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2006 DIGILAW 731 (SC)

EZHILAN ALIAS ESHILARASAN v. STATE REPRESENTED BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE

2006-07-11

DALVEER BHANDARI, S.B.SINHA

body2006
ORDER 1. The appellant herein and the deceased are related. PW 1, Babu alias Mani is the nephew of the deceased. He is also the brother-in-law of the deceased. PW 2 was at an arrack shop and was consuming arrack. He saw the appellant as also the deceased talking to each other. PW 3 also noticed them. However, a sudden quarrel took place between the appellant and the deceased. PW 3 informed PW 1 thereabout who was sitting in the arrack shop whereupon he came out and found that the appellant was attacking the deceased with broken soda bottle. 2. The injuries said to have been suffered by the deceased are as under: "1. V-shaped wound, upper arm measuring 4 cm and lower arm measuring 6 cm present area left cheek. The lower end is pointing downwards and entered neck on left side up to a depth of 4 cm. On dissection the injury has cut internal jugular vein on left side with bruising of surrounding tissues. 2. Incised wound 4 cm x 2 cm obliquely placed present over left side of neck near sternoclavicular joint. The depth of the injury is 3 cm and lies behind left sternoclavicular joint." 3. The question which arises for consideration in this appeal is as to whether in the fact situation obtaining herein, which has been duly proved by the prosecution, the appellant can be said to have committed an offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC or not. It is not in dispute, although it may not be very relevant, that the appellant was under the influence of liquor. It has been brought on record that they used to quarrel often. 4. The quarrel between the appellant and the deceased leading to the incident was, however, not premeditated. It took place all of a sudden in the course of exchange of words. Indisputably the appellant was not armed with any weapon. When they were standing in front of the arrack shop under the influence of arrack he is said to have caused the death of the deceased by inflicting the aforementioned injuries by a broken soda bottle. 5. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that in the aforementioned situation, Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC is attracted. When they were standing in front of the arrack shop under the influence of arrack he is said to have caused the death of the deceased by inflicting the aforementioned injuries by a broken soda bottle. 5. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that in the aforementioned situation, Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC is attracted. The said provision reads as under: "Exception 4.-Culpable homicide is not murder if it is committed without premeditation in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel and without the offender's having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner. Explanation.-It is immaterial in such cases provocation or commits the first assault." 6. However, in our opinion the said provision has no application in this case as there is no finding that the offence was committed in the heat of passion. Furthermore, in our opinion, clause "Thirdly" to Section 300 IPC is squarely attracted in the instant case inasmuch as bodily injuries inflicted upon the deceased were such so as to lead to a conclusion that he knew that the injuries inflicted by him were likely to cause death. The number of injuries are two. They were on the vital parts of the body of the deceased and thus it cannot be said that the aforementioned injuries were not likely to cause death. But at the same time the appellant had no intention to cause death. 7. We are, therefore, of the opinion that the appellant is guilty for the commission of the offence under Section 304 Part I IPC and not under Part II thereof. We hold accordingly. We, therefore, in substitution of the sentence imposed by the learned Sessions Judge as affirmed by the High Court, direct that the appellant shall suffer a rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. He shall also be liable to pay the fine as directed by the learned Sessions Judge. 8. The appeal is allowed in part to the extent mentioned hereinbefore.