Supreme Court of India
DANI SINGH AND ORS.versusSTATE OF BIHAR
- Citation
- 2004 INSC 167
- Decided
- 12 March 2004
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- DORAISWAMY RAJU
Holding
The Court held that the prosecution had proved the existence of a common object and common intention, and therefore the convictions under Sections 302 read with 149 and 34 IPC stand.
Summary
The appellants were convicted for the murder of two villagers after a violent mob attacked them with bombs and sharp weapons, subsequently burning the bodies. The prosecution alleged that the accused formed an unlawful assembly of five or more persons with a common object to kill the victims, and that each participant either directly assaulted or aided the assault. The appellants contended that no common object or common intention was proved and that many of them performed no overt act. The Supreme Court examined the requirements of Sections 149 and 34 of the IPC, emphasizing that a common object need not be pre‑arranged and that mere presence in an unlawful assembly can attract liability if the person understood the unlawful purpose. Relying on detailed eyewitness testimony, forensic findings and the nature of the armed mob, the Court held that the prosecution had sufficiently established both the common object and common intention. Consequently, the convictions under Sections 302 read with 149 and 34 IPC, along with ancillary charges, were upheld. The appeals were dismissed.
Issues considered
- The prosecution must prove a common object under Section 149 IPC for an unlawful assembly.
- The prosecution must prove a common intention under Section 34 IPC for joint liability.
- Whether the absence of an overt act by some accused precludes conviction under Sections 149 and 34.
- Whether the evidence of eyewitnesses and forensic material is sufficient to sustain the convictions.
Legislation cited
- Arms Act, 1959s. 27
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 319
- Explosives Substances Act, 1908s. 3, s. 4, s. 5
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 141, s. 147, s. 148, s. 149, s. 20, s. 201, s. 302, s. 34, s. 380, s. 436
Subjects
common objectunlawful assemblySection 149 IPCSection 34 IPCmurderconspiracyovert actcriminal liabilityeyewitness testimonyfactional violence
Judgment
A DANI SINGH AND ORS.
v.
STATE OF BIHAR
MARCH 12, 2004
B (DORAISWAMY RAJU AND ARIJIT PASAYAT, JJ.)
Penal Code-Section 149-Common Object-Meaning of-Formation-
Ascertainment of-Necessity of overt act-Accused chasing, catching hold of
C and assaulting the deceased with various sharp edged weapons-Held, common
object to kill proved-Penal Code-Section 302.
Penal Code-Section 34-Common Intention-Meaning of-Formation-
Ascertainment of-Necessity of overt Act-Accused chasing, catching hold of
and assaulting the deceased with various sharp edged weapons-Held, common
D intention to kill proved-Penal Code-Section 302.
The prosecution's case is that the accused persons intercepted and
attacked one of the deceased persons (Dl) while he was coming back to
his hous·e. One of the accused hurled a bomb on Dl. Dl managed to enter
the house of his cousin. The accused also entered the house. In the
E meantime, the other deceased (D2) also reached there and to sa~e
themselves, Dl and D2 climbed ()n to the box room. Both deceased were
dragged down by the accused persons and attacked with garasa, bhala,
saif and killed. The accused persons also cleaned the place of occurrence
---
and burnt the dead bodies. The occurrence was witnessed by the informant
and the female members of the family.
F
The accused were charged under Sections 302/149, 201and380 IPC
and were convicted by the Trial Court believing the evidence of the
eyewitnesses. On appeal, High Court confirmed the conviction.
The appellants filed appeal before the Court and contended that
G common object or common intention of the accused had not been
established by the prosecution. There was no evidence to show as to how
and when the unlawful assembly was formed. Overt acts were not
attributed to the accused persons.
Dismissing the appeals, the Court
II 1138
DANI SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR 1139
HELD: 1.1. The emphasis in Section 149 IPC is on the common A
object and not on common intention. Mere presence in an unlawful
assembly cannot render a person liable unless there was a common object
and he was actuated by that common object and that object is one of those
set out in Section 141 IPC. When common object of an unlawful assembly
is not proved, the accused persons cannot be convicted with the help of B
Section 149 IPC. [1148-G)
1.2. The crucial question to determine is whether the assembly
consisted of five or more persons and whether the said persons entertained
one or more of the common objects as specified in Section 141 IPC. It
cannot be laid down as a general proposition of law that unless an overt C
act is proved against a person, who is alleged to be a member of unlawful
assembly, it cannot be said that he is a member of an assembly. The only
thing required is that he should have understood that the assembly was
unlawful and was likely to commit any of the acts which fall within the
purview of Section 141 IPC. [1148-G-H; 1149-A)
D
1.3. The word 'object' means the purpose or design and, in order to
make it 'common', it must be shared by all. In other words, the object
should be common to the persons, who compose the assembly, that is to
say, they should all be aware of it and concur in it. A common object may
be formed by express agreement after mutual consultation, but that is by
no means necessary. It may be formed at any stage by all or few members E
of the assembly and the other members may just join and adopt it. It may
be modified or altered or abandoned at any stage. The expression 'in
prosecution of common object' as appearing in Section 149 IPC have to
be strictly construed as equivalent to 'in order to attain the common
object'. It must be immediately connected with the common object by
virtue of the nature of the object. There must be community of object and F
the object must exist only up to a particular stage, and not thereafter.
Members of an unlawful assembly may have community of object up to
certain point beyond which they may differ in their objects and the
knowledge, possessed by each member of what is likely to be committed
in prosecution of their common object may vary not only according to G
the information at his command, but also according to the extent to which
he shares the community of object, and as a consequence of this the effect
of Section 149 IPC may be different on different members of the same
assembly. [1149-A-D]
1.4. The 'common object' of an assembly is to the ascertained from H
1140 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] 2 S.C.R.
A the acts and language of the members com'posing it, and from a
consideration of all the surrounding circumstances. It may be gathered
from the course of conduct adopted by the members of the assembly. What
the common object of the unlawful assembly is at a particular stage of
the incident is essentially a question of fact to be determined, keeping in
view the nature of the assembly, the arms carried by the m·embers, and
B the behaviour of the members at or near the scene of incident. It is not
necessary under law that in all cases of unlawful assembly, with an
unlawful common object, the same must be translated into action or be
successful. It is not necessary that the intention or the purpose, which is
necessary to render an assembly an unlawful one comes into existence at
C the outset. The time of forming an unlawful intent is not material. An
assembly which, at its commencement or even for some time thereafter,
is lawful, may subsequently become unlawful. In other words it can
develop during the course of incident at the spot eo instanti.
(1149-F-H; 1150-A]
D Chikkarange Gowda and Ors. v. State of Mysore, AIR (1956) SC 731;
Masalti and Ors. v. State of U P., AIR (1965) SC 202; Lalji v. State of UP.,
(1989] 1 SCC 437 and State of UP. v. Dan Singh and Ors., (1997) 3 SCC
747, referred to.
2.1. 'Common object' is different from a 'common intention' as it
E does not require a prior concert and a common meeting of minds before
the attack. (1149-E)
2.2. Section 34 IPC really means that if two or more persons
intentionally do a common thing jointly, it is just the same as if each of
F them had done it individually. It is well recognised canon of criminal
jurisprudence that the Courts cannot distinguish between co-conspirators,
nor can be inquire, even if it were possible as to the part taken by each in
the crime. When parties go with a common purpose to execute a common
object each and every person becomes responsible for the act of each and
every other in execution and furtherance of the common purpose; as the
G purpose is common, so must be the responsibility. All are guilty of the
principal offence, not of abatement only. But a party not cognizant of the
intention of his companion to commit murder is not liable, though he has
joined his companion to do and unlawful act. The essence of liability under <, .
this Section is the existence of a common intention animating the offenders
H and the participation in the criminal act in furtherance of the common ,
, DANI SINGH v. ST ATE OF BIHAR
intention. The essence is simultaneous consensus of minds of persons
participating in the criminal action to bring about a particular result.
1141
A
11152-F-H; 1153-A-B)
2.3. The participation need not in all cases be by physical presence.
In offences involving physical violence, normally presence at the scene of
offence may be necessary, but such is not the case in respect of other B
offences and the offence consists of diverse acts which may be done at
different times and places. 11153-B-C)
2.4. 'Common intention' implies prearranged plan and acting in
concert pursuant to the prearranged plan. Under Section 34 IPC pre- C
concert in the sense of a distinct previous plan is not necessary to be
proved. The common intention to bring about a particular result may well
develop on the spot as between a number of persons, with reference to
the facts of the case and circumstances of the situation. Though common
intention may develop on the spot, it must, however, be anterior in point
of time to the commission of the offence showing a prearranged plan for D
prior concert. 11153-E]
2.5. Care must be taken not to confuse same or similar intention with
common intention: the partition which divides their bonds is often very
thin, nevertheless the distinction is real and substantial, and if overlooked
may result in miscarriage of justice. To constitute common intention, it is E
necessary that intention of each one of them be known to the rest of them
and shared by them. Undoubtedly, it is a difficult thing to prove even the
intention of an individual and, therefore, it is all the more difficult to show
the common intention of a group of persons. But however difficult may
be the task, the prosecution must lead evidence of facts, circumstances and F
conduct of the accused from which the common intention can be safely
gathered. [1153-G-H]
Willie (William) Slaney v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR (1956) SC
116; Dhanna etc. v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR (1996) SC 2478;
Ramaswami Ayyangar and Ors. v. State of Tamil Nadu, AIR (1976) SC 2027; G
Krihsna Govind Patil v. State of Maharashtra, AIR (1963) SC 1413; Amrit
Singh and Ors. v. State of Punjab, (1972) Crl. L. J. 465 SC; Magsogdan v.
State ofUP., AIR (1988) SC 126; Bhaba Nanda Barma and Ors. v. The State
ofAssam, AIR (1977) SC 2252; Ma/khan and Anr. v. State of Uttar Pradesh,
AIR (1975) SC 12; Oxford English Dictionary; Russel on Crime 12th Edn.
Vol. I pp. 487 and 488 and Shankar/al Kacharabhai and Ors. v. The State H
1142 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) 2 S.C.R.
A of Gujarat, AIR (1965) SC 1260, referred to.
3. The eye witnesses have categorically stated in detail the manner
of assault and the roles played by the accused persons. It is also common
evidence that the targets were the deceased persons. The plea thatsome
of the accused persons did not commit any overt act would really be of
B no consequence. They were not mere sightseers as claimed. There is
nothing to show that they had dissuaded the persons from committing the \
criminal act or withdrew at any point of time during the course of the
incident. The impugned judgment suffers from no infirmity to call for any
interference. [1148-D; 1154-F; 1155-D]
c CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal Nos.
284-286 of 2003 .
.From the Judgment and Order dated 24.10.2002 of the Patna High
Court in Crl. A. Nos. 361, 375 and 393 of 1989.
D U.R. Lalit, Gopal Singh, Navin Prakash and Anurag Sharma for the
Appellants.
Saket Singh for B.B. Singh for the Respondents.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by.
E
ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. A Division Bench of the Patna High Court
found the appellants guilty of offences punishable under Section 302 read
with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC'). In
addition, appellants Lakhan Singh, Janardan Singh, Ram Janam Singh, Dani
F Singh, Raghu Singh, Rarp Charitar Singh and Chandar Singh were found
guilty of offence punishable under Section 20 I IPC and sentenced each to
undergo five years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 3,000 with
default stipulation. It directed that the fine on realisation was to be paid to
the informant by way of compensation. Appellant Lakhan Singh was
additionally convicted for offence punishable under. Section 436 IPC to
G undergo life imprisonment.
The present appeals have ~een filed by 21 persons. Twenty seven
persons were named in the FIR and charge sheet was filed initially against
24 persons. In terms of Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
(in short the 'Code'), three more persons were added. Twenty seven persons
H were convicted by the trial Court and all of them filed appeals before the
-
DANI SINGH v. STATE OF BI HAR [PASAYAT. J.J 1143
High Court. It has to be noted, as stated by learned counsel for the appellants, A
that one of them Lakhan Singh has served out the sentence, and two others
namely Balinder Singh and Gaya Singh were absconding. Three of the accused
persons died during pendency of the appeal before the High Court.
Prosecution version which led to the trial in a nutshell is as follows:
B
=---- On 6.7.1983, informant Ramu Yadav (PW-11), after easing was returning
to his house at about 8 a.m. and his uncle Kishun Yadav (hereinafter described
as 'deceased D-1 ') at that time was also returning to his house from the
-
northern direction and he was ten yards ahead of the informant. When the
informant and the deceased Kishun reached a lane near the house of Sadhu
Kahar, the informant saw a number of persons variously armed with Saif, c
Garasa, Bhala, guns etc. coming out from the Dalan of Bhuneshwar Singh
who all challenged deceased Kishun and attacked him. Appellant Lakhan
Singh, who was carrying a bag, took out a bomb from his bag and hurled it
on deceased Kishun, who after receiving injury, managed to enter the house
of his cousin Phekju Yadav (PW-6). Following him, all the appellants D
alongwith Biro Singh, Pragash Singh and Ram Singh (all the three since
dead) along with 15 to 20 others, variously armed entered the house of Pheku
Yadav. The informant also, following the appellants and their companions,
entered the house of his uncle Pheku Yadav (PW-6). In the meantime, Gopi
Yadav, father of informant (hereinafter referred to as 'deceased D-2') also
-- reached there and, thereafter both deceased, Gopi and Kishun climbed on the
Matkmotha (box room) in order to save their lives. Appellants Lakhan Singh,
Ram Charitar Singh, Ram Janam Singh, Chhotan Singh, Raghu Singh, Balindra
Singh, Manoj Singh, Bhola Singh, Baban Singh, Nandu Singh, Yado Singh
E
and ten to fifteen unknown persons also, along with weapons, climbed from
outside to the roof of house and other appellants remained in the courtyard
F
and verandah of the house. The appellants, who had climbed went to Matkotha,
started assaulting both the deceased with guns, Bhala, Saif etc. The appellants,
who had gone on the roof of the house, uprooted the tiles and bamboo sticks
of Matkotha and appellant Lakhan Singh, after sprinkling kerosene oil on the
roof, set fire and, thereafter the appellants, who had climbed on Matkotha,
dragged deceased Kishun and Gopi to the verandah where they, after piercing G
Garasa, Bhala, Saif, killed them. Thereafter, appellant Raghu Singh, Janardhan
Singh, Ram Charitar Singh, Ram Janam Singh, Dani Singh, Chander Singh,
..! Lakhan Singh along with co-accused Biro Singh carried tlie dead bodies on
a cot towards eastern side of village and other appellants, after scrapping the
blood which had fallen on the ground with straw, put it in a nearby well and
H
1144 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] 2 S.C.R.
A they also washed the blood drops from the walls of the house by water and
mud and, thereafter, they also went following the dead bodies. After some
-
time, the informant saw smoke and flames of fire rising from the side of
eastern boundary of his village where the appellants had burnt the dead
bodies. They remained at the place of burning for about two hours, and
thereafter they again came back to the houses of informant (PW-11) and
B Pheku Yadav (PW-6) and took away rice, wheat, gram, clothes, ornaments,
pots etc. The occurrence was witnessed by female members of the family of
informant including his mother, aunt, sister, wife of brother of Pheku Yadav
-------'
(PW-6) and number of other villagers. Old enmity, giving rise to number of
c
cases between the prosecution party and appellants, was stated to be the
motive of the occurrence. The fardbayan of informant was recorded on the
........
day of occurrence at 8.30 p.m. by Sub Inspectort Uzair Alam (PW-13). The
informant, in his fardbayan stated that because appellants did not allow him
to leave the house, he could not go t.1 the Police Station earlier. On the basis
of fardbayan of informant, a case under Sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 201,
436, 380, Indian Penal Code, Section 27 of Arms Act, 1959 (in short 'Arms
D Act') and Sections 3, 4, 5 of Explosives Substances Act, 1908 (in short
'Explosives Act') against all the twenty four appellants alongwith Biro @
Birendra Singh, Pragash Singh and Ram Singh and fifteen to twenty unknown
was registered and police, after investigation, submitted charge sheet against
the appellants and Biro @ Birendra, Pragash Singh and Ram Singh. Charges
E under Sections 302/149, 201 and 380, Indian Penal Code were framed against
the appellants and Biro @ Birendra, Pragash Singh and Ram Singh and after
trial, the appellants were found guilty and were convicted and sentenced, as
indicated above. Biro @ Birendra, Pragash Singh and Ram Singh were also
--
convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life under
Section 302 read with Section 34, Indian Penal Code. Biro Singh@ Birendra
F was further convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for
-"!
five years and to pay a fine of Rs. 3000. All the aforesaid three persons died
during the pendency of the appeal before the High Court. The accused persons
pleaded that on the date of occurrence appellants Nawal Singh and Indu
Singh were not present in the village. Prior to the alleged occurrence two
G persons namely Saudhi Singh and Arjun were murdered and after their murder,
both the deceased had left their village with the family members and were
living somewhere else. Therefore, they were not living in the village where
they claimed tct have been murdered. The accused persons have been
implicated on the account of previous enmity. Four witnesses were examined
to further this version. In order to prove its accusations, prosecution examined '"'--
H 15 witnesses out of whom Ramu Yadav (PW-11) is the informant and deceased
DANI SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR (PASA YAT. J.]
- .--·
1145
K)shun Yadav and Gopi Yadav (hereinafter referred to as D-1 and D-2) were A
his uncle and father respectively. It was claimed that apart from PW-11,
Kishun Rajwar (PW-1), Lalo Mahto (PW-2), China Devi (PW-3) and Kamli
Devi (PW-IO) were eyewitnesses. During investigation, blood stained soil,
burnt tiles and remnants of exploded bombs were seized from a lane near to
the house of Shiv Nandan Kumar and a house of Pheku Mahto (PW-6).
Police also recovered straws from the well of PW-6 and seized burnt wood,
B
tender bamboo and pieces of woods and bones from the place known as
Hadsai pyne, and scattered grains from the house of Pheku Mahto (PW-6).
The trial Court found the evidence of the witnesses to be credible and cogent.
It noticed that though China Devi (PW-3) and Kamli Devi (PW-10) were
related to the deceased, Kishun Rajwar (PW-I) and Lalo Mahto (PW-2) were c
independent witnesses who were in no way related to the deceased persons.
They had proved their presence. Placing reliance on their evidence the accused
"' persons as noted above were found guilty.
In appeal, the conclusions of the trial Court were affirmed. It is to be
n<*d that though a plea of alibi was raised by two of the accused persons, D
the evidence tendered to prove the alibi was discarded finding it to be
unreliable and irrelevant.
Learned counsel for the appellants submitted that the evidence on record
does not justify any conviction. The prosecution version was full of
contradictions and exaggerations. Though PWs I and 2 were held to be not E
-- related to the deceased persons, the accepted position was that they were
friendly with the deceased and other eye-witnesses. The genesis of the dispute
has been suppressed as the first information report regarding the occurrence
given by Rajendra Mahto (PW-25), as admitted by the Investigating Officer
has not been taken note of. The same has been suppressed and an anti dated F
manipulated FIR has been brought on record. It has not been explained as to
why both the deceased would run to the house of PW-6. If the prosecution
version is accepted that a bomb was thrown on deceased Kishun, and he ran
towards to his house, there is no reason indicated as to why the deceased
Gopi would also run to the house of PW-6. It is strange that the eyewitnesses
also went to the house of PW-6. Twenty seven accused persons were stated G
to be separately armed in a mob out of 40-50. It is a very exaggerated
scenario presented by the prosecution that the accused persons killed the
j deceased after dragging them out from a place where they were hiding,
several persons carried them on a cot and burnt the bodies and wiped off the
blood with hay and threw them to the well of PW-6. When the accusation of
H
1146 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] 2 S.C.R.
A looting, punishable under Section 380 IPC has not been established, the
exaggeration is clearly patent. Actual killing has not been attributed to anybody
--
in particular. There was considerable delay in lodging the FIR. When the
accused persons have stated to have declared that no other person would be
touched, there was no reason for the apprehension as stated by the eye-
B witnesses for lodging information late. A totally improbable case has been
foisted. Some of the witnesses have said about explosion of three or four
bombs; but others have said about only one and latter is the prosecution
version. The story of common intention or common object as introduced by
the prosecution has not been established. Nothing has been shown as to how
~nd when the alleged unlawful assembly was formed. Actual participation
C has not been attributed. The so-called eye-witnesses have not identified all
accused persons, and each has only identified some. The plea of PW-1 that
he followed the accused persons when they were carrying the dead bodies
does not inspire confidence. No explanation has been offered as to why the
witnesses did not go to the police station though the. burning of the bodies
allegedly took more than one hour. It has come on evidence that a live bomb
D was found in the house of PW-6. There is no evidence as to who put it there.
The evidence of PW-6 and PW-11 do not reconcile with each other. There
was no call or exhortation, which is associated with a case of unlawful
assembly or common intention or common object. Some of the eyewitnesses
said that they came out on hearing the explosion. If that be so, the accused
E persons who did not do any particular overt act may have also come out on
hearing the explosion. It is the prosecution version that the police came on
hearing a rumor about some incident. It has not been established as to what
was the source and why the police came.
--
In response, learned cotmsel for the State submitte~ that it is not a case
F where there was any animosity, individual in character. On the contrary the
evidence clearly established and proved, as noticed by the Courts below, in
a faction ridden village the assaults were on account of faction fighting. The
so-called information given by Rajendra Mahto has been discarded by the
trial Court. E".en approach to this Court did not bring any relief to the
G appellants who during trial had tried to press into service such a plea. If he
was such a material witness, no reason has 'been indicated by the appellants
as to why he could not be examined as a defence witness. The evidence of
IO clearly says that no such person was there. PW-11 's evidence is clear and
cogent that he was behind the deceased Kishun and when on account of the
bomb explosion, the deceased Kishun ran out of anxiety, the other deceased
H followed him. The IO has found the remnants of explosion. There is no
DANISINGHv. STATEOFBIHAR[PASAYAT.J.] 1147
-- inconsistency in the evidence. The houses of the deceased persons were in A
close vicinity. Deceased Gopi's house was _at a distance of7/8 yards from the
place where the first bomb exploded. It is a natural human conduct that
somebody would go out after hearing the sound of explosion. In this case the
deceased Gopi was behind him and others PWs came late. There was nothing
unusual and unnatural in going to PW-6's house. All the witnesses have
identified and stated about the presence of the accused persons in PW-6's B
- house. It is immaterial whether one witness identifies all, or some of them
identify some of the accused persons. The evidence is consistent so far as the
identification of the accused persons, and the weapons carried by them are
concerned. There was positive enmity of the accused persons with the deceased
persons. It is the prosecution version that 11 persons climbed to drag out the C
deceased persons from the place where they were hiding. There has been
even no suggestion given that others who did not scale the roof either stopped
them from doing it or withdrew. That may have to some extent for argument
sake substantiated the plea of appellants that some of them were by-standers.
It is on evidence that while some of them scaled the roof, others were waiting
on the verandah. The IO had recovered blood stained hay from the well. D
Eight of the accused persons carried the dead bodies of deceased on a cot for
the purpose of burning. There is nothing on record to throw doubt about the
objective findings recorded by the IO. It is established that the accused persons
who were cleaning the bloodstains also joined the group who had carried the
dead bodies for the purpose of burning. The evidence is clear in respect of E
the three places of occurrence i.e. (i) the place where the bomb was thrown
on deceased Kishun, (ii) the house of PW-6 and (iii) the place of burning. It
is relevant to note that the place where the dead bodies were burnt was not
a normal burial place. The IO had found that a pit was dug and smell of
kerosene oil was there. It is a case where PWs were threatened by the accused
persons, if they tried to rescue the deceased persons. The evidence of PW- F
6 that when he requested the accused persons not to assault the deceased, he
was told that he should not interfere otherwise he would also be kilied. The
evidence clearly shows that the targets were the deceased persons. Evidence
of PW- I 0 shows that when she tried to save the accused persons, the accused
persons specifically told her that the deceased were the target and others G
should not interfere. The police station was 32 K.M. away. If the defence
version is that the deceased and the eyewitnesses were ill-disposed towards
them, there is no reason to falsely implicate so many persons. The village
being a faction ridden one, there is no scope for any independent witnesses
corning forward. '
H
1148 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004] 2 ·S.C.R.
A It is to be noted that definite roles have been attributed to the accused
persons. Eleven of them have scaled the roof and dragged out the deceased.
Eight of them carried the dead bodies for the purpose of burning. So far as
cleaning the blood and throwing dead bodies to the well etc. is concerned the
accusations are general in nature.
B Though the evidence of PWs l and 2 were attacked on the ground that
it was partisan, we find nothing has been brought on recprd to cast any doubt
on the veracity of their statement. Merely because the witnesses are related
or friendly with the deceased, that will not be a ground to discard their
evidence. The only thing the Court is required to do is to carefully scrutinise
C the evidence and find out if there is scope for taking a view about false
implication. Further since there are some exaggerations or minor discrepancies,
that would not be sufficient to cast doubt on the evidence.
In the instant case, the eyewitneSses have categorically stated in detail
the manner of assault and the roles played by the accused persons. It is also
D a common evidence that the targets were the deceased persons. When large
number of persons armed with weapons do a series of acts by throwing
bombs, dragging out the victims, indiscriminatingly assaulting them, burning ·
the dead bodies, it is but normal and natural that fear psychosis would develop.
This is what precisely has happened, if the version of the. eyewitnesses is
accepted. PWs 6 and l 0 apart from other eyewitnesses have categorically
E stated that when they tried to come to the rescue of the deceased, they were
threatened and asked not to interfere lest they would be killed.
Sections 34 and 149 IPC deal with common intention and common
object respectively.
F The emphasis in Section 149 IPC is on the common object and not on
common intention. Mere presence in an unlawful assembly cannot render a
person liable unless there was a common object and he was actuated by that
common object and that object is one of those set out in Section 141. Where
common object of an unlawful assembly is not proved, the accused persons
G cannot be convicted with the help of Section 149. The crucial question to
determine .is whether the assembly consisted of five or more persons and
whether the said persons entertained one or more of the common objects, as
specified in Section 141. It cannot be laid down as a general proposition of
law that unless an overt act is proved against a person, who is alleged to be
a member of unlawful assembly, it cannot be said that he is a member of an
H assembly. The only thing required is that he should have understood that the
-
DANI SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [PASAYAT. .I.] 1149
assembly was unlawful and was likely to commit any of the acts which fall A
within the purview of Section 141. The word 'object' means the purpose or
design and, in order to make it 'common', it must be shared by all. In other
words, the object should be common to the persons, who compose the
assembly, that is to say, they should all be aware of it and concur in it. A
common object may be formed by express agreement after mutual consultation,
but that is by no means necessary. It may be formed at any stage by all or B
i---
a few members of the assembly and the other members may just join and
adopt it. Once formed, it need not continue to be the same. It may be modified
or altered or abandoned at any stage. The expression 'in prosecution of
common object' as appearing in Section 149 have to be strictly construed as
--- equivalent to 'in order to attain the common object'. It must be immediately
connected with the common object by virtue of the nature of the object.
c
There must be community of object and the object may exist only up to a
particular stage, and not thereafter. Members of an unlawful assembly may
have community of object up to certain point beyond which they may differ
in their objects and the knowledge, possessed by each member of what is
likely to be committed in prosecution of their common object may vary not D
only according to the information at his command, but also according to the
extent to which he shares the community of object, and as a consequence of
this the effect of Section 149, IPC may be different on different members of
the same assembly.
'Common object' is different from a 'common intention' as it does not
E
require a prior concert and a common meeting of minds before the attack. It
is enough if each has the same object in view and their number is five or
more and that they act as an assembly to achieve that object. The 'common
object' of an assembly is to be ascertained from the acts and language of the
members composing it, and from a consideration of all the surrounding F
circumstances. It may be gathered from the course of conduct adopted by the
members of the assembly. What the common object of the unlawful assembly
is at a particular stage of the incident is essentially a question of fact to be
determined, keeping in view the nature of the assembly, the arms carried by
the members, and the behaviour of the members at or near the scene of the
Q,
incident. It is not necessary under law that in all cases of unlawful assembly,
with an unlawful common object, the same must be translated into action or
be successful. Under the Explanation to Section 141, an assembly which was
J not unlawful when it was assembled, may subsequently become unlawful. It
is not necessary that the intention or the purpose, which is necessary to
render an assembly an unlawful one comes into existence at the outset. The H
1150 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] 2 S.C.R.
A time of forming an unlawful intent is not material. An assembly which, at its
commencement or even for some time thereafter, iS lawful, may subsequently
--
become unlawful. In other words it can develop during the course of incident
at the spot eo instanti.
Section 149, IPC consists of two parts. The first part of the section
B means that the offence to be committed in prosecution of the common object
must be one which is committed with a view to accomplish the common
object. In order that the offence may fall within the first part, the offence
must be connected immediately with the common object of the unlawful
assembly of which the accused was member. Even if the offence committed
C is not in direct prosecution of the common object of the assembly, it may yet
fall under Section 141, if it can be held that the offence was such as the
members knew was likely to be committed and this is what is required in the
second part of the section. The purpose for which the members of the assembly
set out or desired to achieve is the object. If the object desired by all the
members is the same, the knowledge that is the object which is being pursued
·D is shared by all the members and they are in general agreement as to how it
is to be achieved and that is now the common object of the assembly. An
object is entertained in the human mind, and it being merely a mental attitude,
no direct evidence can be available and, like intention, has generally to be
gathered from the act which the person commits and the result therefrom.
E Though no hard and fast rule can be laid down under the circumstances from
which the common object can be culled out, it may reasonably be collected
from the nature of the assembly, arms it carries and behaviour at or before
or after the scene of incident. The word 'knew' used in the second branch of
the section implies something more than a possibility and it cannot be made
to bear the sense of 'might have been known'. Positive knowledge is necessary.
F When an offence is committed in prosecution of the common object, it would
generally be an offence which the members of the unlawful assembly knew
was likely to be committed in prosecution of the common object. That,
however, does not make the converse proposition true; there may be cases
which would come within the second part but not within the first part. The
G distinction between the two parts of Section 149 cannot be ignored or
obliterated. In every case it would be an issue to be determined, whether the
offence committed falls within the first part or it was an offence such as the
members of the assembly knew to be likely to be committed in prosecution
of the common object and falls within the second part. However, there may
be cases which would be within the first part but offences committed in
H prosecution of the common object, would be generally, if not always, be
DANI SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [PASAYAT . .I.] 1151
- within the second part, namely, offences which the parties knew to be likely
to be committed in the prosecution of the common object. (See Chikkarange
Gowda and Ors. v. State of Mysore, AIR (l 956) SC 73 J.
A
The other plea that definite roles have not been ascribed to the accused
and, therefore, Section 149 is not applicable, is untenable. A 4-Judge Bench
of this Court in Masalti and Ors. v. State of UP., AIR (l 965) SC 202 B
observed as follows:
"Then it is urged that the evidence given by the witnesses conforms
to the same uniform pattern and since no specific part is assigned to
all the assailants, that evidence should not have been accepted. Thi~
....,__
criticism again is not well founded. Where a crowd of assailants whQ c
are members of an unlawful assembly proceeds to commit an offence
of murder in pursuance of the common object of the unlawful
assembly, it is often not possible for witnesses to describe accurately
the part played by each one of the assailants. Besides, if a large
crowd of persons armed with weapons assaults the intended victims, D
it may not be necessary that all of them have to take part in the actual
assault. In the present case, for instance, several weapons were carried
by different members of the unlawful assembly, but it appears that
the guns were used and that was enough to kill 5 persons. In such a
case, it would be unreasonable to contend that because the other
weapons carried by the members of the unlawful assembly were not E
used, the story in regard to the said weapons itself should be rejected.
Appreciation of evidence in such a complex case is no doubt a difficult
task; but criminal courts have to do their best in dealing with such
cases and it is their duty to sift the evidence carefully and decide
which part of it is true and which is not."
F
To similar effect is the observation in Lalji v. State of U.P., [1989] 1
sec 437. It was observed that:
"Common object of the unlawful assembly can be gathered from
the nature of the assembly, arms used by them and the behaviour of
the assembly at or before the scene of occurrence. It is an inference
G
to be deduced from the facts and circumstances of each case."
,) In State of U.P. v. Dan Singh and Ors., [1997] 3 SCC 747 it was
observed that it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which of the
members of the unlawful assembly did which or what act. Reference was
H
1152 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004] 2 S.C.R.
A made to Lalji's case (supra) where it was observed that "while overt act and
active participation may indicate common intention of the person perpetrating
the crime, the mere presence in the unlawful assembly may fasten vicariously
criminal liability under Section 149".
The legality of conviction by applying Section 34 IPC in the absence
B of such charge was examined in several cases. In Willie (William) Slaney v.
State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR ( 1956) SC 116 it was held as follows:
"Sections 34, 114 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code provide for
criminal liability viewed from different angles as regards actual
participants, accessories and men actuated by a common object or a
c common intention; and the charge is a rolled up one involving the
direct liability and the constructive liability without specifying who
are ·directly liable and who are sought to be made constructively
liable.
In such a situation, the absence of a charge under one or other of
D I
the various heads of criminal liability for the offence cannot be said
to be fatal by itself, and before a conviction for the substantive offence,
without a charge, can be set aside, prejudice will have to be made ·
out. In most of the cases of this kind, evidence is normally given
from the outset as to who was primarily responsible for the act which
E brought about the offence and such evidence is of course relevant".
The above position was re-iterated in Dhanna etc. v. State of Madhya
Pradesh, AIR (1996) SC 2478. -
The Section really means that if two or more persons intentionally do
F a common thing jointly, it is just the same as if each of them had done it
individually. It is a well recognized canon of criminal jurisprudence that the
Courts cannot distinguish between co-conspirators, nor can they inquire, even
if it were possible as to the part taken by each in the crime. Where parties
go with a common purpose to execute a common object each and every
person becomes responsible for the act of each and every other in execution
G and furtherance of their common purpose; as the purpose is common, so must
be the responsibility. All are guilty of the principal offence, not of abetment
only. In a combination of this kind a mortal stroke, though given by one of
the parties, is deemed in the eye of law to have been given by every individual ·-·
present and abetting. But a party not cognizant of the intention of his
H companion to commit murder is not liable, though he has joined his companion
DANI SINGH v. STATE OF BJHAR [PASA YAT. J.] l 153
to do an unlawful act. Leading feature of this Section is the element of A
participation in action. The essence of liability under this Section is the
existence of a common inte~tion animating the offenders and the participation
in a criminal act in furtherance of the common intention. The essence is
simultaneous consensus of the minds of persons participating in the criminal
action to bring about a particular result (See Ramaswami Ayyanagar and Ors. B
v. State of Tamil Nadu, AIR (1976) SC 2027. The participation need not in
all cases be by physical presence. In offences involving physical violence,
normally presence at the scene of offence may be necessary, but such is not
the case in respect of other offences when the offence consists of diverse acts
which may be done at different times and places. The physical presence at
the scene of offence of the offender sought to be rendered liable under this C
Section is not one of the conditions of its applicability in every case. Before
a man can be held liable for acts done by another, under the provisions of
this Section, it must be established that (i) there was common intention in the
sense of a pre-arranged plan between the two, and (ii) the person sought to
be so held liable had participated in some manner in the act constituting the
offence. Unless common intention and participation are both present, this D
Section cannot apply.
'Common intention' implies pre-arranged plan and acting in concert
pursuant to the pre-arranged plan. Under this Section a pre-concert in the
sense of a distinct previous plan is not necessary to be proved. The common E
intention to bring about a particular result may well develop on the spot as
- between a number of persons, with reference to the facts of the case and
circumstances of the situation. Though common intention may develop on
the spot, it must, however, be anterior in point of time to the commission of
offence showing a pre-arranged plan and prior concert. (See Krishna Govind
Patil v. State of Maharashtra, AIR (1963) SC 1413. In Amrit Singh and Ors. F
v. State of Punjab, (1972) Crl. L.J. 465 SC it has been held that common
intention pre-supposes prior concert. Care must be taken not to confuse same
or similar intention with common intention; the partition which divides their
bonds is often very thin, nevertheless the distinction is real and substantial,
and if overlooked will result in miscarriage of justice. To constitute common G
intention, it is necessary that intention of each one of them be known to the
rest of them and shared by them. Undoubtedly, it is a difficult thing to prove
even the intention of an individual and, therefore, it is all the more difficult
to show the common intention of a group of persons. But however difficult
may be the task, the prosecution must lead evidence of facts, circumstances
and conduct of the accused from which their common intention can be safely H
1154 b
-
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 12004] 2 S.C.R.
A gathered. In Magsogdan and Ors. v. State of UP., AIR (1988) SC 126 it was I
observed that prosecution must lead evidence from which the common
intention of the accused can be safely gathered. In most cases it has to be
inferred from the act, conduct or other relevant circumstances of the case in
hand. The· totality of the circumstances must be taken into consideration in
arriving at a conclusion whether the accused had a common intention to
B commit offence for which they can be convicted. The facts and circumstances
of cases vary and each case has to be decided keeping in view of the facts
involved. Whether an act is in furtherance of the common intention is an
incident of fact and not of law. In Bhaba Nanda Barma and Ors. v. The State
of Assam, AIR (1977) SC 2252 it was observed that prosecution must prove
C facts to justify an inference that all participants of the acts had shared a
common intention to commit the criminal act which was finally committed
by one or more o_f the participants. Mere presence of a person at the time of
commission of an offence by his confederates is not, in itself sufficient to
bring his case within the purview of Section 34, unless community of designs
is proved against him (See Ma/khan and Anr. v. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR
D (1975) SC 12. In the Oxford EngHsh Dictionary, the word "furtherance" is
defined as 'action of helping forward'. Adopting this definition, Russel says
that "it indicates some kind of aid or assistance producing an effect in future"
and adds that any act may be regarded as done in furtherance of the ultimate
felony if it is a step intentionally taken, for the purpose of effecting that
E felony. (Russel on Crime 12th Edn. V_ol.I pp.487 and 488). In Shankar/al
Kacharabhai and Ors. v. The State of Gujarat, AIR (1965) SC 1260 this
Court has interpreted the word "furtherance" as 'advancement or promotion'.
The plea that some of the accused persons did not commit any overt
act would really of no consequence. They were not mere sightseers as claimed.
F There is nothing to show that they had dissuaded the persons from committing
the criminal act or withdrew at any point of time during the course of the
incident constituting by itself or as a step in furtherance of the ultimate
offence. There is nothing unusual in deceased Gopi running after the deceased
Kishun and other eyewitnesses in order to ascertain as to what was the cause
G of the explosion and to run after the deceased seeing him towards house of
PW-6. The eyewitnesses have identified the accused persons and have stated
is
about their presence inside the house of PW-6. There no discrepancy so far
as the identification is concerned and about the weapons carried by the
identified ·accused persons. It has also come in evidence that the targeted
victims were the deceased persons with whom the animosity is admitted. The
H objective findings recorded by the IO on spot verification also are in line
DANI SINGH\'. STATE or BIHAR IPASAYAT. J.1 1155
- with the evidence of eyewitnesses. A
So far as the absence of any independent witness is concerned, the
evidence of PW-6 is very relevant. He has stated that the accused persons
were surrounding the village after the incident. In the village Malti there are
100 houses out of which 5 to 6 houses are of Yadavs, 15 to 16 are of
Bhumihars and people of other castes are also there. Before the present B
occurrence, Arjun and Saudhi who were Bhumihars by caste were killed.
Yadavs of the village were accused of the murder and the deceased Kishun
and Gopi were the main accused. Accused Lakhan is the brother of deceased
Saudi Singh and Nandu Singh is the son of Arjun Singh. It has to be noted
further that though the eyewitnesses were examined at length in the cross- C
examination nothing material to belie their credibility or discard their evidence
was brought out.
Looked at from any angle, the impugned judgment suffers from no
infirmity to call for any interference. The appeals are dismissed.
D
B.K.M. Appeals dismissed.
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