Babu and 3 Others v. State of Utiar Pradesh
Case brief
What is this about?
Babu and 3 Others v. State of Uttar Pradesh, Supreme Court, Criminal Appeal No. 179 of 1964, decided 19-01-1965, judgment by Hidayatullah J. (bench: Wanchoo, Hidayatullah, Shah, Mudholkar, Sikri JJ.). Themes: s. 429 CrPC procedure where Judges of Court of Appeal are equally divided - freedom and proper decision of the third Judge; scope and limits of certificate of fitness under Article 134(1)(c) - substantial question of law or principle required, not mere appreciation of evidence; High Courts should be slow to certify; special leave under Art. 136(1) as alternative remedy; incompetency of certificate resting on omitted discussion of genuineness of First Information Report; refusal to commute death sentence despite inter se difference of High Court Judges or passage of time (Kalawati and Pandurang considered); confirmation of s. 302/34 IPC convictions for Behjoi pradhan murder (October 11, 1961). Precedents engaged: Haripada Dey [1956] SCR 639; Nar Singh [1955] 1 SCR 238; Sunder Singh AIR 1956 SC 411; Khushal Rao [1958] SCR 552; Kalawati [1953] SCR 546; Pandurang [1955] 1 SCR 1083. Outcome: appeal dismissed; death sentences on Babu Singh and Aram Singh affirmed.