. In this view, the High Court committed grave
illegality in coming to the conclusion that in absence of light, the assailants
could not be recognized.

For reaching the conclusion that there are improvements and
G contradictions in the statement of the prosecution witnesses, the High Court
has completely misread the FIR and has come to the conclusion that the
factum of the respondents having caught hold of PW3 has not been mentioned
in the FIR. In fact, FIR specifically states that the respondents caught hold
of PW3. The High Court seems to have made too much of the minor
contradictions about the non-mention of the dandas in the FIR. The so called
H contradictions and improvements, according to the High Court, are the result
STATE OF U.P. v. PREMl [Y.K. SABHARWAL, J.] 271
of darkness in view of the absence of the electric connection, a finding which A
is not at all sustainable as noticed above. The further finding of the High
Court that testimony of PW3 is uncorroborated is again unsustainable. PW4
was living in the same compound. His name is mentioned in the FIR. He is
deposed to have seen the respondents coming out of the house of PW3. PW4
is next door neighbour of PW3. He is a na~ural witness of the occurrence. A
.
well reasoned judgment of the Sessions Court on critical analysis of the
B
evidence was reversed by the High Court on consideration of improvements
and contradictions which are minor and natural and rather go to show the
truthfulness of the evidence.

Reverting to the third factor, namely, difference between medical and C
ocular evidence, the High Court has held that the injuries were caused by the
sharp edged weapons and, therefrom, concluded that the ocular testimony of
PW3 was contradicted by medical evidence and, thus, labelled PW3 as an
unreliable witness.
.J
1
PW8, Dr. Arjun Kumar, on medical examination on 16th January at D
about 10.05 a.m. found the following injuries on PW3:

"Incised wound over right frontal region of scalp, 9 ems above root
of nose, size 6 ems x I cm x bone deep, fracture of the underlying
bone is visible, patient complained of bleeding from both nostrils,
clotted blood was present in both sides of the nose, edges of the E
wound were clean cut, wound is gaping, oblique in direction as shown
in the figure."

On medical examination of Budh Wati at about I0.25 a.m. on the same
date PW8 found the following injuries :
F
"(I) Incised wound over left occipital region of scalp, 8 cm above

- and behind left ear, size 5 ems x bone deep, edges were clean cut,
wounds were gaping, suspected fracture of underlying bone, x-ray
was advised, injury was kept under observation, the injury appeared
to have been inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon, direction was
forward backward. G
(2) Abrasion over right temple, I cm outer from the outer angle of
the right eye, size 3 ems x 2 ems blackish colour, it was a simple
injury, must have been caused with a blunt weapon.
(3) Abrasion over right side of the forehead, 2 ems above the right H
272 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 2 S.C.R.

A eyebrow, size 2 ems x I cm, blackish colour, simple, caused by a
blunt object.

Patient was in her sense, but was not able to speak. Pulse rate was
72 per minute, respiration-24 per minute, eye lids were normal, and
\.
were reacting against light, all the injuries were inflicted within 24
B hours."
'
!
PW3 and his wife were sent to the District Hospital, Budaun. Later she )_

died at 9 p.m. on the same date. Dr. B.K. Srivastava (PWI) conducted the (
I
autopsy and as per postmortem report prepared by him found following
injuries on the deceased :
c
"(i) Lacerated wound 6 ems x I cm x Yi cm on the left side of the
head, 9 ems above the /eft eye.
(ii) Contusion 3 ems x Y, ems on the right side of forehead, 3 ems
above the right eyebrow.
D (iii) Contusion 3 ems x I Y, ems on the right side, 3 ems at the tragus
from the right ear.
(iv) Clotted blood present in the right ear.
(v) Abrasion with contusion, I0 ems x 3 ems on the upper arm, 19
E ems above the right elbow joint.
(vi) Abrasion 2 ems x Yi cm on the inner aspect oflittle finger of left
hand.
On the internal examination, he found
(I) Fracture present I0 ems long on the left pertial bone, extending
F upto occipital bone.
(2) Fracture 5 ems long, on the left side of the perital bone upto
Lamsdard puture.
(3) Fracrue 2. Yi ems long, obliquely, between injuries I and. 2 on
G perital bone.
(4) base of skull on the right side was broken. Clotted blood was
found below the skin of the scalp."
The medical evidence produced by the prosecution comprises of the
aforesaid two doctors PWI and PW8 besides Dr. S.C. Sharma (PW9) who
H had examined injured PW3 and had also deposed on the basis of x-ray reports
STATE OF U.P. v. PREM! [Y.K. SABHARWAL, J.] 273
and other documents. The High Court for the view that the injury was inflicted A
by a sharp edged weapon has placed strong reliance on the testimony of
PW8. Learned counsel for the respondents has also placed strong reliance on
the testimony of the said doctor. Before considering this contention and
examining the testimony of PW8, it would be useful to notice as to what has
been deposed by PW! and PW9. It is also to be kept in mind that the real
question is whether the testimony of PW8 is such which if accepted would B
either belie the ocular testimony of PW3 or create reasonable doubt on
creditability of PW3 the said testimony can be trusted and relied upon despite
the deposition of PW8.

According to Dr. Srivastava (PW!) who conducted the postmortem, C
wife of PW3 died due to fracture in the bone of skull, perital bone and
occipital bone and bleeding and shock. Internal fractures I to 4 were the
resultant effects of injuries I, 2 and 3 and these injuries, according to the
doctor, must have been caused with a blunt weapon. His categorical testimony
is that none of these injuries was incised wound caused with a sharp weapon.
He has further deposed that it becomes difficult to say whether a wound on D
a bony part is lacerated or incised one.

PW9 (Dr. -S.C. Shanna) who, at the relevant time, was senior surgeon
at Budaun Hospital had examined PW3 who was treated and discharged a
month later on 16th February, 1977. He also examined the x-ray of the head
of PW3 which showed the fracture of the frontal bone. According to Dr. E
Sharma, depressed fractures are generally caused with blunt weapons. He
further deposed that such an injury is possible with a blunt object like the
butt of the pistol. In cross-examination, he stated that the weapon may be
blunt or sharp edged, its heavy blow can cause the fracture and depressed
fracture will be caused when there is a full-blooded blow on the bone. Now F
turning to the evidence of Dr. Arjun Kumar (PW 8) on which strong reliance
has been place, in his cross-examination, he stated that injury No. I is clean-
cut wound which he wrote after examining with a magnifying lens. He,
therefore, deposed that the injuries were caused with a sharp edged weapon
and not with a blunt object. It is on this part of the evidence of PW8 that
strong reliance has been placed by Mr. Sinha, learned counsel for the G
respondents. However, PW8 has further deposed that if the butt had a
projecting tin-peace, it could cause such an injury and that the tin piece must
have been fixed over so much part of the width of butt as could cut upto the
bone and that weapon may be sharp-edged or blunt, its thrust can cause
fracture. He has further deposed that injury with a blunt object sometimes H
274 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 2 S.C.R.

A appears to be incised wound. The testimony of PW8 that the injuries were I
caused with sharp-edged weapon and not with a blunt weapon, is in the
nature of the opinion of one of the doctors. In any case, testimony of PW8
cannot be read in isolation. His evidence is to be read as a whole and when
so read it becomes clear that the injuries of the kind inflicted on PW3 and
the deceased could be caused with the butt of the revolver. It has also to be
B borne in mind that generally injury on head is caused by a blunt weapon.

Learned counsel for the respondents has placed reliance on Modi's I'

Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology (22nd Edition) in support of the
contention that the clean cut edges of the wound and the wound being gaping,
C as deposed by PW8, shows that itwas an incised wound. According to Modi,
the edges, of a wound made by a heavy cutting weapon, such as an axe
hatchet or shovel, may not be as smooth as those of a wound caused by a
light cutting weapon, such as a knife, razor etc. and may show signs of
contusion. However, while dealing with incised looking wound, according to
Modi, occasionally, on wounds produced by a blunt weapon or by a fall, the
D skin splits and may look like incised wounds when inflicted on tense structures
covering the bones, such as the scalp, eyebrow etc. Mr. Sinha, however,
submits that if that had been so, the edges of the wound would have been
irregular and hair bulbs would have been found crushed when the injuries
were examined by magnifying glass by PWS. The learned counsel, however,
E overlooks the fact that the main evidence of all the doctors is that the injuries
in question could be inflicted with the butt of the revolver and it would look
like incised wound having been inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon. Besides
the medical evidence, what is also to be kept in view is that in the FIR
recorded on the oral statement of PW3 immediately after the occurrence, it
was specifically stated that the injuries were caused by the butt of the country
F made pistol. The medical evidence and the ocular evidence is wholly consistent
as was rightly held by th.e Court of Sessions. We are conscious of limitations
while dealing with an appeal against a judgment of acquittal. Having, however,
found that miscarriage of justice has resulted by an entirely faulty and
erroneous appreciation of evidence by the High Court, it becomes our duty
G to interfere in the matter. From the evidence, the only view possible is one
taken by the Sessions Court.

On the facts and circumstances of the case, it is also not possible to
accept the contention that the respondents had no intention to kill and, therefore
their conviction deserves to be altered to be one falling under Section 304
-
H !PC. As already noticed, at the dead of the night the respondents and their
STATE OF U.P. v. PREMI (Y.K. SABHARWAL, J.) 275
father went to the house of PW3 with a country made pistol and with force A
inflicted such injuries on head which resulted in death of wife of PW3. The
mere fact that only a single blow wa~ inflicted on the head by itself is not
enough to alter the conviction from Section 302 to Section 304 IPC.

For the aforesaid reasons, we are unable to sustain the judgment of the
High Court. The appeal is accordingly allowed and setting aside the impugned B
judgment of the High Court, the conviction and sentence imposed on
respondents 1 and 2 by the Additional District & Sessions Judge, Budaun is
restored. The bail bonds of respondents I and 2 are cancelled. They shall be
taken into custody forthwith to serve the remaining part of the sentence.

S.K.S. Appeal allowed. C

·,.-