Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1112 OF 2011
Om Prakash … Appellant
Versus
Union of India & Ors. … Respondents
J U D G M E N T
DIPAK MISRA, J.
The present appeal, by special leave, is directed against the
judgment of affirmation of conviction and order of sentence passed by the
Armed Forces Tribunal, principal Bench, New Delhi (for short “the
tribunal”) in T.A. 617 of 2009 whereby the tribunal has confirmed the
conviction under Section 304 Part-II, I.P.C. and the sentence of seven
years of rigorous imprisonment imposed by the General Court Martial held at
Babina in the State of Madhya Pradesh vide order dated 24.2.2007 and
further has maintained the order dated 18.3.2008 passed by the Chief of
Army Staff under Section 164(2) of the Army Act, 1950 (for brevity “the
Act”).
2. Be it stated, the initial order was challenged before the High Court
of Delhi in W.P.(C) No. 7266 of 2009 and after coming into force of the
Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 (for short ‘the 2007 Act’) and the
constitution of the tribunal the matter was transferred to the tribunal
wherein it was treated as an appeal under Section 15 of the said enactment.
3. The facts necessary to be exposited for adjudication of this
appeal are that on 3rd of April, 2006, a ‘Barkhana’ was organized at 85,
Armoured Regiment to bid farewell to the outgoing Risaldar, Major Madan
Lal. At the Barkhana venue some heated arguments took place between the
appellant and Risaldar, Nand Lal Prasad, PW5, and in course of argument
said Nand Lal Prasad slapped the appellant. However, the matter was
defused with the intervention of Major Raj Nandan, PW4, who instructed
Lance Dafdar Anil Kumar, PW6 and Lance Dafadar Murari Singh, PW7, to take
the accused to his living barracks of Headquarter Squadron.
4. As per the prosecution version during the altercation and assault
between the accused and Nand Lal Prasad, deceased Dafadar Ram Pratap had
tried to intervene and was abused by the accused. After the accused had
left for the barracks of the Headquarter, about 12.30 a.m., Sowar Balwinder
Singh, PW6, came to the line after finishing his duties allotted to him,
and after entering the room switched on the light and found Dafadar Ram
Pratap was lying in a pool of blood and blood was also oozing out from his
mouth. He was immediately shifted to the Army Hospital where he was
declared dead. About 1.30 a.m. on 4.4.2006, information was received from
the police station Babina by the 85, Armoured Regiment that a person
belonging to their regiment had surrendered at the police station and
stated that he had stabbed one person with a knife. On receipt of the said
information, the concerned J.C.O. was sent to the police station where he
saw that Dafadar Om Prakash was present. After receiving the information
from the J.C.O., the Commanding Officer, Col. Rajiv Chib, PW27, along with
Lt. Col. Atul Kumar Bhat, PW15, reached the police station Babina about
1.50 a.m. and enquired from the accused about the details to which he
confessed that he had stabbed the deceased. Thererafter, an F.I.R. was
lodged by the Adjutant Captain Abhishek, PW3, and the accused was handed
over to the Military Police. As the narration would further unfurl, the
proceedings of the General Court Martial (GCM) under the Army Act was
initiated by order dated 8.10.2006 passed by Major General A.K. Singh,
General Officer Commanding, 31st Armoured Division.
5. Be it noted, the accused was charged for the offences under Section
302 of I.P.C. for intentionally causing death of Ram Pratap of his unit,
but subsequently stood convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to
murder under Part-II of Section 304, I.P.C. As is demonstrable, the
prosecution in order to substantiate the charge had examined as many as 31
witnesses and during the court martial number of documents were exhibited.
The Court Martial relied on Exbt. 36 which was recorded at the time of
summary of evidence wherein the accused had admitted that the deceased and
he were involved in a fight. He had also stated that the deceased in the
room had abused him and tried to kick him but failed in the attempt and
when the accused stood up on ‘charpai’ the deceased boxed him on the face
and at that time he pushed him back with both hands as a result of which he
fell on the box and was hurt on his back. As the statement further
proceeds, the deceased left the room and came back within five minutes.
The accused, in the meantime, had picked up the knife from the locker and
kept it on the box. While he was sitting in the ‘charpai’ the deceased
came into the room and caught hold of the neck of the appellant and pulled
him towards his own locker. The appellant got hold of the knife and
stabbed the deceased on the chest so that he would leave his neck. Apart
from the aforesaid, a confessional statement made by the accused to Col.
Rajiv Chib, Commanding Officer of the regiment, PW27, at police station
that he had stabbed the deceased was also given credence to. The testimony
of Lt. Col. Atul Kumar Bhat, PW15, who had witnessed the confession was
also taken into consideration. In addition, during the court martial the
corroborating statement of Court Witness No. 7 Naib Subedar J.M. Sharma,
wherein the accused had stated to CW-7 at Police Station on 4th of April,
2006 about the incident that was caused due to anger and intoxication, was
also exhibited. The GCM also believed that part of the testimony of CW-7
wherein he had stated that from the condition of dress worn by the accused,
it appeared that he was involved in a quarrel, for the accused had a minor
bruise on his right temple of the head. The GCM referred to the evidence
of Major (Dr.) M.C. Sahoo, PW1, and Dr. R.K. Chaturvedi, PW28, who had
deposed that the stab wound injury inflicted on the chest of the deceased
was sufficient in ordinary course of nature to cause death. The GCM also
took certain circumstances, namely, that the deceased was lying on the
floor in a pool of blood; that the accused was found lying on the ‘charpai’
in the room in an injured condition; that he was present in the room and
eventually held thus:-
“Even though the accused had no intention to kill the deceased, the accused
should be knowing the consequences of his action. The accused should be
conscious, that by stabbing at chest, which is a vital part of a human
body, the injured person is likely to die, due to the effect of such
injury. A man expects the natural consequences of his action. By causing
such bodily injury on Dafadar Ram Pratap, the accused should be knowing
that death is the likely consequence of that injury even though accused
never intended to kill Dafadar Ram Pratap.
Hence the court finds him Not Guilty of committing a civil offence
that is to say Murder contrary to Sec. 302 of IPC but Guilty of committing
a civil offence that is to say, culpable homicide not amounting to murder
under Part-II of Sec. 304 of IPC.”
6. In appeal the tribunal after adverting to the facts and the evidence
brought on record took note of the chain of circumstantial evidence brought
on record and opined thus:-
“The appellant/accused himself reached at the Police Station Babina and
reported with regard to the incident and desired him to be taken into
custody. From the statement of the PW31 Constable Clerk Munna Lal Verma
who informed to the military authorities about the surrender of the accused
at Police Station Babina. It was also clarified by him in his statement
that it was the intervening night of 3/4th April 2006 at about 1.30 hours
or 2.00 a.m. the accused came to the Police Station and was slightly
frightened and told that in the Unit there was Barakhana party. He had
quarrel with few people and so he be protected. The timings when the
accused surrendered at the Police Station would itself reconcile with the
time of the causing of the fatal injury and it would lead to the conclusion
that after causing injuries when PW13 Dafadar Muneshwar Shah and PW23
Acting Lance Dafadar Vikram Singh reached at that room, he slipped away
from that place and could possibly reached at Police Station at 1:30 or
2:00 a.m. on the intervening night of 3/4th April, 2006. There the accused
also confessed his guilt before PW3 Abhishek Sharma that he had caused
stabbed injury to Dafadar Ram Pratap. The testimony of these witnesses
could not be assailed. However, PW29 Sub Inspector Lal Singh made it clear
that on the first day the accused confessed his guilt and for that an
application was also moved before the Magistrate but on next day he did not
give his confessional statement. The fact remains that before informant
Captain Abhishek Sharma he confessed his guilt and his testimony remained
uncontroverted and it was supported by the statement of PW30 Lt. Col.
Sandeep before whom in the course of Summary of Evidence the accused
produced original copy of the statement (unsworn statement) vide Exbt. 36.
In his statement he has also admitted his guilt. There is ample
incriminating circumstances appearing against the appellant and proving the
complete chain of circumstances consistent only with hypothesis of the
guilt of the appellant. Each circumstance are appearing to be
incriminating in nature and in totality the conclusion established the
guilt of the appellant. In that regard, reliance may be placed on Gilbert
Pereira v. State of Karntaka AIR 2004 12 SCC 281 wherein it was held as
under:
The incriminating circumstances proved against the appellant form a
complete chain of circumstances which is consistent only with the
hypothesis of guilt of the appellant. Each circumstance is incriminating
in nature and the totality of circumstances conclusively establishes the
guilt of the appellant.
10. From such incriminating circumstances which were incompatible with
the innocence of the guilt of any other person the GCM was justified in
drawing the inference of guilt of the accused/appellant.”
Being of this view, the tribunal concurred with the opinion
expressed by the GCM.
7. We have heard Mr. Mohit Kumar Shah, learned counsel for the appellant
for the appellant and Mr. B.V. Balram Das, learned counsel for the
respondent.
8. It is submitted by learned counsel for the appellant that the
substantial evidence which has been relied upon for recording the
conviction by the GCM and the tribunal cannot form the foundation of
conviction, for the confession made by the appellant at the police station
in presence of the authorities cannot be taken into consideration, and that
apart heavy reliance placed on the statement recorded in the summary
enquiry under Rule 23 of the Army Rules, 1954 (for short “the Rules”) is
totally sans legal substratum. Learned counsel would submit that the
tribunal has failed to analyse the unacceptable and incurable discrepancies
in the evidence of witnesses and, in fact, at places has relied upon
certain hearsay evidence which make the analysis perverse and in the
ultimate eventuate the judgment has become absolutely dented. It is urged
by him when the weapon of causing injury, that is, the knife has not been
recovered, and the evidence as brought on record would show that apart from
the appellant other persons were also present in the room while the
deceased was murdered, the circumstantial evidence could not have been
regarded to have brought home the charge against the accused. Learned
counsel would submit that the presence of the accused at the time of
incident as per the evidence available on record is doubtful and,
therefore, the conclusion that has been arrived at deserves to be dislodged
on the bedrock that it does not meet the criteria of proof as per the
principles laid down by this Court in relation to acceptance of the
circumstantial evidence. Learned counsel has seriously criticized the
approach of the tribunal in appreciation of the evidence on the ground that
it is extremely perverse and does not withstand scrutiny. To bolster his
submissions, he has commended us to decisions in Ravindran v.
Superintendent of Customs[1] and Rumi Bora Dutta v. State of Assam[2].
9. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent, resisting the arguments
canvassed by Mr. Saha, has urged that ample material has been brought on
record by the prosecution to establish the chain as required under the
concept of circumstantial evidence and the minor discrepancies here and
there would not destroy the prosecution case. Learned counsel would
contend that 31 witnesses were examined during the GCM and their deposition
appreciated in entirety undoubtedly and decidedly bring home the charge
leveled against the appellant. It is canvassed that the non-recovery of
the kitchen knife with which the injury was caused does not mar the
prosecution case. Emphasis has been laid on the statement recorded vide
Exhibit 36 under Rule 23 of the rules by Col. Sandeep Nagrat, PW 30, which
has been corroborated by the court witness No.2, Risaldar Rajesh Kumar and
on that base, it is urged that there is no reason to discard the version of
the prosecution. It is further argued that the appellant in his petition
dated 30.05.2007 under Section 164 of the Army Act had admitted that he had
used the vegetable knife in his self-defence which resulted in the death of
the victim and he had no intention to cause the death and hence, the
punishment awarded was very harsh, and the said admission goes a long way
to establish the case of the prosecution. Certain authorities have been
cited to show how the proceedings before the GCM are meant for maintaining
military discipline under the Act and how the statement recorded under Rule
23 can be placed reliance upon.
8. First we shall record the injuries inflicted on the deceased. Dr.
R.K. Chaturvedi, PW28, who had conducted the autopsy had found the
following injuries on the body of the deceased:-
“The two ante mortem injuries were found on the dead body. The one which
can be called Number 1 injury was stab wound on chest, at the left side of
size 3 x 2 cms and the second injury was linear abrasion at right back side
of chest. The size of linear abrasions was 3 ½ x 1 ½ cm.
The stab wound was 3 x 2 cm, at the margin of wound. The wound was deep
upto chest cavity, it was sharp and averted meaning protruding outside.
The linear abrasion was below the lower angle of right scapula.”
9. In the opinion of the autopsy surgeon the injury number 1 could be
caused by knife which had caused the death of the deceased. From the
evidence brought on record it has been established that on 3.4.2006 there
was a farewell party, that is, ‘Barkhana’ to bid farewell to Risaldar
Major Madan Lal; that drinks were served in the said party; that the
appellant had entered into an altercation with Risaldar Nand Lal Prasad,
PW5, and the appellant had fought with him and abused him and consequently
PW5 had slapped the appellant; that the appellant had abused PW5 and the
deceased; that the said altercation was intervened by Risaldar Major Raj
Nandan Rai, PW4, and at that juncture he had directed Lance Dafadar Anil
Kumar, PW6, and Lance Dafadar Murari Singh, PW7, to take the accused to his
living barracks; that as per the directions of the authority PW-6 and PW-7
had guided the appellant to the barracks; that the deceased was found lying
on the floor bleeding from mouth and nose and the appellant was found lying
on his bed on his stomach with hands folded beneath in the same room by
Sowar Balwinder Singh, PW26, at about 0030 hours when he had returned to
the barracks; that on being alerted by PW 26, Dafadar Muneshwar, PW13, and
Sowar Nakul Prasad, PW12 had made arrangements for taking the deceased for
medical aid; that apart from the deceased and the appellant, no one else
was present in the room as per the testimony of Dafadar Major Ghanshyam
Pukan, PW18, Sowar Balwinder Singh, PW26, Sowar Nakul Prasad, PW12 and
Dafadar Muneshwar, PW13; that Dafadar Major Ghanshyam Pukan, PW18, and
Dafadar Muneshwar, PW13, had witnessed the appellant leaving the room
quietly via the rear door; that the appellant was absent from the ‘fall in
parade’ that was conducted at 0200 hours; and that at 0150 hours the
Commanding Officer, Col. Rajiv Chib, PW27, and Lt. Col. Atul Kumar Bhat,
PW15, met the appellant at PS Babina, wherein the appellant had
surrendered.
10. From the aforesaid established facts which are founded on proper
appreciation of the evidence by the forums below, and we are inclined to
think rightly, it is quite vivid that the chain of circumstances is
complete. We have concurred with the analysis of the evidence after
critically scrutinizing the evidence of the prosecution witnesses. What
has weighed with the forums below is that the appellant was present in the
room and had escaped. The circumstances that really weigh against the
appellant are that he had indulged in an altercation in the party; that he
was in a drunken state and he was alone present in the room; and that he
had escaped by the rear door and his presence at the police station at an
odd hour and his absence at the “fall in parade”. Learned counsel for the
appellant had endeavoured to argue that other persons were present in the
room and for the said purpose he has shown some lines from here and there
but the evidence read in entirety established beyond any shadow of doubt
that the accused was alone in the room. He being present at the police
station and not being present at the “fall in parade” are circumstances
which would go against him. He has not been able to give any explanation
about his presence at the police station and the factum that on being
informed by the Head constable the army officers arrived at the concerned
police station. There can be no cavil over the proposition as has been
laid down by this Court in Hema v. State[3], Union of India v. Major
Rabinder Singh[4], Appabhai v. State of Gujarat[5] and Rohtash Kumar v.
State of Haryana[6] that the circumstances from which the conclusion of
guilt is sought to be established must be conclusive in nature. In the case
at hand the series of circumstance clearly establish the guilt of the
accused and the minor discrepancies that have been pointed out by the
learned counsel for the appellant, really do not create any kind of dent
in the testimony of the prosecution witnesses to treat them as reproachable
and remotely do not destroy the prosecution version.
11. Apart from the aforesaid evidence, we have to consider the
evidentiary value of Exhibit 36, the statement recorded at the time of
summary of evidence under Rule 23 of the Rules. The said Rule deals with
procedure for taking down the summary of evidence. Rule 23 of the Rules
being pertinent is reproduced below:-
“23. Procedure for taking down the summary of evidence.- (1) Where the
case is adjourned for the purpose of having the evidence reduced to
waiting, at the adjourned hearing evidence of the witnesses who were
present and gave evidence before the commanding officer, whether against or
for the accused, and of any other person whose evidence appears to be
relevant, shall be taken down in writing in the presence and hearing of the
accused before the commanding officer or such officer as he directs.
(2) The accused may put in cross-examination such questions as he thinks
fit to any witness, and the questions together with the answers thereto
shall be added to the evidence recorded.
(3) The evidence of each witness after it has been recorded as provided
in the rule when taken down, shall be read over to him, and shall be signed
by him, or if he cannot write his name shall be attested by his mark and
witnessed as a token of the correctness of the evidence recorded. After
all the evidence against the accused has been recorded, the accused will be
asked: “do you wish to make any statement? You are not obliged to say
anything unless you wish to do so but whatever you say will be taken down
in writing and may be given in evidence.” Any statement thereupon made by
the accused shall be taken down and read to him, but he will not be cross-
examined upon it. The accused may then call his witnesses, if he so
desires, any witnesses as to character.
(4) The evidence of the witnesses and the statement (if any) of the
accused shall be recorded in the English language. If the witness of
accused, as the case may be, does not understand the English language, the
evidence or statement, as recorded, shall be interpreted to him in a
language which he understands.
(5) If a person cannot be compelled to attend as a witness, or if owing
to the exigencies of service or any other grounds (including the expense
and loss of time involved), the attendance of any witness cannot in the
opinion of the officer taking the summary (to be certified by him in
writing), be readily procured, a written statement of his evidence
purporting to be signed by him may be read to the accused and included in
the summary of evidence.
(6) Any witness who is not subject to military law may be summoned to
attend by order under the hand of the commanding officer of the accused.
The summons shall be in the form provided in Appendix III.
12. As we have seen from the statement recorded in the said proceeding,
all the safeguards were followed. The appellant, as has been indicated
hereinbefore, had stated thus:-
“10. After Squadron Dafedar Major left, Lance Dafedar Chunbad Prasad
reached. He was going on posting. He closed his bedding and got his
luggage lifted by two Ors. He before leaving the barrack/room said to me,
“Adjutant Mera, Officer Commanding Mera, Troop Leader Mera, Senior JCO
Mera, Agar to Report Karega to Teri Maa Chudwa Doonga”.
11. After this Dafedar Ram Pratap came inside the room while Lance Dafedar
Chunbad Prasad and Dafedar Muneshwar Sah were standing outside the room.
Dafedar Ram Pratap kicked me, but it hit the Charpoy. He said “Madarchod
Raste Me Charpoy Dal Kar So Raha Hai”. As soon, I stood up on the Charpoy,
be boxed me on my face. At that time I pushed him back with both hands.
He fell on the box. His vest got torn and was hurt on his back.
12. Thereafter, Dafedar Ram Pratap went out of the room. He came back to
the room after approximately 5 minutes. I picked up my knife from locker
and kept it next to me on the box. I kept sitting on the Charpoy. He came
back to room and got hold of my neck and pulled me towards his own locker.
Meanwhile, I was hit by a stick on my shoulder. I got hold of the knife
and stabbed him (Dafedar Ram Pratap) on the chest so that he would leave my
neck. He fell on the ground between the two charpoys.”
13. The said statement has been proven during the GCM vide Exhbt. 36 by
Col. Sandip Nagra, PW30. It has also been supported by Risaldar Rajesh
Kumar, CW2. Despite roving cross-examination, both the witnesses have
firmly stood embedded to their version. The challenge to the said document
shows the hollowness of assault on the part of the appellant. We may
hasten to make it clear that we are not placing any reliance on the
confession made by the appellant before the Army officers at the police
station in the presence of police officers. We are restricting our
analysis only to the statement recorded under Rule 23 of the Rules and how
the testimony of the witnesses deposing about the statement have absolutely
stood firm during cross-examination. In this regard, reference to the
pronouncement in Bachan Singh v. Union of India and others[7] would be
seemly. In the said case, the appellant therein faced the GCM and was
found guilty of the charge and sentenced to suffer two years imprisonment
and dismissal of service. The said order was set aside by the learned
Single Judge of the High Court against which the Union of India preferred a
Letters Patent Appeal and that was allowed by the Division Bench. That led
the appellant therein to approach this Court in appeal by special leave.
The Court apart from taking note of the statement made by the appellant
therein before the GCM also took note of the first summary evidence
recorded in presence of the witnesses. In that context, the two-Judge
Bench opined:-
“11. The record of the Court Martial produced before us by the learned
Additional Solicitor General would reveal that the GCM was held against the
appellant on different dates at Udhampur. The record would disclose that
the appellant had made voluntarily written confessional statement before
the GCM admitting the allegations levelled against him in the charge-sheet.
On bare perusal of the GCM, it becomes quite clear that the proceedings
were recorded by the GCM in the presence of the appellant, his defending
officer and other witnesses. The statements of Major S.K. Sareen, Smt Vidya
Devi, Veena Kumari, Tara Chand, Rattan Singh, Prabhu Ram, Major S.B. Ambel,
Pritam Singh, Capt. A.K. Chowdary, Major Amin Chand Bhattee were recorded
by the GCM on behalf of the prosecution in support of the charge in the
presence of the appellant. The appellant was afforded full opportunity of
cross-examining the witnesses but he did not avail of the said opportunity.
12. It appears from the record that despite giving warning to the appellant
to the effect that he was not obliged to make any confessional statement,
the appellant made written confessional statement on 22-10-1980. The
appellant made additional statement in addition to first summary of
evidence on 10-9-1981 in the presence of witnesses, namely, IC-25616Y Major
S.L. Gautam, independent witness and Major Amin Chand, officer recording
summary of evidence. It appears from the record that second additional
summary of evidence recorded on 10-9-1981 was in compliance with the Army
Rules 23(1), 23(2), 23(3), 23(4) and 23(6) in which the appellant did
confess his guilt.”
14. Learned counsel would submit that there was a confession which was
retracted in the proceeding before the GCM. But what we have noticed is
that the GCM has relied on the statement made vide Ext. 36. On a studied
scrutiny of the statement of the accused, we find that the appellant was
asked whether he was inclined to make a statement and also apprised that he
was not obliged to say anything unless he wanted to say. That apart, a
warning was given to him that whatever he would say would be taken down in
writing and given in evidence. Thus, there was no compulsion. It was a
voluntary statement and the meat of the matter is that it had been done
under a statutory Rule and has been proven to the hilt before the GCM. We
repeat at the cost of repetition, nothing has been elicited in the cross-
examination or brought on record which will make the statement hollow and
unreliable.
15. In view of our aforesaid analysis, we find no merit in the appeal and
accordingly the same stands dismissed.
.............................J.
[Dipak Misra]
..............................J.
[N.V. Ramana]
New Delhi
July 9, 2015
-----------------------
[1]
[2] (2007) 6 SCC 410
[3]
[4] (2013) 7 SCC 417
[5]
[6] (2013) 10 SCC 192
[7]
[8] (2012) 12 SCC 787
[9]
[10] AIR 1988 SC 696
[11]
[12] (2013) 14 SCC 434
[13]
[14] (2008) 9 SCC 161