PATHUBHA GOVINDJI RATHOD AND ANR Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT
Supreme Court of India (Division Bench (DB)- Two Judge)
AA, CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2282 OF 2014 Judgment Date: Jan 23, 2015
No doubt normally the right of private defence is not available to either of the parties in incidents of group fighting, but that is not a rule without exception.- In the case at hand, we have a special circumstance where the injured person (appellant no. 1) who was given 2cm x 2cm x 1.5cm deep knife blow on his back (scapular region) has retorted by using licensed firearm, and killed one of his rivals in the same incident. Accused/appellant Pathubha Govindji has taken plea of private defence right from beginning of the trial. From the judgment of the trial court also, it is clear that the plea of private defence was taken by the appellant no.1. Considering the facts and circumstances of the present case and evidence on record, it is evident that accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji Rathod who suffered knife injury in the incident has caused death of one of the deceased by firing several shots thereby exceeding right of private defence. Injuries suffered by both the sides are on record.- In the above circumstances, from the evidence, as discussed above, we are inclined to accept the argument that it is a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder covered under Exception 2 of Section 300 of IPC.-Accordingly, the appeal is partly allowed and the conviction and sentence recorded against accused/appellant no.1 under Section 302 IPC read with Section 149 IPC is set aside.-Instead he (accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji Rathod) is convicted under Section 304 Part-I IPC and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of ten years and directed to pay fine of Rs.5000/- , in default of payment of fine he shall undergo simple imprisonment for a further period of six months.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2282 OF 2014
Pathubha Govindji Rathod & Anr ... Appellants
Versus
State of Gujarat ... Respondent
J U D G M E N T
PRAFULLA C. PANT, J.
This appeal is directed against judgment and order dated 30.6.2014
passed by High Court of Gujarat whereby the said Court has partly allowed
the criminal appeals arisen out of Sessions Case No. 85 of 2003 and the
cross Sessions Case No. 53 of 2004, which were decided by two separate
orders of the same date, i.e., 5.10.2007 by Additional Sessions Judge/Fast
Track Court, Junagarh.
We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
Prosecution story, in brief, is that complainant Satish Jotva (PW-42) used
to live with his family in Village Arena. On 2.9.2003 his uncle Bhurabhai
Jivabhai (PW-46) was going to his field on a bicycle. At about 10.30 a.m.,
he was intercepted by Pathubha Govindji Rathod (appellant no. 1) near bus
stand. Accused/appellant no.1 picked up a quarrel with Bhurabha Jivabhai
as to why he supported Natha Nagabhai (one of the deceased) in Gram
Panchayat Election with whom the accused/appellant no.1 was not having
cordial relations. Meanwhile Natha Nagabhai came there and joined Bhurabhai
Jivabhai in the quarrel. This led heated exchange of words between both
the sides, and crowd gathered there. Accused/Appellant no.1 was joined by
his other supporters (co-accused), who were armed with deadly weapons like
swords, knives and sticks. Out of the accused persons, accused Pathubha
Govindji was armed with revolver, and accused Bhavubhai Gagubhai, Bhuraji
Gaguji, Kirit Jesing and Punjaji Muluji were armed with swords. Accused
Mala Gaguji was armed with knife. Rest of the accused Gaguji Manji,
Gomubha Halarwadi, Navalsinh Motisinh, Kanubha Jesangji, Dhiru Jesing,
Kiritsinh Punjajai, Veraji Punjaji, Jayubha, Samatsinh, Sidharajsinh Manji,
Bharat Manji, Kanu Bhai Devu bhai and accused/appellant no.2 Hemubha
Govindji were armed with sticks. On hearing the noise, complainant Satish
Jiva Jotva (PW-42) and his another uncle Bhimshi Jiva (PW-47), father of
the complainant Hamir Nagabhai (another deceased), Malde Nagabhai (PW-43),
Bhurabhai Jivabhai (PW-46), Punjabhai Bhimshibhai (PW-44), Jagmal Jivabhai
(PW-45) and some other villagers also gathered there. When the quarrel
further aggravated between the two sides, accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha
Govindji exhorted his supporters to kill Natha Nagabhai and teach lesson to
other supporters. Thereafter, accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji
himself took out revolver from his pocket and fired at him. Natha Nagabhai
suffered bullet injuries on the stomach and fell down. In the incident,
Bhimshibhai who was attacked with sword suffered injury on his head.
Bhavubhai Gagubhai assaulted Punja Bhimshi with sword in his hand, and he
also suffered injury on his head. Punjaji gave blow to Bharat Jiva on his
head, Gomubha Halarwala gave blow on the head of Jagmal Jiva.
Accused/appellant no.2 Hemubha Govindji inflicted injury with sword on the
head of Hamir Nagabhai. Accused Malde Nagabhai Jotva assaulted with stick
to some other persons. Several persons suffered injuries in the incident
on both sides. According to prosecution, after the incident complainant
took his uncle Natha Nagabhai on his motor cycle to Mangrol Government
Hospital, and other injured persons were also taken on rickshaw to said
Hospital for medical treatment. Out of the injured Natha Nagabhai, Bhimshi
Jivabhai, Hamir Nagabhai, Bhura Jivabhai, Malde Nagabhai, Punjabhai
Bhimshibhai, Jagmal Jivabhai were shifted to Junagarh Hospital for further
treatment. In the incident Natha Nagabhai and Hamir Nagabhai succumbed to
the injuries and died.
A complaint was given by Satish Jiva Jotva regarding the incident on the
basis of which ICR No. 70 of 2003 was registered at Mangrol Police Station.
A cross version of incident (ICR No. 71 of 2003) was also registered by
the police. After investigation, charge sheets were filed by the police
against both set of accused. Sessions Trial No. 85 of 2003 relates to the
charge sheet filed against accused/appellants Pathubha Govindji Rathod and
Hemubha Govindji Rathod and eighteen others. After hearing the parties in
the aforesaid sessions case, a charge was framed by the trial court against
all the twenty accused in respect of offences punishable under Sections
147, 148, 302 r/w 149, 307 r/w 149, 326 r/w 149, 325 r/w 149, 324 r/w 149
and 506 (2) r/w 149 of Indian Penal Code and under Section 135 of the
Bombay Police Act. Accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji was further
charged in respect of offence punishable under Section 25(1)(a) and Section
27 of Arms Act. All the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be
tried.
On this, prosecution got examined PW-1 Dr. M.G. Satrodiya, PW-2 Dr. Linesh
Makwana, PW-3 Dr. Anil Sakhiyani, PW-4 Naran Punja, PW-5 Desha Devshi, PW-6
Nasinghbhai Nensibhai, PW-7 Parsottambhai Savjibhai, PW-8 Ratibhai
Khimjibhai, PW-9 Nagabhai Hirabhai, PW-10 Virambhai Kanabhai, PW-11 Hardas
Desa, PW-12 Arjan Govindbhai, PW-13 Vikram Arjanbhai, PW-14 Bhikhabhai
Virabhai, PW-15 Mansukh Amarsinh, PW-16 Lakhabhai Pethabhai, PW-17
Laxmanbhai Makwana, PW-18 Rasulkhan Gulamkhan, PW-19 Razak Ismail, PW-20
Hanif Ibrahim, PW-21 Ali Giga, PW-22 Ismail Hussain, PW-23 Gova Parbat, PW-
24 Kanjibhai Karsanbhai, PW-25 Hasmukh Raja, PW-26 Karmanbhai Jethabhai, PW-
27 Arjan Parbat, PW-28 Musabhai Allarakha, PW-29 Amadbhai Musabhai, PW-30
Dhirubhai Naranbhai, PW-31 Mohanlal Khimjibhai, PW-32 Mamadbhai Ismail, PW-
33 Ibrahim Kasam, PW-34 Atul Prabhudas, PW-35 Dr. Jigna Dave, PW-36 Dr.
Kartik Modha, PW-37 Bhanji Vashram, PW-38 Ranchhodbhai Rathod, PW-39 Dr.
Bhalchandra Joshi, PW-40 Dr. Jitendra Gajera, PW-41 Dr. P.B. Nariyani, PW-
42 Satishbhai Bhimsinh Jothwa (complainant), PW-43 Malde Naga (injured), PW-
44 Punjabhai Bjhimsinhbhai (injured), PW-45 Jagmal Jivabhai, PW-46
Bhurabhai Jivabhai (injured), PW-47 Bhimsinhbhai Jivabhai (injured), PW-48
Chandrakant Natwarlal, PW-49 Mahipatbhai Bhikhubha, PW-50 Ravjibhai
Valjibhai, PW-51 Jayeshbhai Tapubhai, PW-52 Karsanbhai Gangabhai, PW-53
Subhashbhai Vadhera, PW-54 Hasmukhlal Aahir, PW-55 Arjanbhai Meraman, PW-56
Harishchandra Trivedi, PW-57 Bharatbhai Mistri, PW-58 Vishnukumar Vyas, PW-
59 Manharlal Mehta (Investigating Officer), and PW-60 Kalekhan Kureshi
(Investigating Officer).
The trial court put oral evidence of above witnesses and documentary
evidence including medical reports, inquest reports, post mortem reports of
Natha Nagabhai and that of Hamirbhai Nagabhai, complaint, serologist report
and chemical analyst report to the accused under Section 313 of Cr.P.C.
In reply to the prosecution evidence accused stated that evidence adduced
against them is incorrect. It is also pleaded that it were the accused,
who were attacked by the complainant and his supporters. In defence, it
was brought on record that serious injury was caused by Hamir Naga
(deceased) to accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji, with a knife. It
is also brought on record that from the side of accused/appellants,
Gumansinh Motibha, Juvan Singh Gogubha, Punjaji Muluji, Navalsinh, Pathubha
(present appellant no. 1), and Punja Bhimshi suffered injuries. It is also
established that in cross Sessions Case No. 53 of 2004, witnesses of
present case, namely, Malde Nagabhai Jotva, Bhimshi Jivabhai Jotva, Jagmal
Jivabhai Jotva, Bhurabhai Jivabhai Jotva, Punjabhai Bhimshibhai Jotva are
accused, who assaulted the accused of the present case. Due to death of
Hamir Naga, his name did not figure in charge-sheet as an accused in the
said sessions case.
After hearing the parties, learned Sessions Judge decided both the sessions
trials by two separate orders of the same date and recorded conviction
against the accused in both the cross cases. In Sessions Case No. 53 of
2004 the five accused, namely, Malde Nagabhai Jotva, Bhimshi Jivabhai
Jotva, Jagmal Jivabhai Jotva, Bhurabhai Jivabhai Jotva, Punjabhai
Bhimshibhai Jotva were convicted by the trial court under Sections 323,
324, 325, 147,148 all read with Section149 of Indian Penal Code and under
Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act. Each one of accused in said
Sessions Case No. 53 of 2004 was sentenced to undergo five years' simple
imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.2500/- under Section 326 r/w Section
149 IPC, simple imprisonment for a period of one month and to pay a fine of
Rs.1000/- under Section 324 r/w Section 149 IPC, simple imprisonment for a
period of three months and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- under Section 147 r/w
Section 149 IPC, simple imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay a
fine of Rs.1000/- under Section 325 r/w Section 149 IPC, simple
imprisonment for a period of one year and to pay a fine of Rs.1000/- under
Section 148 r/w Section 149 IPC.
On the other hand, in Sessions Case No. 85 of 2005 in which the present
appellants were accused, the trial court convicted and sentenced each of
the twenty accused under Sections 302, 307, 326, 325, and 324 all r/w
Section 149 IPC, to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of
Rs.5000/- under Section 302 r/w Section 149 IPC, imprisonment for seven
years and directed to pay a fine of Rs.2500/- under Section 307 r/w Section
149 IPC, imprisonment for a period of five years and directed to pay a fine
of Rs.2500/- under Section 326 r/w Section 149 IPC. Similar sentence was
passed against each of them under section 325 r/w Section 149 IPC. As to
the offence under Section 324 r/w Section 149 IPC each one was sentenced to
imprisonment for one year and directed to pay a fine of Rs.1000/-.
Similar sentence was passed under Section 147 r/w Section 149 IPC. On the
count of charge of offence punishable under Section 148 r/w Section 149 IPC
each one of twenty accused was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of
one year and directed to pay fine of Rs.1000/-. Under Section 506 r/w
Section 149 IPC, the trial court sentenced each convict to imprisonment for
a period of seven years and directed to pay a fine of Rs.1000/-. The trial
Court further convicted accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji under
Section 27 of Arms Act, and sentenced him to imprisonment for a period of
three years and directed to pay a fine of Rs.2500/-.
Criminal Appeal No. 1391 of 2007 and Criminal Appeal No.1394 of 2007 were
filed by the convicts of Sessions Case No. 85 of 2003, and Criminal Appeal
No. 1244 of 2007 was filed by the convicts of Sessions Case No. 53 of 2004,
before the High Court. All the three appeals were decided by the High
Court by common judgment challenged before us. The High Court decided
three appeals with following directions:
"26. For the foregoing reasons, the following order is passed;
All the three appeals are partly allowed.
(II) Insofar as Criminal Appeal No.1391/2007 and1394/2007 are concerned,
the judgment and order passed by the Court of learned Addl. Sessions Judge,
Junagadh in Sessions Case No.85/2003 dated 05.10.2007 is modified to the
extent that original accused no.1Pathubha is convicted for the offence
punishable u/s.302 IPC and is sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life.
The order regarding fine and default sentence is not disturbed qua original
accused no.1. It is also clarified that punishment of imprisonment for life
imposed upon original accused no.1 shall not mean imprisonment till last
breath and that the State may grant the accused benefit of remission at the
appropriate time. His conviction and sentence u/s.27 of the Arms Act is
also confirmed.
Insofar as original accused no.2 Hemubha is concerned, his conviction is
altered to one punishable u/s.304 Part1 IPC instead of Section 307 r/w.
Section 149 IPC. For conviction u/s.304 Part1 IPC, original accused no.2 is
sentenced to undergo imprisonment for Ten years. The order regarding fine
and default sentence is not disturbed qua original accused no.2. The jail
report shows that original accused no.2 is on bail. His bail bonds stand
cancelled and he is ordered to surrender to custody within a period of Ten
Weeks from today.
Out of original accused no.3 to 20, original accused no.5, original accused
no.13 and original accused no.16 have expired. Therefore, the appeals stand
abated qua the said three accused persons.
Insofar as the remaining accused persons are concerned, viz. original
accused no.3, 4, 6 to 9, 11 to 12 and 14, 15 and 17 to 20, their conviction
is altered to one punishable u/s.323 IPC without the aid of Section 149
IPC. For conviction u/s.323 IPC, the sentence already undergone by each of
the accused persons is ordered to be treated as sufficient sentence and
each of the accused is ordered to pay fine of Rs.2500/. None of the accused
person is required to undergo any further sentence in respect of the
offence in question. The above accused persons are on bail and hence, their
bail bonds stand cancelled and surety, if any, stands discharged.
Rest of the impugned judgment and order remains unaltered.
(III) Insofar as Criminal Appeal No.1244/2007 is concerned, the judgment
and order passed by the Court of learned Addl. Sessions Judge and Fast
Track Court, Junagadh in Sessions Case No.53/2004 dated 05.10.2007 is
modified whereby, each of the five accused persons, viz. original accused
no.1 to 5, is convicted u/s. 323 IPC without the aid of Section 149 IPC.
Their conviction, accordingly, stands altered to one punishable u/s.323
IPC. For conviction u/s.323 IPC, the sentence already undergone by each of
the five accused persons is ordered to be treated as sufficient sentence
and each of the accused is ordered to pay fine of Rs.2500/. None of the
accused person is required to undergo further sentence in respect of the
offence in question. The above accused persons are on bail and hence, their
bail bonds stand cancelled and surety, if any, stands discharged.
Rest of the impugned judgment and order remains unaltered."
The present appeal has been filed before us by way of Special Leave
Petition, by two of the above convicts, namely, Pathubha Govindji Rathod
and Hemubha Govindji Rathod.
The only point pressed and argued before us in this appeal is that the
courts below have erred in law in not accepting the plea of private defence
taken by appellant no.1. It is argued that the accused/appellant no.1 was
assaulted with a knife and suffered the injury on the vital part, as such
he has a right of private defence to save his person. It is further
contended that charge relating to causing death of Natha Bhai with a fire
arm, even if proved, is covered by Exception 2 of Section 300 IPC.
We have considered the submissions of the learned counsel for the
appellants. Exception 2 to Section 300 IPC reads as under: -
"Exception 2.-Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, in the
exercise in good faith of the right of private defence of person or
property, exceeds the power given to him by law and causes the death of the
person against whom he is exercising such right of defence without
premeditation, and without any intention of doing more harm than is
necessary for the purpose of such defence."
It is not disputed in the present case that there are cross versions of the
incident, and cross complaints were lodged with the police. It is also not
disputed that in both the cases police submitted charge sheets against both
set of accused. It is also evident from the record that both Sessions Case
No 85 of 2003 and Sessions Case No. 53 of 2004 resulted in conviction on
conclusion of trial by Additional Sessions Judge, Junagarh. Considering
the number of persons involved in the incident it can be safely said that
it is a case of free fight between two groups of people. It is settled
principle of law that in the cases of free fights accused are to be
fastened with individual liability taking into consideration the specific
role assigned to each one of them, and normally right of private defence is
not available in such cases unless circumstances in a given case warrant
so.
A person faced with injury with a deadly weapon to his life cannot be
expected to weigh in balance the precise force needed to avoid danger.
Referring to case of Bhanwar Singh v. State of M.P.[1], this Court, in
State of Rajasthan v. Manoj Kumar[2], has observed as under: -
"15.3. In Bhanwar Singh v. State of M.P., it has been ruled to the
effect that for a plea of right of private defence to succeed in totality,
it must be proved that there existed a right to private defence in favour
of the accused, and that this right extended to causing death; and if the
court were to reject the said plea, there are two possible ways in which
this may be done i.e. on one hand, it may be held that there existed a
right to private defence of the body, however, more harm than necessary was
caused or, alternatively, this right did not extend to causing death and in
such a situation it would result in the application of Section 300
Exception 2 IPC."
In Mohd. Khalil Chisti v. State of Rajasthan[3], this court has observed
in para 42 as follows: -
"42. The analysis of the materials clearly shows that two versions of the
incident adduced by the prosecution are discrepant with each other. In such
a situation where the prosecution leads two sets of evidence each one which
contradicts and strikes at the other and shows it to be unreliable, the
result would necessarily be that the court would be left with no reliable
and [pic]trustworthy evidence upon which the conviction of the accused
might be based. Though the accused would have the benefit of such situation
and the counsel appearing for the appellants prayed for acquittal of the
appellants of all the charges, in view of the principles which we have
already discussed, we are of the view that each accused can be fastened
with individual liability taking into consideration the specific role or
part attributed to each of the accused. In other words, both sides can be
convicted for their individual acts and normally no right of private
defence is available to either party and they will be guilty of their
respective acts".
No doubt normally the right of private defence is not available to either
of the parties in incidents of group fighting, but that is not a rule
without exception. In the case at hand, we have a special circumstance
where the injured person (appellant no. 1) who was given 2cm x 2cm x 1.5cm
deep knife blow on his back (scapular region) has retorted by using
licensed firearm, and killed one of his rivals in the same incident.
Accused/appellant Pathubha Govindji has taken plea of private defence right
from beginning of the trial. From the judgment of the trial court also, it
is clear that the plea of private defence was taken by the appellant no.1.
Considering the facts and circumstances of the present case and evidence on
record, it is evident that accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha Govindji Rathod
who suffered knife injury in the incident has caused death of one of the
deceased by firing several shots thereby exceeding right of private
defence. Injuries suffered by both the sides are on record.
In the above circumstances, from the evidence, as discussed above, we are
inclined to accept the argument that it is a case of culpable homicide not
amounting to murder covered under Exception 2 of Section 300 of IPC.
Therefore, after weighing the submissions of learned counsel for the
parties and going through the papers on record, we are of the opinion that
appeal of the accused/appellant no. 1 deserves to be allowed partly.
Accordingly, the appeal is partly allowed and the conviction and sentence
recorded against accused/appellant no.1 under Section 302 IPC read with
Section 149 IPC is set aside. Instead he (accused/appellant no.1 Pathubha
Govindji Rathod) is convicted under Section 304 Part-I IPC and sentenced to
imprisonment for a period of ten years and directed to pay fine of Rs.5000/-
, in default of payment of fine he shall undergo simple imprisonment for a
further period of six months. He is reported to have undergone nine years
and six months of imprisonment. He shall serve out unserved part of
the sentence. The conviction and sentence recorded against
accused/appellant no. 2 Hemubha Govindji Rathod under Section 304 Part I
read with Section 149 IPC, does not require any interference.
The appeal stands disposed of.
....................................J.
[Dipak Misra]
....................................J.
[Prafulla C. Pant]
New Delhi,
January 21 , 2015.
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[1] (2008) 16 SCC 657
[2] (2014) 5 SCC 744
[3] (2013) 2 SCC 541