Holding

The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, holding that the prosecution evidence was credible and the trial court’s reasons for acquittal were untenable.

Summary

The appellants were convicted of murder under IPC s.302 read with s.34 for the killing of Hamam Singh. The trial court had acquitted them, relying on the alleged unreliability of witnesses who were relatives of the deceased, the absence of independent shop‑keeper witnesses, a site‑plan omission, and a perceived conflict between medical and ocular evidence. The Allahabad High Court set aside the acquittal and upheld the conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court held that a witness’s relationship to a party does not per se defeat credibility, that the non‑examination of terrified witnesses does not render the prosecution version suspect, that a site‑plan prepared on hearsay is not substantive evidence, and that medical evidence only defeats ocular testimony when it totally improbabilises it. The Court also ruled that the accused’s age was never raised as a plea, so no determination of minority was required. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction.

Issues considered

The credibility of witnesses who are relatives of the deceased
Whether the non‑examination of alleged independent witnesses undermines the prosecution case
The evidentiary value of a site‑plan that omits the position of a police constable
The impact of variance between medical evidence and eyewitness testimony
The necessity to determine the accused’s age and applicability of the Juvenile Justice Act
The standard of review for an appellate court interfering with an order of acquittal

Legislation cited

Subjects

murderSection 302 IPCeyewitness testimonypartisan witnesssite planmedical evidencejuvenile offenderappellate reviewacquittalcriminal procedure

Judgment

SURINDER SINGH AND ANR. A
v.
STATE OF U.P.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

[DORAISWAMY RAJU AND ARIJIT PASAYAT, JJ.] B

Criminal Trial-Evidence-Witnesses-Relatives of deceased
examined as witnesses-Credibility of-Such witnesses need not necessarily
be unreliable-Indian Penal Code-Section 302

Criminal Trial-Evidence-Non-examination of some independent
c
witnesses not coming forward to depose-Effect of-Prosecution version
does not become suspect if other witness examined-Indian Penal Code-
Section 302.

Criminal Trial-Site Plan-Preparation of-Admissibility as D
evidence-Prepared on hearsay and therefore not admissible-Position of
eye-witness not reflected in site plan-Held, this is not fatal to the case of
the prosecution-Indian Penal Code-Section 302.

Criminal Trial-Medical Evidence-Variance with ocular evidence- E
Reliability of prosecution's case-Test of-Held, prosecution should be
disbelieved only when the medical evidence totally improbabilises the
ocular evidence-Indian Penal Code-Section 302.

Juvenile Justice Act, 1986-Section 2-Juvenile-Minority of F
accused-Question of-Determination of-Should be decided only when
the court entertains a doubt-Accused raising no plea of minority during
the trial-Held, there was no occasion for the court to determine the
question of minority-Uttar Pradesh Children Act, 1951-Section 2-
Criminal Trial-Minority.
G
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973-Section 378-Appeal against
acquittal-Interference with order of acquittal-Grounds for-Should not
be interfered lightly-High Court obliged to consider and discuss each of
the reasons given by the Trial Court to acquit the accused and then
dislodge those reasons-Indian Penal Code-Section 302. H
401
402 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.
A The appellants were charged for commission of offences under
Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The case
of the prosecution was that the deceased along with his brother, PW
I, were going to Bilaspur when they met PW 4, who was the son of
the sister of the deceased. PW I stopped to talk to PW 4 and asked
B the deceased to proceed. The deceased had proceeded a few paces only
when he was attacked by the appellants with swords. When alarm was
raised, PW 2 (a police constable) and PW 3 came to the place of
occurrence. PW 2 and PW I managed to capture the appellants with
their swords whereas the third accused escaped. F.I.R. was registered
on the basis of the statement of PW I. The motive behind the attack
c was alleged to be past animosity between the accused and the family
of the deceased.

The prosecution examined twelve witnesses to prove their case.
PW I, PW 2, PW 3 and PW 4 were examined as eye-witnesses. The
D Trial Court acquitted all the accu~ed on grounds, inter alia, that the
eye-witnesses were chance-witnesses; that PW I and PW 4 were both
relatives of the deceased; that no independent witness was examined
by the prosecution; that the ocular evidence was not in conformity with
the medical evidence; that the presence of PW 2 at place of occurrence
E was doubtful as the site plan did not indicate the place from where he
had witnessed the occurrence.

On appeal by the respondent, the High Court set aside the order
of the Trial Court and convicted the appellants.

F The appellants filed appeal before this Court. Before this Court,
the counsel for the appellants raised an additional that the appellants
were juveniles at the time of occurrence and in the jail they were kept
in a cell meant for juveniles. It was contended that since the trial
proceeded on the assumption that they were not juveniles, the trial was
G vitiated.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court

HELD : I. The ground that the witness being a close relative and
consequently being a partisan witness, should not be relied upon, has
H no substance. Relationship is not a factor to affect credibility of a
SURINDER SINGH v. STATE 403

witness. It is more often than not that the relation would not conceal A
actual culprit and make allegations against an innocent person.
Foundation has to be laid if plea of false implication is made. In such
cases, the court has to adopt a careful approach and analyse evidence
to find out whether it is cogent and credible. (411-A, B, G]

Dalip Singh and Ors. v. The State of Punjab, AIR (1953) SC 364;
B
Guli Chand and Ors. v. State of Rajasthan, [1974] 3 SCC 698; Vadivelu
Thevar v. State of Madras, AIR (1957) SC 614; Masalti and Ors. v. State
of UP., AIR (1965) SC 202; State of Punjab v. Jagir Singh, AIR (1973)
SC 2407 and Lehna v. State of Haryana, [2002] 3 SCC 76, relied upon.
c
2. Non-examination of witnesses who, being terrified, do not come
forward to say anything, when other eye-witnesses have been examined
does not make the prosecution version suspect and the position is not
changed when the witnesses examined are relatives. [410-G, H]
D
Girish Yadav and Ors. v. State of Madhya Pradesh, JT, (1996) 3 SC
615, relied upon.

3.1 Site plan is prepared on hearsay and is not to be read as
evidence. Merely because name of PW 2 did not appear at the site plan
that does not render his presence at the place of occurrence improbable. E
Even otherwise, explanation has been given as to why the position from
which PW 2 claimed to have seen the occurrence was not noted in the
site plan. (410-F]

Girish Yadav and Ors. v. State of Madhya Pradesh, JT, (1996) 3 SC F
615, relied upon.

3.2 PW 2 was a constable of police, and he has no reason to falsely
implicate accused persons. There is not even any suggestion given to
him at any stage that he had any animosity with the accused or any
familiarity with the deceased and the witnesses. [410-C) G
3.3 PW 3 has given the reasons as to why he was present at the
spot of occurence. The High Court has found the reason given for his
presence to be quite credible. On the evidence of these two witnesses,
the prosecution version was firmly established. [410-E] H
404 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A 4. On a close reading of the evidence of eye-witnesses and the
doctor's report there is no noticeable variance. The mere fact that
doctor said that the injuries appeared to be on one side of the body
and the witnesses said that attacks were from different sides, is too
trifle an aspect. When three persons are attacking a person, the
B witnesses naturally get shocked. This is normal human conduct and the
immediate reaction is to save the victim and to stop the assailants from
further attacks. That is precisely what has been done by the eye-
witnesses. It is only when the medical evidence totally improbabilises
the ocular evidence, that the Court starts suspecting the veracity of the
C evidence and not otherwise. [412-H, 413-A, B]

5. The necessity of determining the age of accused arises when the
accused raises a plea and the Court entertains a doubt. Here, no claim
was made by the accused that he was a child and, therefore, the
question of the Court entertaining a doubt does not arise. At no point
D of time during trial or before the High Court this question was raised.
Further, the plea that the accused were put in a cell meant for juveniles
is a plea which is just to be noted and rejected. [409-G)

6. An order of acquittal should not be lightly interfered with.
Though the appellate Court has full power to review the evidence upon
E which the order of acquittal is founded, still while exercising such an
appellate power in the case of acquittal, the appellate Court should not
only consider every matter on record having a bearing on the question
of fact and the reasons given by the Courts below in support of its order
of acquittal, it must express its reasons in the judgment which led it
F to hold that the acquittal is not justified. It is obligatory on the High
Court while reversing an order of acquittal to consider and discuss
each of the reasons given by the Trial Court to acquit the accused and
then dislodge those reasons. [413-C-E]

Chandu v. State ofMaharashtra, (2001) 4 SCALE 590 and Kashiram
G and Ors. v. State of MP., [2002] 1 sec 71, relied upon.
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.
896 of 1996.

From the Judgment and Order dated 22.5.96 of the Allahabad High
H Court in G.A. Crl. No. 585 of 1976.
SURINDER SINGH v. STATE [PASAYAT, J.) 405

Mrs. Balvinder Kaur Brar and R.K. Dhillon and Indeevar for the A
Appellants Nos. I and 2.

V.K. Shukla and Pramod Swarup for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
B
ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.: The appellants were found guilty ofoffence
punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal
Code, 1860 (in short the '!PC') by the Allahabad High Court, upsetting
the judgment of acquittal passed by the sessions Judge, Rampur.

Prosecution version as presented during trial is essentially as
c
follows :

On 28.1.1975 at about 2.00 p.m. Hamam Singh (hereinafter referred
to as the 'deceased') was murdered in broad day light in the heart of
Bilaspur town of district Rampur. An information was lodged by Natha D
Singh (PW-I) to the effect that he and his brother (the deceased) were in
inimical terms with family members of accused-Surinder Singh and
Gurmez Singh. The dispute initially related to a way through the fields of
the deceased, made by Gurmez Singh and his brother Gurmukh Singh
(father of accused Surinder Singh). The strained relationship was so acute E
that the police had to take action twice under Section I 07 /117 of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short the 'Code'). There was however
compromise later on. One Hardeo Singh was murdered. He was related to
Doolah, the elder brother of accused-Surinder Singh. Report of that murder
was lodged by Gurmukh Singh. Deceased, Natho Singh (PW-I) and others F
were arrayed as accused persons in the said case. The murder took place
about two years prior to the incident and the matter was pending
adjudication. Swama Singh, father of accused Pinder Singh was witness
for the prosecution in the said case. Accused-Surinder Singh is a relative
of other co-accused persons. Due to this strained relationship, there was
enough bad blood flowing. When the deceased and PW-I were going from G
their village Gadaiya towards the town of Bilaspur for making purchases
and reached the main crossing near the culvert of the canal, Nirmal Singh
(PW-4) sister's son of the deceased met them there. When PW-I stopped
to have a talk with Nirmal Singh, he asked the deceased to proceed further.
The deceased had proceeded a few pace$ when suddenly the three accused H
406 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A persons who were standing nearby attacked and assaulted with their
swords. This sudden attack attracted the attention of PW-I and he raised
an alarm which attracted notice of number of other persons including Shiv
Prasad (PW-2), the police constable who was on duty at that time and Siya
Ram (PW-3). Natha Singh (PW-I) and Shiv Prasad (PW-2) managed to
B capture two of the accused persons, namely, Surinder Singh and Pinder
Singh along with blood stained swords. The other assailant succeeded in
running away and could not the apprehended immediately. Hamam Singh
breathed his last due to the injuries sustained by him PW-I and PW-2 and
others went to the police station which is situated at a distance of two
C furlongs. Two blood stained swords which were the weapons of assaults
were also taken. At the police station PW-I dictated an oral report which
was taken down by Mahavir Prasad, Clerk-Constable (PW-8) in the register
and FIR (Ex.ka.4) ha been prepared at 2.15 p.m. Accused-Surinder Singh
and Pinder Singh and two swords were handed over to the police. PW-8
D took the swords into custody and sealed them. Sub-Inspector, Om Pal
Singh (PW-11) was present at the police station. He took up the investigation
and sent two constables to the place of occurrence to guard the dead body.
He then interrogated PW- I and captured accused persons. Then he reached
the place of occurrence at about 4.00 p.m. to prepare inquest report and
the dead body was sent for post-mortem examination. The investigating
E officer also took shoes of the deceased which were lying at the spot of
occurrence along with other articles. The Circle Officer, Balbir Singh
reached at the spot around 7.00 p.m. The investigation was entrusted to
Narpat Singh, Station Officer of Police Station, Milak Khanak (PW-12).
Dr. A.N. Zutshi (PW-6) performed the post-mortem examination on
F 29.1.1975 at about 11.00 a.m. He noticed 9 injuries. On internal examination
he found that the occipital bone under injury Nos. I and 3 were cut and
broken to different pieces. The back portion of parietal bone was also
broken. The diameter of the brain was cut at two places and the brain was
congested. On completion of investigation, charge sheet was placed and
G charges were framed under Section 302 read with Section 34 !PC. The
accused persons pleaded innocence. In order to substantiate its plea, 12
witnesses were examined by prosecution. One witness was examined by
the accused persons claiming that two of the accused persons were arrested
from his Motor repair shop and they were not taken from the place of
H occurrence.
SURINDERSINGH v. STATE[PASAYAT,J.] 407

During trial, prosecution version primarily rested on the evidence of A
PWs 1, 2, 3 and 4 who were claimed to be eye-witnesses. The trial Court
found that there were serious infirmities in the prosecution version and
following were held to be the vulnerable factors :

I. There was no immediate motive to provoke the accused persons B
to commit a daring murder in the heart of the town of Bilaspur;

2. None of the witnesses produced from the side of the prosecution
could be said to be independent witness and no shopkeeper was produced
to support the prosecution version though they were admittedly present at
the time of incident; C
3. All the witnesses were chance witnesses;

4. Presence of Constable Shiv Prasad has been held to be doubtful
on the ground that the place from where he witnesses the incident has not
been shown in the site plan and it appeared that till the site plan was D
prepared it was not decided to make him an eye witness;

5. The ocular testimony of the witnesses was not in consonance with
the medical evidence;

6. The FIR appeared to have been prepared afterwards;
E

7. It was not probable to believe that Gurmez Singh, if he had taken
part in the incident, would have been sleeping at his house from where he
was arrested;
F
8. It was not expected that accused Surinder Singh and Pinder Singh
would have meekly surrendered without putting any resistance.

He, therefore, directed acquittal of the accused person.

Aggrieved by the said judgment of acquittal, the State of Uttar G
Pradesh preferred a Government Appeal (Crl.) No. 585 of 1976. During
pendency of the appeal the accused Gurmez Singh was reported to be dead
and, therefore, it was held that appeal abated so far as he is concerned. After
analyzing the evidence on record, the High Court came to hold that the
approach of the trial Court was indefensible and was full of errors and great H
408 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A emphasis was laid on insignificant and unreasonable grounds. It was
primarily held that there were no inconsistencies or discrepancies in the
prosecution evidence to warrant an order of acquittal. Therefore, the
judgment of the trial Court was set aside and the accused appellants were
found guilty of offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section
B 34 !PC and each of the accused was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment
for life.

In the present appeal, learned counsel for the appellants at the
threshold took exception to the trial on the ground that the accused persons
were juveniles as defined under the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (in short
C the 'Juvenile Act') at the time of occurrence. There was no determination
of their respective ages and if the trial Court doubted the correctness of
their age, a proper enquiry to determine their age should have been
undertaken. It was pointed out that one of the accused i.e. Surinder Singh
claimed his age to be 16/ 17 years, while other accused Pinder Singh
D claimed his age to be 17/18 years. The trial Court noted that the age of
Surinder Singh appeared to be 18/19 years. It was submitted that while
the accused persons were in jail, they were kept in a cell of the jail meant
for juveniles. This itself, according to appellants is, indicative of the fact
that they were juveniles. Coming to the merits of the case, it was submitted
E that conclusions of the High Court are full of holes and the judgment of
acquittal should not have been so lightly interfered with. Though PWs 2
and 3 were considered to be the independent witnesses by the High Court,
they were known to the prosecution witnesses and the deceased and they
cannot be the independent witnesses. PW-3 was a chance witness. The
presence of PWs, 2 and 3 at the spot of occurrence is highly improbable.
F If really they are eye-witnesses, in the site plan, the position from which
PW-2 claimed to have seen the occurrence should have been indicated. On
reading of the evidence tendered by the prosecution it is clear that many
persons were also present and their non-examination assumes importance
because most of the so-called witnesses are relatives of the deceased and
G the rest cannot be treated as totally independent witnesses. There were
number of shopkeepers nearby. It is strange that not even a single
shopkeeper has been examined. Particularly, the non-examination of
Ramdas who was claimed to have apprehended the accused at the spot is
a vital omission on the part of the prosecution which has not been ~··

H explained. PWs 1 and 4 being relatives of the deceased, they are interested
SURINDERSINGH v. STATE[PASAYAT,J.) 409

witnesses, no credence should have been attached to their evidence. A
Finally, it was submitted that if two views are possible, one which is in
favour of the accused is to be preferred. The view taken by the trial Court
cannot be treated to be so unreasonable as to warrant interference and order
of acquittal should not have been altered to one of conviction.

Per contra, learned counsel for the State submitted that the High Court
B
rightly interfered with the judgment of acquittal. The trial Court's judgment
was based more on surmises and conjectures, rather than analyzing the
cogent and credible evidence on record. Minor details which in no way
corrode or effect the credibility of prosecution version were highlighted to
a great magnitude. The trial court acted on surmises and conjectures. The c
judgment of acquittal which was perverse has been rightly set aside. The
rival stands need careful consideration.

The jurisdictional issue based on purported ages of the accused needs
consideration first. The question relating to age of the accused was never D
raised before the courts below, necessitating a decision in this regard. In
fact the Juvenile Act on which the appellants have placed reliance was not
in existence at the time of occurrence, and Uttar Pradesh Children Act,
1951 (in short the 'children Act') which was repealed by juvenile Act was
operative Clause (4) of Section 2 of the Children Act defines 'child' who E
is under the age of 16 years. Statement of the accused on which great
reliance was placed by learned counsel for the appellants, itself shows that
the accused Surinder Singh and Pinder Singh stated their ages to be 16/
17 and 18/19 years. Though the statement was recorded few months after
the occurrence, that does not really show that the accused were less than
the prescribed age on the date of occurrence. Further at no point of time F
during trial or before the High Court this question was raised. Further, the
necessity of determining the age of accused arises when the accused raises
a plea and the Court entertains a doubt. Here, no claim was made by the
accused that he was a child and, therefore, the question of the Court
entertaining a doubt does not arise. Further, the mere fact that the accused G
were put in a cell meant for juveniles as contended by learned cousel for
the appellants is a plea which is just to be noted and rejected. There is no
material to even substantiate this stand; nor any such treatment could be
specifically said to have been meted out by any orders of Court/Authority.
On the contrary, the order of bail passed by the Allahabad High Court by H
410 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A which bail was granted, does not even direct that they were to be kept in
a cell meant for juveniles. The order dated 9.2.1987 was passed when after
admitting the appeal, the present appellants were directed to be released
on bail in the concerned Government appeal and at that time there was not
even any adjudication of the question whether the accused were child/
B juvenile. In the aforesaid background, plea based on purported age raised
by the appellants has no merit and is rejected.

Coming to the merits, though the evidence of PWs 2 and 3 attacked
on the ground that they are not independent witnesses being known to the
prosecution witnesses is too hollow to carry any weight. PW-2 was a
C constable of police, and he has no reason to falsely implicate accused
persons. There is not even any suggestion given to him at any stage that
he had any animosity with accused or any familiarity with the deceased
and the witnesses. Even if it would have been so suggested, his evidence
could not have been rendered vulnerable, merely because he knows names
D of the prosecution witnesses and the deceased, this is but natural because
he was performing patrolling duty in the area where the deceased and the
prosecution witnesses lived. Similar is the case of PW-3. He has given the
reasons as to why he was present at the spot of occurrence. The High Court
has found the reason given for his presence to be quite credible. On the
E evidence of these two witnesses, the prosecution version was firmly
established. Merely because name of PW-2 did not appear at the site plan
that does not render his presence at the place of occurrence improbable.
As was held in Girish Yadav and Ors. v. State of Madhya Pradesh, JT
( 1996)3 SC 615, the site plan is prepared on hearsay and is not to be read
as evidence. Even otherwise, explanation has been given as to why the
F position from where PW-2 claimed to have seen the occurrence was not
noted in the site plan. The High Court has noticed that factor and in our
view rightly. Further the plea as to why no shopkeeper has been
examined, is also explained by the prosecution. It was stated that those
witnesses appeared to be terrified at the ghastly attacks and did not come
G forward to say anything about the assaults. Their examination in the
background could not have been done just for formality. As is noticed in
Girish Yadav 's case (supra) non-examination of such witnesses when
other eye-witnesses have been examined does not make the
prosecuti9n version suspect and the position is not changed when the
H witnesses examined are relatives.
SURINDERSINGH v.STATE[PASAYAT,J.] 411

Next comes the contention regarding interestedness of the witnesses A
for furthering prosecution version. Relationship is not a factor to affect
credibility of a witness. It is more often than not that a relation would not
conceal actual culprit and make allegations against an innocent person.
Foundation has to be laid if plea of false implication is made. In such cases,
the court has to adopt a careful approach and analyse evidence to find out B
whether it is cogent and credible.

In Dalip Singh and Ors. v. The State of Punjab, AIR (1953) SC 364
it has been laid down as under :

"A witness is normally to be considered independent unless he or C
she springs from sources which are likely to be tainted and that
usually means unless the witness has cause, such as enmity against
the accused, to wish to implicate him falsely. Ordinarily a close
relation would be the last to screen the real culprit and falsely
implicate an innocent person. It is true, when feelings run high D
and there is personal cause for enmity, that there is a tendency to
drag in an innocent person against whom a witness has a grudge
along with the guilty, but foundation must be laid for such a
criticism and the mere fact of relationship far from being a
foundation is often a sure guarantee of truth. However, we are not E
attempting any sweeping generalization. Each case must be
judged on its own facts. Our observations are only made to combat
what is so often put forward in cases before us as a general rule
of prudence. There is no such general rule. Each case must be
limited to and be governed by its own facts."
F
The above decision has since been followed in Guli Chand and Ors.
v. State of Rajasthan, [1974] 3 SCC 698 in which Vadivelu Thevar v. State
of Madras, AIR (1957) SC 614 was also relied upon.

We may also observe that the ground that the witness being a close
relative and consequently being a partisan witness, should not be relied G
upon, has no substance. This theory was repelled by this Court as early
as in Dalip Singh 's case (supra) in which surprise was expressed over the
impression which prevailed in the minds of the Members of the Bar that
relatives were not independent witnesses. Speaking through Vivian Bose,
J. it was observed : H
412 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A "We are unable to agree with the learned Judges of the High Court
that the testimony of the two eyewitnesses requires corroboration.
If the foundation for such an observation is based on the fact that
the witnesses are women and that the fate of seven men hangs on
their testimony, we know of no such rule. If it is grounded on the
reason that they are closely related to the deceased we are unable
B to concur. This is a fallacy common to many criminal cases and
one which another Bench of this Court endeavoured to dispel
in - 'Rameshwar v. State of Rajasthan', AIR (1952) SC 54 at p.
59. We find, however, that it unfortunately still persists, if not in
the judgments of the Courts, at any rate in the arguments of
c counsel."

Again in Masalti and Ors. v. State of U.P., AIR (1965) SC 202 this
Court observed : (p. 209-210 para 14):

D "But it would, we think be unreasonable to contend that evidence
given by witnesses should be discarded only on the ground that
it is evidence of partisan or interested witnesses .... The mechanical
rejection of such evidence on the sole ground that it is partisan
would invariably lead to failure of justice. No hard and fast rule
can be laid down as to how much evidence should be appreciated.
E Judicial approach has to be cautious in dealing with such evidence;
but the plea that such evidence should be rejected because it is
partisan cannot be accepted as correct."

To the same effect is the decision in State of Punjab v. Jagir Singh,
F AIR (1973) SC 2407 and Lehna v. State of Haryana, [2002] 3 SCC 76.

Looked at from the aforesaid angle, the trial Court had erroneously
discarded the prosecution evidence and the High Court was right in
accepting their evidence.

G One of the pleas raised by learned counsel for the appellants was that
the injuries as noticed by the doctor are at variance with the ocular
evidence. On a close reading of the evidence of eye-witnesses and the
doctor's report there is no noticeable variance. The mere fact that doctor
said that injuries appeared to be on one side of the body and the witnesses
H said that attacks were from different sides, is too trifle an aspect. When
SURINDER SINGH v. STATE [PASA YAT, J.] 413
three persons are attacking a person, the witnesses naturally get shocked. A
This is nonnal human conduct and the immediate reaction is to save the
victim and to stop the assailants from further attacks. That is precisely what
has been done by the eye-witnesses. It is only when the medical evidence
totally improbabilises the ocular evidence, that the Court starts suspecting
the veracity of the evidence and not otherwise. B
In view of the fact that the order of acquittal was set aside by the High
Court, we have gone through the evidence carefully and minutely in the
background of submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellants.
We find that, as rightly observed by the High Court, minor irrelevant
factors were highlighted to discard credible, cogent and trustworthy C
evidence. It is true that an order of acquittal should not be lightly interfered
with. This Court in a number of cases has held that though the appellate
Court has full power to review the evidence upon which the order of
acquittal is founded, still while exercising such an appellate power in a case
of acquittal, the appellate Court should not only consider every matter on D
record having a bearing on the question of fact and the reasons given by
the Courts below in support of its order of acquittal, it must express its
reasons in the judgment which led it to hold that the acquittal is not
justified.

It is obligatory on the High Court while reversing an order of acquittal
E
to consider and discuss each of the reasons given by the trial Court to acquit
the accused and then to dislodge those reasons. [See Chandu v. State of
Maharashtra, (2001) 4 SCALE 590 and Kashiram and Ors. v. State of
MP., [20021 1 sec 71].
F
In the instant case, the High Court has discharged the aforesaid
obligation as required and by careful analysis demolished each one of the
fundamentally weak reasonings given by the trial court.

The inevitable result of this appeal is dismissal which we direct. The G
accused-appellants who are on bail are directed to surrender to custody to
serve the remainder sentence.

B.K.M. Appeal dismissed.