Supreme Court of India
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS.versusSTATE OF PUNJAB
- Citation
- 2009 INSC 1079
- Decided
- 26 August 2009
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- H S BEDI
Holding
The Supreme Court upheld the convictions, finding that the prosecution evidence—including corroborated witness testimony, medical identification of the dead body, and the lack of necessity for an identification parade—was sufficient, and the acquittal of two co‑accused on conspiracy did not affect the guilt of the remaining accused.
Summary
The case arose from a violent dispute over land where the accused forcibly entered a tube well, injured the complainant and migrant labourers, and threw a dead labourer’s body into a canal. The trial court convicted all accused under multiple IPC sections and the Arms Act; the High Court acquitted two co‑accused on the conspiracy charge but upheld the others' convictions. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the credibility of a chance witness, the relevance of the FIR’s omission of names, the delay in filing the FIR, the identification of the decomposed body, and the necessity of an identification parade. It held that the chance witness’s testimony was unreliable, the FIR need not list every accused, the body was properly identified by fellow labourers and medical evidence, and the accused had already been identified at arrest, making a parade unnecessary. Consequently, the Court affirmed the convictions of the remaining accused and dismissed the appeal.
Issues considered
- The reliability and admissibility of testimony by a chance witness to prove conspiracy
- Whether the absence of the accused's names in the FIR defeats conviction
- Whether the delay in lodging the FIR and the condition of the dead body affect the prosecution's case
- The necessity of conducting an identification parade when the accused were identified at arrest
- The credibility of the injured witness's testimony
- The effect of the acquittal of co‑accused on conspiracy on the remaining convictions
Legislation cited
- Arms Act, 1959s. 25, s. 27, s. 30, s. 54, s. 59
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 120-B, s. 148, s. 149, s. 201, s. 302, s. 307, s. 342, s. 364, s. 506
Subjects
land disputeconspiracychance witnessidentification paradeFIRdead body identificationmurderforced possessionIPC sectionsArms Actevidentiary valueinjured witness
Judgment
[2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R. 774
A JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. -*-
v.
STATE OF PUNJAB
(Criminal Appeal No. 1288 of 2007)
AUGUST 26, 2009 ")-.
B
[HARJIT SINGH BEDI AND DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, JJ.]
Penal Code, 1860 - ss. 302, 148, 149, 307, 364, 342, -+
506, 201 and 120-B/Arms Act, 1959 - s.30 - Prosecution
c under - Dispute over a land - Two of the accused sold the
land to other accused - Attempt to take forcible possession
of the land by alleged incident - In the incident, witnesses
injured and depth .caused of one labourer - Assailants
throwing the body of the deceased in a canal - Recovery of ...,..-
D dead body after 14 days - Identified by the Co-labourers '?'>
witnesses - One accused absconding - Conviction of all the
accused by trial court - High Court acquitting the vendor- ,...__
accused persons - Conviction of the rest - On appeal, held:
Vendor accused were rightly acquitted as case against them
E not proved - Other accused rightly convicted - Prosecution
case corroborated by injured witness and independent
witnesses, medical evidence and recoveries - Motive also
proved.
~
Witness - Chance witness - Evidentiary value.
F
FIR - Reliability on - When.
Identification - Tl Parade - Holding of - Requirement -
When. ...
G
Prosecution case was that accused 'B' and 'R' were ,._
having land dispute with the sister of PW4. In connection
with that, his nephew (sister's son) w~s also murdered
three years prior to the incident, by accused 'B' and 'R',
H 774
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 775
,;!(.
wherefore criminal case was pending. Accused '8' and A
'R' sold off the land to accused 'I'. Accused 'I' in order to
take forcible possession of the land, approached the land
and assaulted PW-4 and the migrant labourers present
at the field. One of the labourers received gun injury.
Assailants took the injured labour and the deceased in 8
their vehicle on the pretext of giving them proper
treatment. They threw the dead body of the deceased in
a canal. The police recovered the dead body after 14 days
of the incident from a canal. One of the accused had
absconded. Prosecution was initiated against rest of the c
accused.
Trial Court convicted all the accused u/ss.302, 148,
149, 307, 364, 342, 506,201 and 120-8 IPC and u/s.30 of
Arms Act, 1958. On appeal, High Court acquitted the
""' accused '8' and 'R' against whom, charge of conspiracy D
, "«:'
had been framed. In respect of the other accused,
conviction was maintained.
SLP filed by accused 'I' was dismissed by this Court.
One of the convicted accused did not file any appeal. This E
appeal was by the rest of the convicted accused.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court
.J-
HELD: 1.1. Prosecution case had been that it was
accused '8', who hatched the conspiracy to take forcible F
possession of the land. The accused '8' 'R' and 'RK' after
receiving the consideration money for the land and
executing the agreement might not be very much
interested in the land or to recover the possession
thereof. After considering the oral as well as documentary G
--4 evidence on record, the High Court came to the
conclusion that the statement of PVV-18 in respect of the
fact of hatching a conspiracy by accused 'B' and 'G' at
H.
776 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A the bus stand was not worthy of cred~nce. PW-18 a -~-
chance witness could not explain under what
circumstances he was present at the bus stand at the
said time. [Paras 11 and 12] [785-A-E]
B Sachchey Lal Tiwari v. State of U.P. (2004) 11· SCC 410,
relied on.
1.2. The evide.nce of a chance witness requires a very -~
cautious and close scrutiny and a chance witness must
ade·quately explain his presence at the place of
C occurrence. Conduct of the chance witness, subsequent
to the Incident may also be taken Into consideration
particularly as to whether he has Informed anyone else
in the village about the Incident. [Para 15] [786-A-D]
D Satbir v. Surat Singh (1997) 4 SCC 192; Harjinder Singh
v. State of Gujarat (2004) 11 SCC 253; Acharaparambath
Pradeepan and Anr. v. State of Kera/a (2006) 13 SCC 643;
Sarvesh Narain Shukla v. Daroga Singh and Ors. (2007) 13
SCC 360; Shankarlal v. State of Rajasthan (2004) 10 SCC
E 632; Thangaiya v. State of Tamil Nadu (2005) 9 SCC 650),
relied on.
1.3. PW-18 met the informant. PW-4 before lodging
the FIR and the fact of conspiracy was not disclosed by -\-
PW-18 and PW-4. The fact of conspiracy has not been
F mentioned in the FIR. Another witness on this issue has
not been examined by the prosecution. Thus, the High
Court was justified in discarding the part of the
prosecution case relating to conspiracy. However, in the
fact situation of the present case, acquittal of the said two
G co-accused has no bearing, so far as the present appeal
is concerned. [Para 16] [786-D-F] t--
2.1. In the FIR, appellants' name have not been
mentioned. The FIR is not the encyclopedia of all the facts
H
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 777
relating to crime. The only requirement is that at the time A
of lodging FIR, the informant should state all those facts
which normally strike to mind and help in assessing the
gravity of the crime or identity of the culprit briefly. [Para
17] [786-G-H]
B
2.2. In the FIR, in addition to the names of 'B' accused
and 'G' name of the absconding accused, has been
mentioned. The complainant (PW-4) has also mentioned
that he- could identify some of the assailants if they come
before him. Thus, the complainant was not aware of the
names of all the accused persons. The submission in this
c
regard remain preposterous. The motive for committing
the offence has fully been ~xplained therein that they
wanted the forcible possession of the land from the
complainant party. The land in dispute had also been the
cause of murder of nephew of PW-4, as his nephew was D
f~ killed by the vendors of the land to accused 'I'. The delay
in lodging FIR has fully been explained by the
prosecution and both the courts below have accepted
the same. The concurrent findings recorded by the courts
below on this issue do not warrant any interference E
whatsoever in this Court. [Para 18) [787-A-D]
3. PW-6 and PW-7 had been the two independent
witnesses. They had come from Bihar as migrant
-f-
labourers. No explanation could be furnished as to for F
what reason either of the said witnesses could depose
falsely. PW-6 had been all along with the deceased and
he had also witnessed the throwing of his dead_ body in
the canal. The vehicle used in the offence was recovered.
It belonged to accused 'l'-vendee of the land. There is full G
corroboration to the prosecution case by PW-6 and PW-
--1 7. Both of them had been cross-examined by the counsel
appearing for the accused but nothing could be elicited
which could shake their credibility. [Para 18] [787-D-F]
H
778 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A 4. Evidence of PW-4 has rightly been relied upon by
the courts below. PW-4 was an injured witness. He had
been examined by the doctor. His testimony could not be
brushed aside lightly. He had given full details of fhe
incident as he was present at the time when the assailants
B reached the tube well. [Paras 19 and 21] [787-G-H; 788-
D]
\
5_hivalingappa Kallayanappa v. _State of Kamataka 1994
Supp (3) SCC 235; State of U.P. v. Kishan Chand and Ors.
C (2004) 7 SCC 629; Krishan and Ors. V. State of Haryana
(2006) 12 sec 459, relied on.
5.1. The investigating officer (PW-12) has made it
clear in his cross- examination that identification parade
could not serve any purposEt_for the reason that the
D witnesses were present at the time of arrest of the
accused, rather they had been arrested on identification
by the witnesses. PW-7 was present at the time of their
arrest. At the tim·e of recovery of vehicle, PW-6 was
present in the vehicle itself and it was recovered when
. E, accused •1• was driving the vehicle and_ four other
- accused were also sitting therein. In such a fact situation,
1
though identification in a case like this, may be of
paramount importance, but in view of the fact that the
accused had been identified by the witnesses at the time
F of arrest itself, holding the identification parade would
have been a futile exercise/inconsequential. [Para 22]
[788-F-H; 789-A-B]
S. C. Bahri v. State of Bihar AIR 1994 SC 2420, relied
G on.
5.2. Where the accused has been arrested in
presence of the witness, accused has been shown to the
wi~ness or even his photograph has been shown by the
'
H
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 779
Investigating Officer prior to test identification parade, A
holding identification parade in such facts and
circumstances remained inconsequential. [Para 24] [789-
D-E]
Shaikh Umar Ahmade Shaikh v. State of Maharasthra 8
AIR 1998 SC 1922; Dastagir Sab and Anr. v. State of
Karnataka (2004) 3 SCC 106; Maya Kaur Baldevsingh Sardar
and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra (2007) 12 SCC 654, referred
to.
6. The finding recorded by the courts below on the C
issue of identification of dead body of deceased also does
not call for any interference. As the dead body had been
identified by two fellow labourers and the medical
evidence is same as that of ocular evidence and the dead
body was found with the clothes which the deceased wa,S D
wearing at the time of incident, the issue of identification
of the dead body does not require any further
consideration. [Para 26] [790-G-H; 791-A-C]
Keshav vs. State of Maharashtra (2007) 13 SCC, E
referred to.
Case Law Reference:
c2004) 11 sec 410 relied on. Para 13
F
(1997) 4 sec 192 relied on. Para 15
(2004) 11 sec 253 relied on. Para 15
(2006) 13 sec 643 relied on. Para 15
G
c2001) 13 sec 360 relied on. Para 15
(2004) 10 sec 632 relied on. Para 15
(2005) 9 sec 650 relied on. Para 15
H
780 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A 1994 Supp (3) SCC 235 relied on. Para 20
~-
(2004) 1 sec 629 relied on. Para 21
(2006) 12 sec 459 relied on. Para 21
B AIR 1994 SC 2420 relied on. Para 23
AIR 1998 SC 1922 referred to. Para 24
(2004) 3 sec 106 referred to. Para 24
c (2001) 12 sec 654 referred to. Para 24
(2007) 13 sec 284 referred to. Para 26
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal
No. 1288 of 2007. ;JI
D
From the Judgment & Order dated 31.8.2005 of the High
);-- . ?
Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in Crl. A. No. 265-
08/04, 368-08/04 & 358-08/04. , _t
E Subhash Sharma, Chanchal Kumar for the Appellants.
L
Kuldip Singh for the Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
~-
F
DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J. 1. This appeal has been
preferred by the appellants against the judgment and order
dated 31st August, 2005 of the Punjab and Haryana High Court
dismissing their appeals and affirming the conviction and
sentence awarded by the Trial Court vide its judgment and order
G
dated 8.1.2004 in Sessions Trial under Sections 302, 148,
149, 307, 364, 342, 506, 201, 120-8 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860 (in short the 'IPC') and under Section 30 _of the Arms Act,
r •.
1959 (in short the 'Arms Act') awarding life imprisonment and
H
---<
I JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 781
[DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
_,.,... other sentences. A
2. The facts and circumstances giving rise to this appeal
are, that an First Information Report (in short the 'FIR') was
lodged on 24th June, 2000 on the basis of a statement of
Darshan Singh (PW-4) that he was living with his sister B
Gurcharan Kaur for the last 3% years at village Nandpur as his
nephew Gurjeet Singh, son of his sister Gurcharan Kaur, had
been murdered by Rattan Singh and Balbir Singh, close
--'••
relatives of Gurcharan Kaur in 1997. On 23rd June, 2000 at
about 10.00/11.00 p.m., when Darshan Singh (PW-4) was c
having his meal at his tube well after preparing his fields for
plantation of paddy crop, about 30 persons armed with fire arms
came in five vehicles (cars and jeeps) from the side of village
Dadiana. They started shouting and firing shots in the air. They
, .__.
came to the tube well and caught hold of Darshan Singh (PW-
D
~~
4) and injuries were inflicted on him with the butts of rifle on his
head, chest and back. Migrant labourers (migrated from Bihar)
sitting on the tube well also suffered injuries. There had been
-4
a dispute on the land as the same was purchased by lnderjit
Singh (Accused) from Rattan Singh, Balbir Singh and
Rajwinder Kaur. lnderjit Singh wanted to take possession of the E
land from the complainant party forcibly.
3. The migrant labourers tried to run away, however, one
->- Jaldhar received the gun injury who was taken by the assailants
.. in the jeep alongwith two other labourers Sikandar Rai (PW-6)
and Babu Lal (PW-7) under the pretext that the injured will get
F
proper treatment at Patiala. Darshan Singh (PW-4) alongwith
two labourers Nand Kishore and Budhu was detained in a room
of the tube well. In the morning at 6.00 a.m., the assailants took
Darshan Singh (PW-4) alongwith Nand Kishore and Budhu in G
a car to village Dadiana. There had been 3.12 bore guns in
--i the car and after taking them to several places they were
brought back to the tube well at 10.30 a.m.
4. On the basis of the said report, a case was registered
under Sections 342/336/323/506/148/149/120-B IPC and H
782 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13-(ADDL.) S.C.R.
A under Sections 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act. On 27th June, ~~
2000 statement of Babu Lal (PW-7) was recorded. He
deposed that he was taken alongwith Jaldhar injured, with
Sikandar Rai (PW-6) and they were taken to Ambala Railway
Station in a vehicle and had been given Rs.900/- for meeting
B the expenses to travel back to Bihar. However, they came back
to Mohali and informed the other migrant labourers about the
incident and, also, that he was suspicious that Jaldhar had been
killed. Thus, on the basis of the said statement, Sections 307 J-
and 364 IPC were added to the previous sections. Again on
c 4th July, 2000 statement of Sikander Rai (PW~6) was recorded.
He had stated that Jaldhar died on the spot but in order to avoid
the hue and cry of the labourers, the assailants had taken the
dead body under the pretext to get him proper treatment and
the dead body was thrown in the canal at about 2.30 a.m. in
•..r
the night. He had been threatened that, in case, he disclosed
D
the factum of the death of Jaldhar he would also be killed. Th.us, ::. 4
on the basis of his statement, offence punishable under Section
302 IPC was also added.
5. The police recovered the dead body of Jaldhar on
E 5.7.2000 from the canal about 40 KM. away from the place of
occurrence and post mortem was con9ucted. After completing
investigation, the charge sheet was submitted against the
appellants alongwith lnderjit Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Balbir
Singh, Kanwal Preet Singh and Amarjit Singh. The prosecution ~-
F examined 19 witnesses to prove its case including the
complainant Darshan Singh (PW-4), Sikandar Rai (PW-6) and
Babu Lal (PW-7). However, Amarjeet Singh, who was leader
of the assailants remained absconding and thus, could not be
put to trial. The trial Court convicted all the accused persons
G and sentenced them to undergo RI for life under Section 302/
149 IPC and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- each, in default further
to undergo RI for one year. They were also sentenced to r-·-
undergo RI for one year under Section 148 IPC. All the accused
persons were sentenced to undergo RI for five years under
H Section 307/149 IPC and to pay a fine of Rs.500/- each; in
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 783
[DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
....;;.. default to further undergo RI for one year. They were sentenced A
~
to undergo RI for two years under Section 364 IPC and to pay
a fine of Rs.100/- each; in default to further undergo RI for one
year. All the accused persons were sentenced to undergo RI
for six months under Section 342 IPC. They were also
sentenced to undergo RI for six month under Section 506 IPC. B
All the accused persons were also sentenced to under RI for
one year under Section 201 IPC and to pay a fine of Rs.100/-
~· each; in default to further undergo RI for one year. All the
accused persons were sentenced to undergo RI for six months
under Section 120-B IPC. Accused lnderjit Singh was also c
sentenced to undergo RI for one year under Section 30 of the
Arms Act and to pay a fine of Rs.100/- each and in default to
further undergo RI for one year.
~
6. Being aggrieved, all the convicted persons preferred six
-ti., appeals before the High Court which were heard together. The D
High Court vide its judgment and order dated 31.8.2005
allowed the Criminal Appeals filed by Gurdip Singh and Balbir
Singh against whom the charge of conspiracy had been framed
and dismissed other four appeals and maintained the
conviction and sentences awarded by the Trial Court. E
7. Against the said common judgment and order of the
High Court, lnderjit Singh (Accused), the purchaser of the land
-~ in dispute from Rattan Singh, Balbir Singh and Smt. Rajwinder
Kaur preferred the Special Leave Petition before this Court and F
it stood dismissed. Kanwal Preet Singh did not prefer any
Special Leave Petition. The other remaining convicted persons
filed this appeal.
8. Shri Subhash Sharma, learned counsel appearing for
the appellants has agitated all the issues which had been G
4 raised before the Courts below and his thrust of arguments had
been that, the Criminal Appeals preferred by Gurdip Singh and
Balbir Singh had been allowed by the High Court disbelieving
the theory of conspiracy for taking possession of the said
disputed land forcibly. Therefore, if the foundation of the case H
784 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A disappears, the entire case goes. More so, it is submitted that
names of the appellants had not been mentioned in the FIR.
*- "'!'
There was inordinate delay in lodging the FIR. The dead body
of the Jaldhar (deceased) was recovered after about two
weeks of the incident. The body was completely in a
....
B decomposed state. Thus, it was not in a condition where one
could identify the body and in such a fact situation, the
appellants ought to have, also been acquitted by the High Court.
9. On the contrary, Shri Kuldeep Singh, learned counsel
for the State has submitted that the issue of delay in lodging
c the FIR has been fully considered by the courts below and the
courts were satisfied that there was no delay at all as the
complainant/informant remained in the custody of the
assailants. The doctors who conducted the post mortem
deposed that the body could be identified and it has been ........
D identified by Sikandar Rai (PW-6). More so, the acquittal of ).-
Gurdip Singh and Balbir Singh by the High Court would have
no bearing on the merits of the case, for the reason, that Rattan
Singh and Balbir Singh had already sold the land to lnderjit
Singh. They wanted to get rid of the land as it had been a
E subject matter of litigation between the parties for long and it
was lnderjit Singh who had the grudge and wanted to take
forcible possession of the land from the complainant party. The
appeal lacks merit and is liable to be dismissed.
~-
F 10. We have considered. the rival submissions made by
learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
11. The land in dispute belonged to one Dalip Singh who
had three sons, namely, Gurbux Singh, Hakam Singh and Rattan
Singh. It appears that the land had come in the share of Rattan
G Singh and as he was not having any issue, he had taken in
adoption Balbir Singh, son of his wife's sister. Rajwinder Kaur
got married with Balbir Singh. Gurbux Singh and his wife
Gurcharan Kaur were having the claim on the said land and, in
this dispute, their son Gurjit Singh was murdered in 1997 by
H Rattan Singh and Balbir Singh. In the said case, Balbir Singh
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 785
[DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
stood convicted and his appeal was pending before the High A
~).-
- Court. In view of long pending dispute over the land it was
decided by Rattan Singh, Balbir Singh and Rajwinder Kaur to
get rid of the same and an agreement to sell was executed in
favour of lnderjit Singh after receiving the sale consideration on
14th February, 2000. lnderjit Singh after having the agreement, B
wanted to take forcible possession of land from Gurcharan
Kaur and her son Mandeep Singh. Rattan Singh, Balbir Singh
and Rajwinder Kaur after receiving the consideration money for
the land and executing the agreement might not be very much
interested in the land or to recover the possession thereof. c
Prosecution case had been that it was Balbir Singh, who
hatched the conspiracy to take forcible possession of the land.
12. After considering the oral as well as documentary
~l evidence on record, the High Court came to the conclusion that
the statement of Gurcharan Singh (PW-18) in respect of the fact D
..; of hatching a conspiracy by Balbir Singh and Gurdip Singh, at
the bus stand Bassi Pathana on 21st June, 2000 at 7.30/8.00
p.m. was not worthy of credence. Gurcharan Singh (PW-18), a
chance witness could not explain under what circumstances he
was present at the bus stand at the said time. E
13. In Sachchey Lal Tiwari v. State of U.P. (2004) 11 SCC
410, this Court while considering the evidentiary value of the
_j>.. chance witness in a case of murder which had taken place in
a street and passerby had deposed that he had witnessed the F
incident, observed as under:
"If the offence is committed in a street only passer-
by will be the witness. His evidence cannot be brushed
aside lightly or viewed with suspicion on the ground that
he was a mere chance witness. However, there must be G
an explanation for his presence there."
14. The Court further explained that the expression 'chance
witness' is borrowed from countries where every man's home
is considered his castle and every one must have an H
786 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A explanation for his presence elsewhere or in another man's
~--
castle. It is quite unsuitable an expression in a country like India
where people are less formal and more casual, at 'any rate in
the matter of explaining their presence.
--
15. The evidence of a chance witness requires a -very
B
cautious and close scrutiny and a chance witness must
adequately explain his presence at the place of occurrence
(Satbir v. Surat Singh (1997) 4 SCC 192; Harjinder Singh v.
State of Gujarat (2004) 11 SCC 253; Acharaparambath
Pradeepan & Anr. v. State of Kera/a (2006) 13 SCC 643; and
c Sarvesh Narain Shukla v. Daroga Singh and Ors. (2007) 13
SCC 360). Deposition of a chance witness whose presence
at the place of incident remains doubtful should be discarded
(vide Shankarlal v. State of Rajasthan (2004) 10 SCC 632).
Conduct of the chance witness, subsequent to the incident may
D also be taken into consideration particularly as to whether he
.. -~
has informed anyone else in the village about the incident. (vide )r-
Thangaiya v. State of Tamil Nadu (2005) 9 SCC 650).
' . ,_
16. Gurcharan Singh (PW-18) met the informant Darshan
E Singh (PW-4) before lodging the FIR and the fact drbonspiracy
was not disclosed by Gurcharan Singh (PW-18) and Darshan
Singh (PW-4). The fact of conspiracy has not been mentioned
in the FIR. Hakam Singh, the other witness on this issue has
not been examined by the prosecution. Thus, the High Court
--\-
F was justified in discarding the part of the prosecution case
relating to conspiracy. However, in the fact situation of the
present case, acquittal of the said two co-accused has no
bearing, so far as the present appeal is concerned.
17. Undoubtedly, in the FIR appellants' name have not been
G mentioned. The FIR is not the encyclopedia of all the facts
relating to crime. The only requirement is that at the time of
r-~
lodging FIR, the informant should state all those facts which
normally strike to mind and help in assessing the gravity of the
crime or identity of the culprit briefly.
H
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 787
[DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
18. In the FIR, in addition to the names of Balbir Singh and A
~
Gurdip Singh, name of Amarjit Singh, the absconding accused,
~
has been mentioned. The complainant Darshan Singh (PW-4)
has also mentioned that he could identify some of the assailants
if they come before him. Thus, the complainant was not aware
of the names of all the accused persons. The submission in this B
regard remain preposterous. The motive for committing the
offence has fully been explained therein that they wanted the
forcible possession of the land from the complainant party. The
.-4-
land in dispute had also been the cause of murder of nephew
of the informant Darshan Singh (PW-4) as his nephew Gurjeet c
Singh was killed by Rattan Singh and Balbir Singh, the vendors
of the land to lnderjit Singh. The delay in lodging FIR has fully
been explained by the prosecution and both the courts below
have accepted the same. The concurrent findings recorded by
~ the courts below on this issue do not warrant any interference
-i D
-'l(
whatsoever in this Court. Sikandar Rai (PW-6) and Babu Lal
(PW-7) had been the two independent witnesses. They had
come from Bihar as migrant labourers. No explanation could
--- be furnished by Shri Subhash Sharma, learned counsel for the
appellants as to for what reason either of the said witnesses
E
could depose falsely. Sikandar Rai (PW-6) had been all along
with the deceased Jaldhar and he had also witnessed the
throwing of his dead body in the canal. The Tata Sumo vehicle
used in the offence was recovered. It belonged to lnderjit Singh,
-J-- vendee of the land. There is full corroboration to the prosecution
case by Sikandar Rai (PW-6) and Babu Lal (PW-7). Both of F
them had be.en cross examined by the learned counsel
appearing for the appellants but nothing could be elicited which
could shake their credibility.
19. Darshan Singh (PW-4) was an injured witness. He had G
been examined by the doctor. His testimony could not be
--< brushed aside lightly. He had given full details of the incident
as he was present at the time when the assailants reached the
tube well.
H
788 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A 20. In Shivalingappa Kallayanappa v. State of Kamataka
~
1994 Supp (3) SCC 235,. this Court has held that the
~
deposition of the injured witness should be relied upon unless
there are strong grounds for rejection of his evidence on the
basis of major contradictions and discrepancies, for the reason
B that his presence on the scene stands established in case, it
is proved that he suffered the injury during the said incident.
21. In State of U.P. v. Kishan Chand and Ors. (2004) 7
sec 629, a similar view has been re-iterated observing that ~
the Testimony of a stamped witness has its own relevance and
c efficacy. The fact that the witness sustained injuries at the time
and place of occurrence, lends support to his testimony that he
. was present during the occurrence. In case the injured witness
is subjected to l~ngthy cross ei?mination and nothing can be
elicited to discard his testimony, lt should be relied upon (vide ~
D Krishan & Ors. vs. State of Haryana (2006) 12 SCC 459).
)if-
Thus, we are of the considered opinion that evidence of
Darshan Singh (PW-4) has rightly been relied upon by the
courts below.
}'-
E 22. The main contention raised by Shri Subhash Sharma,
learned counsel for the appellants is that identification parade
was never held though it was necessary in the facts and
circumstances of the case for the reason that the names of the
appellants have not been mentioned in the FIR. However, we
~-
do not find any substance in such an argument for the reason
F
that S.I. Gurdial Singh (PW-12), the investigating officer has
made it clear in his cross examination that identification parade
could not serve any purpose for the reason that the witnesses
were present at the time of arrest of the accused, rather they
had been arrested on identification by the witnesses. Babu Lal
G (PW-7) was present at the time of their arrest. At the time of
recovery of vehicle Tata Sumo, Sikandar Rai (PW-6) was )-~
present in the vehicle itself and it was recovered when accused
lnderjit Singh was driving the vehicle and four other accused
were also sitting therein. In such a fact situation, though
H
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 789
[DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
identification in a case like this, may be of paramount A
~..,._
importance, but in view of the fact that the accused had been
identified by the witnesses at the time of arrest itself, holding
the identification parade would have been a futile exercise/
inconsequential.
B
23. Identification parade is of paramount importance in a
criminal case. In S. C. Bahri v. State of Bihar AIR 1994 SC
2420, this Court held that when the accused person is not
~ previously known to the witness concerned, the identification
of the accused by the witness soon after his arrest is of great
importance because it furnishes an assurance that the
c
investigation is proceeding on right lines in addition to
furnishing corroboration of the evidence to be given by the
witness later in court at the trial. But the position would be
entirely different when the accused or culprit who stands trial
4
had been seen at times by the witness as it may do away with D
••
..
the necessity of identification parade .
24. Where the accused has be_en arrested in presence of
the witness accused has been shown to the witness or even
his .Photograph has been shown by the· Investigating Officer prior E
to test identification parade, holding identification parade in
such facts and circumstances remained inconsequential. (vide
Shaikh Umar Ahmade Shaikh v. State of Maharasthra AIR
1998 SC 1922; Dastagir Sab & Anr. v. State of Karnataka
(2004) 3 SCC 106; and Maya Kaur Baldevsingh Sardar & F
Anr. v. State of Maharashtra (2007) 12 SCC 654).
25. It has been vehemently submitted by Shri Subhash
Sharma, learned counsel for the appellants that the dead body
of Jaldhar, deceased t\ad been completely de-composed as
it remained in the water for two weeks, and there was no G
material before the trial Court to hold that the dead body
.--( recovered from the canal was that of Jaldhar, deceased. The
trial Court as well as the High Court has considered this issue
with care and caution. Dr. D.S. Bhullal (PW-2) who conducted
the post mortem alongwith Dr. O.P. Aggarwal had opined that H
790 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
A the death was due to fire arm injuries as the body was having
lacerated wound 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm on the right side of head ~--- '
underneath skull bone -and 1 cm x 0.75 cm lacerated wound
with everated margins was also present on the left side of the
head. Underneath skull bone shows irregular opening- of the
B same size. Dr. Bhullal (PW-2) has deposed that-the body was
highly decomposed and grossly swollen wearing shirt, pant and
underwear. The injuries found on the dead body were ante-
mortem and sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of
nature. The dead body was identified by Sikandar Rai (PW-6)
c and Babu Lal (PW-7). The frial Court had considered the
deposition made by Dr. Bhullal (PW-2) and other evidence
particularly, the deposition of Sikandar Rai (PW-6) and Babu
Lal (PW-7) and came to the conclusion that, in spite of the fact,
that th~ body was highly de-composed as it remained in water
D
for two weeks, the identity of Jaldhar, the deceased stood ...
proved from the consistent and cogent statements furnished by
)J 4
Darshan Singh, complainant (PW-4) and two labourers
Sikandar Rai (PW-6) and Babu Lal (PW-7) who proved the ~
presence of the deceased at the relevant time when the incident
had taken place in which the fire shot was made by the accused.
E
The witnesses had fully identified the clothes found on the
person of the deceased as they were same at the time of
incident and at the time of recovery of the dead body. Had the
victim/deceased not been having any injury on his person the
argument of the defence counsel could have been of some
F substance. But as in the instant case, Dr. Bhullal (PW-2) proved
the injuries of fire arm on forehead of the deceased which was
fully corroborated by the other witnesses, the question of any
doubt in identification of the dead body of Jaldhar, deceased
could not arise. The High Court has considered the issue taking
G into account the depositions of other witne.sses Sikandar Rai
(PW-6) and Babu Lal (PW-7) and affirmed the said finding.
)-.
26. In the instant case as the dead body of Jaldhar had
been identified by two fellow labourers and the medical
H evidence is same as that of ocular evidence and the dead body
JARNAIL SINGH & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB 791
[DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.]
was found with the clothes which Jaldhar was wearing at the A
time of incident, the issue of identification does not require any
further consideration. In a case where the dead body is found
in a jungle which had been eaten away by vultures or other
animals and garments have also been found in torn condition
and the dead body stood converted into a skeleton and has B
been fully de-composed, the identification of the dead body
may not be a trustworthy evidence and in such a case the DNA
test may be required. (vide Keshav v. State of Maharashtra
(2007) 13 sec 284). But in the instant case, the facts are not
the same. Thus, in view of the above, we are of the considered c
opinion that the finding recorded by the courts below on the
issue of identification of dead body also does not call for any
interference.
__., 27. In view of the above, we find no exceptional
circumstance warranting interference by this Court. Appeal D
lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.
K.K.T. Appeal dismissed.
Search Indian case law
Ask in plain English, not just keywords. 25,000 AI words free, no card.
Try "land dispute"Sign in to search