Partly allowed

State of Rajasthan v. Ankur Padiya

Rajasthan HC14 Sept 2018CRLDR/1/2018

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court examined whether the trial court violated Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. by failing to afford a genuine hearing before sentencing Ankur Padiya to death. Relying on Apex Court precedents, the court held that the trial court committed a gross procedural error. The sentence was set aside with a direction to conduct a fresh sentencing hearing.

What did the court decide?

Sentence of death awarded to Ankur Padiya set aside; conviction confirmed; case remanded to trial court for fresh sentence procedure under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C.

State of Rajasthan Vs Ankur Padiya — Criminal Trial and Appeal | Rajasthan HC (2018)

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HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

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D.B. CRIMINAL DEATH REFERENCE NO. 1/2018

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State of Rajasthan

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V/S

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Ankur Padiya S/o Shri Sharvan Kumar Padiya, R/o Plot No. C-413 Om Enclave, Thana Anantpura, District-Kota (Raj.)

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-----Accused/Respondents Connected With

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D.B. CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.114/2018

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Ankur Padiya S/o Sh. Shrawan Kumar Padiya R/o House No. C-413, Om Enclave, Police Station Anantpura, Kota.

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(At present confined in Central Jail, Jaipur)

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Anoop Padiya @ Santosh Singh S/o Sh. Shrawan Kumar @ Kedar Singh, R/o Flat No.2/21, Keshav Apartment, District Lucknow, Police Station Mahanagar, Lucknow.

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(At present confined in District Jail, Baran.)

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-----Accused Appellants

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Versus

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State of Rajasthan through the P.P.

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-------Respondent

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D.B. Criminal Appeal (Sb) No. 528/2018

Mahaveer Sharma

----Petitioner

Versus

State Of Rajasthan Through Pp

¶21

----Respondent

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D.B. Criminal Appeal (Sb) No. 566/2018

Karanjeet Singh

----Petitioner

Versus

State Of Rajasthan Through Pp

----Respondent

[CRLDR-1/2018]

(2 of 13)

For Petitioner(s)	: Mr. AK Gupta with Mr. Rinesh Gupta & Mr. Aniket Sharma
	Mr. Rajeev Surana & Mr.Abdul Kalam Khan
For Respondent(s)	: Mrs. Sonia Shandilya – PP Mr. Ashvin Garg – for complainant

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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MUNISHWAR NATH BHANDARI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH CHANDRA SOMANI

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Judgment

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14/09/2018

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Learned counsel submits that learned trial court, while passing the order dated 26^th February, 2018, convicted accusedAnkur Padiya for offences under Sections 364A, 302, 379 IPC apart from Sections 65, 66B, 66C, 66D of the Information Technology Act. The order of sentence was passed without providing proper opportunity of hearing in a case of death sentence. The accused was not given opportunity to produce material and other mitigating evidence. In view of the above, the matter needs to be remanded to the trial court for passing a fresh order on the sentence after following the provision of Section 235(2) Cr.P.C., as interpreted by the Apex Court in various judgments.

¶35

It is stated that accused has been given right of hearing before imposition of sentence. It should not be for the sake of it but with an opportunity to produce the material. Appellant-Ankur Padiya was not given proper opportunity thus provision of Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. has been violated. In view of the above, the order of sentence deserves to be set aside.

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(3 of 13)

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Learned Public Prosecutor and counsel for complainant have opposed the prayer. It is submitted that an order on sentence was passed after giving proper opportunity of hearing to the accusedappellant. Hence, Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. has not been violated by the trial court so as to seek remand of the case for passing a fresh order on the sentence.

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We have considered rival submissions made by learned counsel for the parties in DB Criminal Appeal No.114/2018 so as Death Reference No.1/2018 and perused the record.

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We find that trial court after completion of the proceedings passed a detailed order on 26^th February, 2018 sentencing all the accused as follows:

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“ : 1. Ankur padiya

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U/s 302 IPC - Death sentence with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 364A IPC - Death sentence with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 379 IPC - One year’s Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.10,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo two months additional simple imprisonment.

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U/S. 65 I.T. Act - Two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo four months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 66B I.T. Act -Two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo four months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 66C I.T. Act -Two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.75,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 66D I.T. Act -Three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.70,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

[CRLDR-1/2018]

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2. Anoop Padiya:

U/S. 302/120B IPC - Life Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 364A/120B IPC - Life imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 212 IPC - Three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.20,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo three months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 66B I.T. Act -Two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.50,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo four months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 66C I.T. Act -Two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.75,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo four months additional imprisonment.

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U/S. 66D I.T. Act -Three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.70,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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3. Mahaveer Sharma:

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U/S. 201 IPC -Four years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.25,000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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4. Karanjeet Singh:

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U/S. 66B of IT Act -Two years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.100000/-, in case of default to pay fine, the accused to further undergo six months additional imprisonment.

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All the sentences were ordered to run concurrently.”

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Accused-appellant No.1-Ankur Padiya has been given death sentence in Sessions Case No.09/2015. The other accused have

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(5 of 13)

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been given different punishments. Since accused-Ankur Padiya has been given death sentence, trial court has referred the same to the High Court for its confirmation.

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Learned counsel for accused has filed an application-Inward No.7211/2018 for remand of the case as accused-Ankur Padiya has not been given an opportunity of hearing, as provided under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C.

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Before analysing the evidence, we need to deal with the issue raised by learned counsel for appellant in DB Criminal Appeal No.114/2018. It is to find out whether procedure given under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. has been followed before passing the order of sentence. The Coordinate Division Bench of this court passed a detailed order on 30^th April, 2015 in similar case of Death Reference No.1/2014 and DB Criminal Appeal No.1024/2014, Dr. Abdul Hameed Vs. State of Rajasthan. The Division Bench has considered the judgments of the Apex Court on the issue before remanding the case. For ready reference, the relevant paras of judgment of the Division Bench where issue has been dealt with by the Apex Court in reference to Section 235(2) Cr.P.C., are quoted hereunder:

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“The Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Ajay Pandit @ Jagdish Dayabhai Patel & Anr. v. State of Maharashtra [(2012) 8 SCC 43] after taking note of various judgments of the Supreme Court has held as under:-

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“35. Section 235 Cr.P.C. in its entirety is extracted for reference:

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“235. Judgment of acquittal or conviction (1) After hearing arguments and points of law (if any), the Judge shall give a judgment in the case.

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(6 of 13)

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(2) If the accused is convicted, the Judge shall, unless he proceeds in accordance with the provisions of section 360 hear the accused on the question of sentence, and then pass sentence on him according to law.”

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The necessity of inserting sub-section (2) was highlighted by the Law Commission in its 41st Report which reads as follows:

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“It is now being increasingly recognized that a rational and consistent sentencing policy requires the removal of several deficiencies in the present system. One such deficiency is the lack of comprehensive information as to the characteristics and background of the offender. The aims of sentencing become all the more so in the absence of information on which the correctional process is to operate. The public as well as the courts themselves are in the dark about the judicial approach in this regard. We are of the view that the taking of evidence as to the circumstances relevant to sentencing should be encouraged, and both the prosecution and the accused should be allowed to co-operate in the process. (emphasis supplied)

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The Law Commission in its Report had opined that the taking of evidence as to the circumstances relevant to sentencing should be encouraged in the process. The Parliament, it is seen, has accepted the recommendation of the Law Commission fully and has enacted sub-section (2).

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The scope of the abovementioned provision has come up for consideration before the Apex Court on various occasions. Reference to few of the judgments is apposite. The courts are unanimous in their view that sub-section (2) of Section 235 clearly states that the hearing has to be given to the accused on the question of sentence, but the question is what is the object and purpose of hearing and what are the matters to be elicited from the accused. Of course, full opportunity has to be given to produce adequate materials before the Court and, if found,

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(7 of 13)

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necessary court may also give an opportunity to lead evidence. Evidence on what, the evidence which has some relevance on the question of sentence and not on conviction (emphasis supplied). But the further question to be examined is whether, in the absence of adding any materials by the accused, has the Court any duty to elicit any information from whatever sources before awarding sentence, especially capital punishment. Psychological trauma which a convict undergoes on hearing that he would be awarded capital sentence, that is, death, has to be borne in mind, by the court. Convict could be a completely shattered person, may not be in his normal senses, may be dumbfound, unable to speak anything. Can, in such a situation, the court presume that he has nothing to speak or mechanically record what he states, without making any conscious effort to elicit relevant information, which has some bearing in awarding a proper and adequate sentence (emphasis supplied). Awarding death sentence is always an exception, only in rarest of rare cases.

¶82

In Santa Singh (supra), this Court has extensively dealt with the nature and scope of Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. stating that such a provision was introduced in consonance with the modern trends in penology and sentencing procedures. The Court noticed today more than ever before, sentencing has become a delicate task, requiring an inter-disciplinary approach and calling for skills and talents very much different from those ordinarily expected of lawyers. In Santa Singh, (supra) the Court found that the requirements of Section 235(2) were not complied with, inasmuch as no opportunity was given to the appellant, after recording his conviction, to produce material and make submissions in regard to the sentence to be imposed on him. The Court noticed in that case the Sessions Court chose to inflict death sentence on the accused and the possibility could not be ruled out that if the accused had been given an opportunity to produce material and make submissions on the question of sentence, as contemplated by Section 235(2), he might have been in a position to persuade the Sessions Court to impose a lesser penalty of life imprisonment (emphasis supplied). The Court,therefore, held the breach of the mandatory requirement of Section 235(2) could

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(8 of 13)

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not, in the circumstances, be ignored as inconsequential and it can vitiate the sentence of death imposed by the Sessions Court. The Court, therefore, allowed the appeal and set aside the sentence of death and remanded the case to the Sessions Court with a direction to pass appropriate sentence after giving an opportunity to the accused to beheard.

¶86

Further, in Santa Singh, the Court also held as follows:

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“4. ...The hearing contemplated by Section 235 (2) is not confined merely to hearing oral submissions, but it is also intended to give an opportunity to the prosecution and the accused to place before the court facts and material relating to various factors bearing on the question of sentence and if they are contested by either side, then to produce evidence for the purpose of establishing the same. (emphasis supplied)

¶88

The above issue again came up before this Court in Dagdu & ors. v. State of Maharashtra; (1977) 3 SCC 68; wherein the three Judges Bench, referring to the judgment in Santa Singh, held as follows:

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“79. ...The Court on convicting an accused must unquestionably hear him on the question of sentence. But if, for any reason, it omits to do so and the accused makes a grievance of it in the higher court, it would be open to that court to remedy the breach by giving a hearing to the accused on the question of sentence.”

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It further held as follows:

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“80. ... for a proper and effective implementation of the provision contained in Section 235(2), it is not always necessary to remand the matter to the court which has recorded the conviction. Remand is an exception, not a rule, and ought therefore to be avoided as far as possible in the interests of expeditious, though fair, disposal of cases”

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(9 of 13)

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Again in Muniappan v. State Of Tamil Nadu.; AIR 1981 SC 1220; this Court held as follows:

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“2. ...The obligation to hear the accused on the question of sentence which is imposed by Section 235(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code is not discharged by putting a formal question to the accused as to what he has to say on the question of sentence. The Judge must make a genuine effort to elicit from the accused all information which will eventually bear on the question of sentence. (emphasis supplied)

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Later, in Allauddin Mian & ors. v. State of Bihar; (1989) 3 SCC 5, this Court also considered the effect of non-compliance of Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. and held that the provision is mandatory. The operative portion of the judgment reads as follows:

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“10. ...The requirement of hearing the accused is intended to satisfy the rule of natural justice. It is a fundamental requirement of fair play that the accused who was hitherto concentrating on the prosecution evidence on the question of guilt should, on being found guilty, be asked if he has anything to say or any evidence to tender on the question of sentence (emphasis supplied). This is all the more necessary since the Courts are generally required to make the choice from a wide range of discretion in the matter of sentencing. To assist the Court in determining the correct sentence to be imposed the legislature introduced Sub-section (2) to Section 235. The said provision therefore satisfies a dual purpose; it satisfies the rule of natural justice by according to the accused an opportunity of being heard on the question of sentence and at the same time helps the Court to choose the sentence to be awarded. Since the provision is intended to give the accused an opportunity to place before the

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(10 of 13)

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Court all the relevant material having a bearing on the question of sentence there can be no doubt that the provision is salutary and must be strictly followed. It is clearly mandatory and should not be treated as a mere formality.”

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Later, three Judges Bench in Malkiat Singh v. State of Punjab; (1991) 4 SCC 341 indicated the necessity of adjourning the case to a future date after convicting the accused and held as follows:

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“18. ... On finding that the accused committed the charged offences, Section 235(2) of the Code empowers the Judge that he shall pass sentence on him according to law on hearing him. Hearing contemplated is not confined merely to oral hearing but also intended to afford an opportunity to the prosecution as well as the accused to place before the Court facts and material relating to various factors on the question of sentence and if interested by either side, to have evidence adduced to show mitigating circumstances to impose a lesser sentence or aggravating grounds to impose death penalty. Therefore, sufficient time must be given to the accused or the prosecution on the question of sentence, to show grounds on which the prosecution may plead or the accused may show that the maximum sentence of death may be the appropriate sentence or the minimum sentence of life imprisonment may be awarded, as the case may be.”

¶103

This Court in a recent judgment in Rajesh Kumar (supra) examined at length the evaluation of sentencing policy and the concept of mitigating circumstances in India relating to the death penalty. The meaning and content of the expression hearing the accused under Section 235(2) and the scope of Sections 354(3) and 465 Cr.P.C. were elaborately considered. The Court held that the object of hearing under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. being

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(11 of 13)

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intrinsically and inherently connected with the sentencing procedure, the provisions of Section 354(3) Cr.P.C. which calls for recording of special reason for awarding death sentence, must be read conjointly. The Court held that such special reasons can only be validly recorded if an effective opportunity of hearing as contemplated under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. is genuinely extended and is allowed to be exercised by the accused who stands convicted and is awaiting the sentence.

¶107

In our view, the principles laid down in the above cited judgments squarely applies on the question of awarding of sentence and we find from the records that the High Court has only mechanically recorded what the accused has said and no attempt has been made to elicit any information or particulars from the accused or the prosecution which are relevant for awarding a proper sentence. The accused, of course, was informed by the Court of the nature of the show-cause-notice. What was the nature of show cause notice? The nature of the show-cause-notice was whether the life sentence awarded by the trial court be not enhanced to death penalty. No genuine effort has been made by the Court to elicit any information either from the accused or the prosecution as to whether any circumstance exists which might influence the Court to avoid and not to award death sentence.

¶108

Awarding death sentence is an exception, not the rule, and only in rarest of rare cases, the Court could award death sentence. The state of mind of a person awaiting death sentence and the state of mind of a person who has been awarded life sentence may not be the same mentally and psychologically. The court has got a duty and obligation to elicit relevant facts even if the accused has kept totally silent in such situations. In the instant case, the High Court has not addressed the issue in the correct perspective bearing in mind those relevant factors, while questioning the accused and, therefore, committed a gross error of procedure in not properly assimilating and understanding the purpose and object behind Section 235(2) Cr.P.C.

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(12 of 13)

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In such circumstances, we are inclined to set aside the death sentence awarded by the High Court and remit the matter to the High Court to follow Section 235 (2) Cr.P.C. in accordance with the principles laid down. The conviction awarded by the High Court, however, stands confirmed. The High Court is requested to pass fresh orders preferably within a period of six months from the date of the receipt of the copy of this order. The appeal is allowed to that extent.”

¶112

In Sangeet & Anr. v. State of Haryana [(2013) 2 SCC 452] taking note of the sentencing policy referred to the case of Jagmohan Singh v. State Of U.P. [(1973) 1 SCC 20] wherein it was held that the court while awarding death sentence has to balance all aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the crime. The court further noticed that in the case of Bachand Singh v. State of Punjab [(1980) 2 SCC 684], consideration was given not only to relevant circumstances of crime but also to the circumstances of criminal. A perusal of the order whereby the appellant Dr. Abdul Hameed has been sentenced to death penalty reveal that no mitigating circumstances were considered by the trial court qua the criminal.

¶113

Consequently, following the mandate of law laid in Ajay Pandit's case (supra), we set aside the order of sentence qua Dr. Abdul Hameed and remit the matter to the trial court to follow the procedure under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. as explained in various judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court which have been noticed in the case of Ajay Pandit (supra). The trial court while considering the question of sentence shall also take into consideration observations made by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Sangeet's case (supra) also. The trial court shall do the needful within three months and pass an order of sentence afresh within the aforesaid period.”

¶114

We find that before passing the order of sentence against accused-Ankur Padiya, an opportunity of hearing, as required under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C. was not given. In view of the above,

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[CRLDR-1/2018]

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(13 of 13)

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we set aside the order of sentence, qua accused-Ankur Padiya, with remand of the case to the trial court with a direction to pass a fresh order on the sentence after following the procedure given under Section 235(2) Cr.P.C., as explained by the Apex Court in various judgments referred to above.

¶118

The trial court shall complete the proceedings for passing a fresh order on the sentence within a period of three months from 4^th October, 2018 and pass a fresh order on the sentence. We, accordingly, decline the death sentence at this stage.

¶119

As the matter has been remanded to the trial court, the jail authorities are directed to produce accused-Ankur Padiya before the court below on 4^th October, 2018. Accordingly, the trial court will proceed in the matter from the aforesaid date and complete the proceedings within a period of three months.

¶120

With the aforesaid, appeal of accused-Ankur Padiya is disposed of. The record of the case may be sent back to the trial court.

¶121

Since appeal, qua accused-appellant No.1-Ankur Padiya, has been decided, amended cause title be filed.

¶122

In view of the above, application-Inward No.7211/2018 filed by accused-Ankur Padiya stands disposed of.

¶123

DB Criminal Appeal No.114/2018 (Anoop Padiya @ Santosh Singh Vs. State of Raj.), D.B. Criminal Appeal (SB) No.528/2018 (Mahaveer Sharma Vs. State of Raj.) & D.B. Criminal Appeal (SB) No.566/2018 (Karanjeet Singh Vs. State of Raj.):

¶124

To await fresh order of sentence to be passed by the trial court, qua Ankur Padiya. List these cases after three months.

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(DINESH CHANDRA SOMANI),J (M.N. BHANDARI),J

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FRBOHRA

State of Rajasthan v. Ankur Padiya

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

State of Rajasthan v. Ankur Padiya

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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