Pramod Mahto and Ors. v. State of Bihar
Case brief
What is this about?
Credibility of injured witnesses; rioting (S.147 IPC) and voluntarily causing hurt (S.323 IPC); SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act charges ending in acquittal below; 1996 lathi assault over paddy land dispute, Pupri, Sitamarhi; 18-year-old Patna HC appeal dismissed in 2025, conviction affirmed; only two of four injured persons examined; amicus curiae appointed for unrepresented appellants and paid Rs. 5,000 legal assistance fee; cited: Brahm Swaroop AIR 2011 SC 280; Mano Dutt (2012) 4 SCC 79; State of U.P. v. Kishan Chand (2004) 7 SCC 629.
What did the court decide?
No relief to the appellants; their conviction under sections 147 and 323 IPC and the sentence imposed by the trial court stand. Patna High Court Legal Services Committee directed to pay Rs. 5,000/- as legal assistance fee to the amicus curiae within four weeks. ¶104