This High Court quashed the conviction of the petitioner and sentenced respondents to term of default under Sections 324 and 323 CrPC, deeming the delay in trial illegal.
Acquittal of petitioner, discharge of accused respondents from imprisonment, and setting aside the default order against one respondent.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
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¼ U;k;d{k la[;k 82½
nkf.Md vihy la[;k 560 o"kZ 1998
iksFkhjkt ,o vU; ----------------------------- vihykFkhZx.k izfr jkT; mRrj izns'k ----------------------foi{kh
ekuuh; cPpw yky] U;k;ewfrZ
;g nkf.Md vihy] vihykFkhZx.k iksFkhjkt] /keZnso] jk/kk o jek'kadj dh vksj ls l= ijh{k.k la[;k 127 o"kZ 1992 Fkkuk [kstqjh] ftyk cfy;k esa fo}ku prqFkZ vij l= U;k;k/kh'k] cfy;k }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; ,oa vkns'k fnukad 16&3&1998 ds fo:} ;ksftr dh x;h gS ftlds }kjk vihykFkhZ iksFkhjkt dks /kkjk 324 Hkk0na0la0 ds vUrxZr nks"kh ikrs gq, nks o"kZ ds lJe dkjkokl rFkk 2000@&:i;s ds vFkZn.M] vFkZn.M vnk u djus ij mls 6 ekg ds vfrfjDr lJe dkjkokl rFkk vihykFkhZx.k /keZnso] jk/kk o jek'kadj dks /kkjk 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr nks"kh ikrs gq, izR;sd dks 6 ekg ds lJe dkjkokl ls nf.Mr fd;k x;k gSA
nkSjku vihy] vihykFkhZx.k iksFkhjkt] /keZnso o jk/kk dh e`R;q gks tkus ds dkj.k muds fy, ;g vihy vkns'k fnukad 22&1&2020 ds mi'kfer dh tk pqdh gSA
vfHk;kstu ds vuqlkj ?kVuk fnuakd 23&6&1991 le; 3&00 cts fnu dh bl izdkj crk;h tkrh gS fd oknh mek 'kadj rFkk vihykFkhZ iksFkhjkt ds e/; tehu dk fookn py jgk FkkA fnukad 23&6&1991 dks mlh tehu rFkk isM ls vke rksMus dks ysdj iksFkhjkt vkdkjh ls /keZnso cYye rFkk jk/kk o jek'kadj ykBh M.Mk ,oa bZaV fy, xkyh xq¶rk nsrs gq, djhc 3 cts fnu esa vk;s vkSj tku ls ekjus dh fu;r ls oknh mek 'kadj ds Åij cYye vkdkjh] ykBh M.Mk o bZaV ls ekjus yxs ftlij oknh mek 'kadj ds firk xkSjh 'kadj] HkkbZ lqn'kZu] fot; 'kadj] HkkHkh fcUnq vk;s rks eqyfteku xkyh xq¶rk nsrs gq, ykBh M.Mk] cYye vkdkjh o bZaVk ls
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budks Hkh ekjus yxsA 'kksjxqy ij bl ?kVuk dks gjh 'kadj pkS/kjh] ckcw uUn ;kno] jke vorkj vkfn us ns[kk ,oa chp cpko fd;kA oknh us viuh izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa ;g mYys[k fd;k gS fd mls vkdkjh ls isV esa ck¡;h rjQ pksV vk;h gS rFkk ykBh cYye o bZaV ls mlds HkkbZ ,oa firk rFkk HkkHkh dks dkQh pksVsa vk;h gSaA oknh mek 'kadj us mDr ?kVuk dh rgjhj jke vorkj ls fy[kokdj mlh fnu fnukad 23&6&1991 le; 14&15 cts Fkkuk [kstqjh ftyk cfy;k esa nkf[ky dh tgk¡ ij vihykFkhZx.k ds fo:} /kkjk 307] 324] 323] 336] 504 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr eqdnek iathd`r fd;k x;kA fpd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ izn'kZ d&2 gS rFkk dk;eh eqdnek ls lEcfU/kr th0 Mh0 dh izfr izn'kZ d&3 gSA
fpV~Bh et:ch cukdj pqVSyksa dks MkDVjh ijh{k.k gsrq fHktok;k x;kA vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 7 MkDVj ds0 ih0 mik/;k; }kjk pqVSyksa dk MkDVjh ijh{k.k fd;k x;kA
pqVSy lqn'kZu ds 'kjhj ij ,d pksV QVs gq, ?kko ds :i esa ik;h x;h gSA MkDVj ds vuqlkj] pksV lk/kkj.k ,oa rkth FkhA pqVSy fot; 'kadj ds 'kjhj ij ,d pksV QVs gq, ?kko ds :i esa ik;h x;h gSA MkDVj ds vuqlkj pksV lk/kkj.k ,oa rkth FkhA pqVSy mek 'kadj ds 'kjhj ij rhu pksVsa ik;h x;h gSA MkDVj ds vuqlkj] pksVsa lk/kkj.k Fkh rFkk pksV la[;k 3 'kkiZ uqdhys gfFk;kj ls igqapk;h x;h FkhA pqVSy xkSjh 'kadj ds 'kjhj ij ik¡p pksVsa ik;h x;h gSA bl pqVSy dh pksVksa dks Hkh MkDVj us lk/kkj.k izdfr dk ik;k gS rFkk pqVSy fcUnwnsoh ds 'kjhj ij nks pksVsa ik;h x;h gSA bl pqVSy dh pksVsa Hkh lk/kkj.k izdfr o rkth gksus dk mYys[k fd;k x;k gSA pqVSyksa dh batjh fjiksVZ dze'k% izn'kZ d&6 yxk;r izn'kZ d&10 dks MkDVj us vius ys[k ,oa gLrk{kj esa rS;kj dh gSA
foospukf/kdkjh us foospuk ds nkSjku xokgksa ds c;ku vafdr fd;s rFkk ?kVukLFky dk fujh{k.k dj ekufp= izn'kZ d&4 rS;kj fd;k rFkk foospuk lEca/kh lEkLr dk;Zokgh iw.kZ dj vihykFkhZx.k ds fo:} vkjksi i= izn'kZ d&5 U;k;ky; izsf"kr fd;kA
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vihykFkhZx.k ds ekeys dks fopkj.k gsrq l= U;k;ky; ds lqiqnZ fd;k x;kA
fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vihykFkhZx.k iksFkhjkt rFkk /keZnso ds fo:} /kkjk 307 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr o vihykFkhZx.k jk/kk ,oa jek'kadj ds fo:} /kkjk 307 lifBr /kkjk 34 Hkk0 na0 la0 o 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr vkjksi fojfpr fd;kA vihykFkhZx.k us vkjksi ls badkj dj ijh{k.k dh ekax dhA
vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls vius dFku ds leFkZu esa vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 1 xkSjh 'kadj ¼pqVSy½] vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 2 gfj'kadj ;kno] vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 3 mek'kadj ¼pqVSy½] vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 4 eq[; vkj{kh lHkkthr] vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 5 lqn'kZu ¼pqVSy½] vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 6 cspu flag ¼foospukf/kdkjh½ rFkk vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 7 MkDVj ds0 ih0 mik/;k; dks ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gSA
vihykFkhZx.k ds c;ku vUrxZr /kkjk 313 na0 iz0 la0 vafdr fd;s x;s ftlesa vihykFkhZ /keZnso us ;g mYys[k fd;k fd mlus Hkh ifjoknh vkfn ds fo:} fjiksVZ fy[kok;h Fkh] mlls cpus ds fy, mls >waBk Qlk;k x;k gSA vihykFkhZx.k dh vksj ls vius cpko esa cpko lk{kh la[;k 1 ds :i esa MkDVj ,u0 ,u0 ik.Ms; rFkk cpko lk{kh la[;k 2 ds :i esa vihykFkhZ iksFkhjkt Lo;a ijhf{kr gq, gSaA
cpko lk{kh la[;k 1 MkDVj ,u0 ,u0 ik.Ms; us vius c;ku esa ;g mYys[k fd;k gS fd mUgksusa fnukad 23&6&1991 dks vihykFkhZx.k@pqVSy jk/kk] /keZnso rFkk lqfe=k o jek'kadj dk MkDVjh ijh{k.k fd;k FkkA MkDVj ds vuqlkj] pqVSy jk/kk ds 'kjhj ij rhu pksVsa] pqVSy /keZnso ds 'kjhj ij nks pksVsa] lqfe=k ds 'kjhj ij nks pksVsa rFkk jek'kadj ds 'kjhj ij 6 pksVsa ik;s tkus dk mYys[k fd;k x;k gSA bl lk{kh us pqVSyksa dh batjh fjiksVZ izn'kZ [k&1 yxk;r izn'kZ [k&4 ds :i esa izekf.kr fd;k gSA
fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us mHk; i{k dks lqudj rFkk
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i=koyh ij miyC/k leLr lk{; ,oa vfHkys[kksa ij lE;d fopkj djus ds mijkUr vihykFkhZx.k ds fo:} /kkjk 307 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr vijk/k lkfcr ugha ik;k rFkk vihykFkhZ iksFkhjkt ds fo:} /kkjk 324 Hkk0 na0 la0 o vihykFkhZx.k /keZnso] jk/kk o jek'kadj ds fo:} /kkjk 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr vijk/k lkfcr ikrs gq, mUgsa mijksDrkuqlkj nf.Mr fd;k gS ftlls {kqC/k gksdj vihykFkhZx.k }kjk ;g nkf.Md vihy bl U;k;ky; e a s ;ksftr dh x;hA
eSusa vihykFkhZ jek'kadj dh vksj ls muds fo}ku vf/koDrk rFkk jkT; dh vksj ls fo}ku vij 'kkldh; vf/koDrk dks foLrkjiwoZd lqukA i=koyh ,oa iz'uxr fu.kZ; o vkns'k dk lE;d ifj'khyu fd;kA
vihykFkhZ ds fo}ku vf/koDrk }kjk eq[; :i ls ;g rdZ izLrqr fd;k x;k fd bl ?kVuk dk dzkl otZu gSA bl ?kVuk esa vihykFkhZ i{k ds yksxksa dks Hkh pksVsa vk;h gS rFkk vihykFkhZ i{k dh vksj ls Hkh eqdnek ntZ djk;k x;k FkkA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us i=koyh ij miyC/k leLr lk{; dk lE;d ifj'khyu ugha fd;k gS rFkk euekus <ax ls vihykFkhZ dks iz'uxr vijk/k esa nks"kfl} Bgjkrs gq, iz'uxr n.Mkns'k ikfjr fd;k gS tks fof/k laxr ugha gS ,oa fujLr gksus ;ksX; gSA
blds foijhr fo}ku vij 'kkldh; vf/koDrk }kjk ;g rdZ izLrqr fd;k x;k fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us mHk; i{k dh vksj ls mBk;s x;s leLr fcUnqvksa ij rFkk i=koyh ij miyC/k leLr lkf{k;ksa dh lk{; ij lE;d fopkj djus ds mijkUr vihykFkhZx.k dks iz'uxr vijk/k esa nks"kh ikrs gq, nf.Mr fd;k gS ftlesa dksbZ fof/kd =qfV vFkok vfu;ferrk ugha gSA
mYys[kuh; gS fd vfHk;kstu dh vksj ls vius dFkkud ds leFkZu esa dqy 7 lkf{k;ksa dks ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gSA vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 1 xkSjh 'kadj pqVSy gS rFkk vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 2 gfj 'kadj ;kno dks bl ?kVuk dk izR;{kn'khZ lk{kh gksuk crk;k x;k
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gSA vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 3 mek 'k¡dj oknh eqdnek rFkk pqVSy gSA vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 5 lqn'kZu pqVSy gS ftUgksusa vius c;kuksa esa vfHk;kstu dFkkud dk Hkyh Hkkafr leFkZu fd;k gSA vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 4 gsM dk0 lHkkthr ik.Ms; us eqdnesa dh fpd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ vafdr dh FkhA bl lk{kh us eqdnesa dh fpd izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ rFkk eqdnek dk;eh ls lEcfU/kr th0 Mh0 dh izfr izn'kZ d&2 ,oa izn'kZ d&3 dks lkfcr fd;k gSA vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 6 mifujh{kd cspu flag bl ekeys ds foospukf/kdkjh gS mUgksusa vius }kjk dh x;h foospuk dks lkfcr fd;k gSA
vfHk;kstu lk{kh la[;k 7 MkDVj ds0 ih0 mik/;k; dh lk{; rFkk i=koyh ij miyC/k pqVSyksa dh batjh fjiksVZ ls ;g lkfcr gS fd dfFkr ?kVuk ds le; pqVSyksa dks pksVsa vk;h gSA rF; ds lkf{k;ksa us vihykFkhZx.k }kjk mUgsa ekjihV dj pksVsa igqapkus dh Hkyh Hkkafr iqf"V dh gSA tSlk fd Åij mYys[k fd;k tk pqdk gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vihykFkhZx.k ds fo:} /kkjk 307 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr vijk/k lkfcr ugha ik;k gS rFkk vihykFkhZ iksFkhjkt ds fo:} /kkjk 324 Hkk0 na0 la0 o vihykFkhZx.k /keZnso] jk/kk ,oa jek'kadj ds fo:} /kkjk 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr vijk/k lkfcr ik;k gSA
fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vius fu.kZ; esa lk{; dk lE;d ifj'khyu djrs gq, rFkk leqfpr dkj.kksa dk mYys[k djrs gq, vihykFkhZ iksFkhjkt dks /kkjk 324 Hkk0 na0 la0 ,oa vU; vihykFkhZx.k dks /kkjk 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr nks"kh ik;k gSA xokgksa dh lk{; rFkk fpfdRlh; lk{; ls ;g Hkyh Hkkafr fl} gS fd dfFkr ?kVuk ds le; vihykFkhZx.k us pqVSyksa ds lkFk ekjihV dj mUgsa lk/kkj.k pksVsa igqapk;h gSA ,slh n'kk esa fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds iz'uxr fu.kZ; ,oa fu"d"kksZ esa dksbZ fof/kd =qfV vFkok vfu;ferrk ugha ik;h tkrh gSA
tSlk fd Åij mYys[k fd;k tk pqdk gS fd nkSjku vihy] vihykFkhZx.k iksFkhjkt] /keZnso rFkk jk/kk dh e`R;q gks pqdh gS
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rFkk ek= vihykFkhZ jek'kadj gh thfor gS mls /kkjk 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr nks"kh ikrs gq, 6 ekg ds lJe dkjkokl ds n.M ls nf.Mr fd;k x;k gSA
vihykFkhZ ds fo}ku vf/koDrk }kjk ;g rdZ j[kk x;k fd ;g ?kVuk o"kZ 1991 dh gSA ;g ekeyk dkQh iqjkuk gS rFkk fopkj.k ds nkSjku vihykFkhZ djhc rhu fnu tsy esa fu:} jgk gS vkSj iz'uxr fu.kZ; ikfjr gksus ds mijkUr Hkh vihykFkhZ djhc nl fnu tsy esa fu:} jgk gSA bl izdkj vihykFkhZ jek'kadj dqy feykdj yxHkx 13 fnu tsy esa fu:} jg pqdk gSA ?kVuk gq, yXkHkx 29 o"kZ dk le; O;rhr gks pqdk gSA vihykFkhZ jek'kadj dks tsy esa fcrk;h x;h vof/k ij gh fjgk fd;s tkus dh ;kpuk dh x;hA
pw¡fd ;g ?kVuk o"kZ 1991 dh gS rFkk dfFkr ?kVuk dks ?kfVr gq, yxHkx 29 o"kZ dk le; O;rhr gks pqdk gSA vihykFkhZ jek'kadj djhc 13 fnu rd tsy esa fu:} jg pqdk gS rFkk vU; vihykFkhZx.k dh eR;q Hkh gks pqdh gSA pqVSyksa dh pksVsa lk/kkj.k izdfr dh crk;h x;h gSA
izdj.k ds leLr rF; ,oa ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks n`f"Vxr j[krs gq, esjs fopkj ls vihykFkhZ jek'kadj dks iz'uxr izdj.k esa tsy esa fcrk;h x;h vof/k ij gh fjgk fd;k tkuk U;k;ksfpr izrhr gksrk gS vr,o fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk vihykFkhZ jek'kadj ds fo:} /kkjk 323 Hkk0 na0 la0 ds vUrxZr ikfjr nks"kflf} dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA vihykFkhZ jek'kadj dks 6 ekg ds lJe dkjkokl ds LFkku ij mlds }kjk tsy esa fcrk;h x;h vof/k rd dh gh ltk ls nf.Mr fd;k tkrk gSA
rnuqlkj ltk esa mijksDr ifjorZu ds lkFk ;g vihy vkaf'kd :i ls Lohdkj dh tkrh gSA
vihykFkhZ jek'kadj tekur ij gS mlds tekurukesa ,oa ca/ki= fujLr fd;s tkrs gSa rFkk izfrHkw dks mueksfpr fd;k tkrk gS mls vkReleZi.k djus dh dksbZ vko';Drk ugha gSA
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fu.kZ; dh izfr ,oa ijh{k.k U;k;ky; dh i=koyh vfoyEc v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dks Hksth tk,A fnukad@ 3&2&2020
v-
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the term of default under Section 323 CrPC is illegal given the long delay in concluding the trial.
Whether the witnesses' testimony regarding the cause of injury was legally consistent under Section 324 CrPC.
2 provisions across 1 enactments
vihiyZkj iksFkhjkt
/keZnso
jk/kk
jek'kadj
xkSjh 'kadj pqVSy
gfj 'kadj ;kno
mek 'k¡dj oknh pqVSy
lqn'kZu pqVSy
MkDVj ds0 ih0 mik/;k;
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
