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1993 DIGILAW 311 (BOM)

Balu Dnyanoba Chandere v. State of Maharashtra

1993-07-13

ASHOK AGARWAL

body1993
JUDGMENT (ORAL) Ashok Agarwal, J. - An order of conviction under Section 323 Indian Penal Code and a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for six months and a fine of Rs. 500/- in default further rigorous imprisonment for three months, is impugned in the present appeal. The appellant is the original accused. The incident in question, has taken place on the 10th of March, 1986 at about 8.30 p.m. at village Sus, Taluka Mulshi, District Pune. The accused is alleged to have assaulted one Vithoba Shivram Chandere who is none else but the uncle of the accused. The accused gave two kick blows, one on the chest and the other on the testicles of Vithoba. Vithoba at the relevant time was aged 65 years. As a consequence of the assault Vithoba met almost an instantaneous death. His death was not a consequence of the injuries sustained. He appears to have died on account of cardiac failure. The incident in question was witnessed by P.W. 1 Shankar Dnyanoba, a step-brother of the accused. He has lodged a complaint (Exhibit 12) at the Paud Police Station. The same was recorded by P. W. 4 Parwati Magar, a Head Constable attached to the said Police Station. Apart from the complainant Shankar, the incident was witnessed by P.W. 2 Yashodabai, the widow of the deceased and P.W. 3 Sushilabai Pandi Chandere, a daughter-in-law of the deceased. P.W. 5 Virsing Cavit an A.S.I. attached to the aforesaid Police Station investigated into the offence. P.W. 6 Dr. Ashok Sharma, who was attached to the Primary Health Centre at Paud, carried out the post-mortem on the corpse of Vithoba. The post-mortem notes are at Exhibit-22. 2. I have, with the assistance of Shri Deshpande, who appear on behalf of the accused, gone through the material evidence on record. I find that the presence of the eye-witnesses at the time of the incident, is natural. They as also the accused are residents of the same locality. Accused resides opposite the house of the deceased. I do not find any lacunae in the evidence of the eye-witnesses to cast a doubt on the varacity of the prosecution case. Their evidence is cogent and consistent and deserves to be accepted. 3. As is apparent from the eye-witness account the incident in question does not appear to have been pre-mediatated. I do not find any lacunae in the evidence of the eye-witnesses to cast a doubt on the varacity of the prosecution case. Their evidence is cogent and consistent and deserves to be accepted. 3. As is apparent from the eye-witness account the incident in question does not appear to have been pre-mediatated. Accused appears to have nursed a suspicion that the deceased was preaching his newly wed wife and poisoning her ears. This used to bring about quarrels in the house of the accused. When the witnesses heard a hue and cry they came on the scene. They heard the accused asking the deceased as to why he was poisoning the ears of his wife. Even though the deceased denied having done so, accused mounted two kick blows on the deceased. Hence; it appears that the incident has occurred on the spur of the moment. The offence in question is one of causing simple hurt which is punishable under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code. The accused was recently married. He appears to have been infuriated as he thought that the deceased was responsible for the quarrels which ensued between him and his newly wed wife. He has, therefore, proceeded to give two kick blows to the deceased. In the incident unfortunately, the deceased met his death. Hence, though the order of conviction under Section 323 of the Indian Penal Code is borne out on the material on record, the sentence of imprisonment imposed on the accused deserves to be reconsidered. 4. On the question of sentence, Shri Deshpande has urged that the accused is a young man. At the material time he was recently married. Apart from his wife, he has an aged mother and also a child to look after. According to him this is a fit case where the benefit of Section 3 of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 should be extended in his favour. Having considered the pros and cons of the case, in my view, this is not a fit case to apply the provisions of Section of the Act, It cannot be overlooked that the deceased was an elderly man and none other than the uncle of the accused. The evidence shows that the father of the accused is no more and hence the deceased, who was residing in the neighbourhood of the accused, was practically as good as his father. The evidence shows that the father of the accused is no more and hence the deceased, who was residing in the neighbourhood of the accused, was practically as good as his father. An assault by the accused on his uncle can hardly be commended. However, in my view, no useful purpose will be served by sending the accused back to jail at this belated stage. The incident in question has taken place in March, 1986. A period of over seven years has gone by. The accused has paid the amount of fine which has been imposed upon him. Pending the investigation and trial the accused has undergone a sentence of about 11 days. In my view, ends of justice would be met by sentencing him to the period he, has undergone. 5. In the result, appeal partly succeeds. The order of conviction passed against the accused on the 29th of November, 1986 by the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Pune in Sessions Case No. 198 of 1986 convicting the accused under. Section 323, I.P. Code is maintained. The sentence imposed upon the accused is, however, reduced to the one already undergone. In view of the reduction of sentence and the payment of fine, the bail bonds shall stand cancelled. Appeal partly allowed.