State of A.P. Vs. P. Khaja Hussain
EmailAppeal: Criminal Appeal No. 1389 of 2004
[From the Judgement and Order dated 27.08.2003 of the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Crl. Appeal No. 1511 of 2001]
[From the Judgement and Order dated 27.08.2003 of the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Crl. Appeal No. 1511 of 2001]
Petitioner: State of A.P.
Respondent: P. Khaja Hussain
Apeal: Criminal Appeal No. 1389 of 2004
[From the Judgement and Order dated 27.08.2003 of the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Crl. Appeal No. 1511 of 2001]
[From the Judgement and Order dated 27.08.2003 of the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Crl. Appeal No. 1511 of 2001]
Judges: Dr. Arijit Pasayat & Asok Kumar Ganguly, JJ.
Date of Judgment: Apr 15, 2009
Appearances:
Appearances
Mrs. D. Bharathi Reddy, Advocate for the Appellant.
Mrs. D. Bharathi Reddy, Advocate for the Appellant.
Head Note:
CRIMINAL LAWS
Penal Code, 1860
Section 302 – Two dying declarations – Material variation in the manner deceased was set ablaze – No explanation for recording of subsequent dying declaration by constable when first declaration was recorded by Magistrate just an hour earlier – No other evidence on record – Conviction set aside by High Court on observing that variations were made to rationalise with injuries. Held High Court’s judgement upheld. (Para 5)
Penal Code, 1860
Section 302 – Two dying declarations – Material variation in the manner deceased was set ablaze – No explanation for recording of subsequent dying declaration by constable when first declaration was recorded by Magistrate just an hour earlier – No other evidence on record – Conviction set aside by High Court on observing that variations were made to rationalise with injuries. Held High Court’s judgement upheld. (Para 5)
JUDGEMENT:
Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.
1. Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of Division Bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court directing acquittal of the respondent who faced trial for alleged commission of offences punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short IPC). The learned II Additional Sessions Judge, Kurnool had found the accused guilty and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life.
2. According to the prosecution version on 2/8/1999 the accused poured kerosene over his wife Pinjari Hussain Bee (hereinafter referred to as the deceased) and set her on fire. The prosecution version primarily restrained on two dying declarations purported to have been recorded by the Magistrate and by a police official. First dying declaration was recorded by the Magistrate on 2/8/1999 on 11.30 a.m. which is Ex. P. 15. Later on another dying declaration Ex. P. 20 was recorded by the Head Constable PW.12 after about one hour of the first dying declaration. The High Court noticed that there was variation between the two dying declarations about the manner in which the deceased was set on fire. In fact that the two dying declarations can be reconciled with each other and since no other evidence was available to connect accused with crime the conviction as recorded was held to be not sustainable. Accordingly acquittal was directed.
3. Learned counsel for the appellant – State submitted that the variation between the two dying declarations was not very significant and the High Court should not have discarded the subsequent dying declaration on the ground that it was at variance with the first dying declaration.
4. There is no appearance on behalf of the respondent in spite of service of notice.
5. There is no explanation as to why the second dying declaration was recorded by the Head Constable of Police shortly after such a statement was recorded when the dying declaration have already been recorded by the Magistrate. It is not a case where the variation between the two dying declarations is of trivial in nature. The scenario was described in substantially different manner. The High Court noted that the improvements were made to rationalise with the injuries sustained by the deceased. Conclusions of the High Court do not have any infirmity which warrant
any interference.
6. The appeals stands dismissed.
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1. Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of Division Bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court directing acquittal of the respondent who faced trial for alleged commission of offences punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short IPC). The learned II Additional Sessions Judge, Kurnool had found the accused guilty and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life.
2. According to the prosecution version on 2/8/1999 the accused poured kerosene over his wife Pinjari Hussain Bee (hereinafter referred to as the deceased) and set her on fire. The prosecution version primarily restrained on two dying declarations purported to have been recorded by the Magistrate and by a police official. First dying declaration was recorded by the Magistrate on 2/8/1999 on 11.30 a.m. which is Ex. P. 15. Later on another dying declaration Ex. P. 20 was recorded by the Head Constable PW.12 after about one hour of the first dying declaration. The High Court noticed that there was variation between the two dying declarations about the manner in which the deceased was set on fire. In fact that the two dying declarations can be reconciled with each other and since no other evidence was available to connect accused with crime the conviction as recorded was held to be not sustainable. Accordingly acquittal was directed.
3. Learned counsel for the appellant – State submitted that the variation between the two dying declarations was not very significant and the High Court should not have discarded the subsequent dying declaration on the ground that it was at variance with the first dying declaration.
4. There is no appearance on behalf of the respondent in spite of service of notice.
5. There is no explanation as to why the second dying declaration was recorded by the Head Constable of Police shortly after such a statement was recorded when the dying declaration have already been recorded by the Magistrate. It is not a case where the variation between the two dying declarations is of trivial in nature. The scenario was described in substantially different manner. The High Court noted that the improvements were made to rationalise with the injuries sustained by the deceased. Conclusions of the High Court do not have any infirmity which warrant
any interference.
6. The appeals stands dismissed.
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