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1991 DIGILAW 72 (GAU)

Beda Kanta Phukan v. State of Assam

1991-04-10

S.N.PHUKAN

body1991
This revision petition is directed against the judgment and order or the learned Sessions Judge, Sibsagar in Criminal Appeal No.33 (2)/ 85. By the said judgment the learned Sessions Judge dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in G.R. Case No.614 of 1978 by which the accused petitioner was convicted under section 304A/279 IPC and sentenced him to R.I. for 2 months under section 304A IPC and 15 days R.I. under section 279 IPC. 2. The prosecution case is that on 2.4.78 the accused was driving fiat car No. ASE 2972 on Namati Nazira Road and knocked down one Naranath Borgohain at about 12 noon. Prosecution has alleged that the accused was driving the car rashly and negligently. Subsequently the injured died. As many as 6 witnesses were examined on behalf of the prose ution. 3. The plea of the defence was total denial and two witnesses, namely, DWs 1 and 2 were examined. It may be stated that these two witnesses were examined by the Investigating Officer and shown as witnesses in the charge sheet and for the reasons best known to the prosecution these two witnesses were not examined. 4. To bring home the charge the prosecution has to prove that the car was driven rashly and negligently. In this case PWs 1 and 2 were alleged eye witnesses, they have stated that the car was driven at a very high speed and on the basis of this evidence the conviction was made. According to these two witnesses the deceased after he was knocked down went under the car. But such a statement was not made before the Investigating Officer. Therefore, the above statement of the two witnesses PWs 1 and 2 that the deceased after being knocked down went inside the car was an exeggeration and was not rightly rejected this version by the learned trial Court. 5. DWs 1 and 2 have stated that the deceased was walking by the side of the road and suddenly came to middle of the road. He could not be saved by the accused in spite of best efforts including blowing of horn. According to these witnesses the victim was hit by the bumper of the car and the occurrence did not took place as stated by PWs 1 and 2. 6. He could not be saved by the accused in spite of best efforts including blowing of horn. According to these witnesses the victim was hit by the bumper of the car and the occurrence did not took place as stated by PWs 1 and 2. 6. To bring home a charge under section 279 IPC, prosecution has to prove not only the tact that the accused was driving the vehicle on a public way, but has also to prove that such driving was so rash or negligent as to endanger human life or to be likely to cause, hurt or injury to any other person. Criminal negligence or criminal rashness is an important element. Mere fact that the accused was driving the vehicle at high speed may not attract the provision of this section -and prosecution has to prove something more. Apart from the absence of the above ingredients in the case in hand, the learned Courts below erred in Jaw in not treating the evidence of DWs, It is .well settled principle of law that merely because a person is examined on behalf of the accused, his evidence should not be taken lightly and in Fact his evidence stands on the same footing as that of the witness for the prosecution, I, therefore, hold that the teamed Courts below erred in law as stated above. 7. Mr. Sahewalla has .drawn my attention that the learned trial Court applied the principle of res ipsa loquitur which according to the learned counsel cannot be applied in view of the laid down by the Apex Court in Syad Akbar vs. State of Karnataka, AIR 1979 SC 1948 : (1980) 1 SCC 30 . The contention of the learned counsel has considerable force. 8. Mr. Goswami has drawn my attention to the sketch map, which was ;prepared by the 10 in support of his contention,, it is a clear case of rash and negligent driving as the deceased was knocked down while he was standing on the extreme left side of the road. This fact was not put to the IO and that apart on perusal of the index of the sketch map, I find that it was recorded that a cow was sleeping on the middle of the road ahc1 the accused driver blew born find tried to save the cow and as a result he hit the deceased. This fact was not put to the IO and that apart on perusal of the index of the sketch map, I find that it was recorded that a cow was sleeping on the middle of the road ahc1 the accused driver blew born find tried to save the cow and as a result he hit the deceased. If this fact is accepted, it will go contrary to the prosecution case and further it would show that it was case of pure and simple, accident. 9. Another illegality which I find is the examination of accused person ender section 313 Cr PC. Only one question was put to the accused and even in that question it was not put to him that he was driving the vehicle in rash and negligent manner. The other circumstances appearing against the accused person were' not put to the accused and in my opinion ibis has' caused prejudice to the accused which is an illegality which can be, taken into consideration by this revisional Court. 10. Situated thus, I find merit in the present petition and accord­ingly it is allowed by setting aside the impugned judgment and order and consequently the conviction and sentence imposed on the accused persons. In the result, the petition is allowed, rule is made absolute. The accused person is discharged from the liability of the bail bond.