Holding

A conviction is not invalidated by the non‑framing of a charge if no prejudice to the accused is demonstrated; therefore, the conviction under s.325 r/w s.149 stands.

Summary

Six accused were tried for murder (IPC s.302). The Sessions Court acquitted them, but the High Court on appeal convicted one under s.304(II), another under s.325 and the remaining four under s.325 read with s.149, even though the trial court had not framed a charge under s.149. The appellants contended that conviction under s.325 r/w s.149 was illegal due to the omission of that charge. The Supreme Court examined Section 464 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows a conviction to stand unless a failure of justice is shown, and held that no prejudice was caused to the accused because the essential facts and the nature of the offence were fully explained to them. Relying on precedents (Panduram, Ramkishan, Willie Slaney), the Court affirmed that non‑framing of a charge does not vitiate a conviction if the accused suffered no substantial prejudice. Consequently, the convictions under s.325 r/w s.149 were upheld and the appeal dismissed.

Issues considered

The validity of a conviction under IPC s.325 read with s.149 when the charge under s.149 was not framed in the trial court.
Whether the omission of a specific charge caused prejudice to the accused.
Interpretation of CPC s.464 (and related provisions) regarding omission or error in framing charges.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 255, s. 271, s. 464, s. 535, s. 537
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 148, s. 149, s. 302, s. 304(II), s. 325

Subjects

criminal procedurecharge framingprejudiceconvictionIPC 149Section 464 CPCunlawful assemblymurderappellate jurisdiction

Judgment

KAMMARI BRAHMIAH AND ORS. A
~ "' -I v.
. w.
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF AP .

FEBRUARY 3, 1999

[G.B. PATTANAIK AND M.B. SHAH, JJ.) B

)
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973-Section 464--lndian Penal
" Code-Sections 302, 304 Pait II, 325, 149-Appellants along with two others
charged for offence of murder under Section 30~Acquittal by trial
court-High Court convicting appellants under Section 325 read with Section c
149-No mch charges framed-Whether prejudice caused to the ac-
cused--Held no prejudice is caused-Conviction for a lesser offence not ii-
legal.

The Appellants (Accused A3 to A6) along with two other were tried
for offences punishable under Section 302 IPC. The Sessions Court D
acquitted aff the accused. On appeal by State, the High Court reversed the
·-:.l.._ Judgment of Sessions Judge and convicted Accused No. 1 under Section
304 Part-II, I.P.C., Accused No. 2 under Section 325 I.P.C. and Accused
Nos. 3 to 6 under Sections 325 r/w Section 149 I.P.C.
E
The High Court held that the prosecution has made out a case that
accused formed an unlawful assembly and during the course of the said
unlawful assembly, they caused injuries and so they were liable to be
convicted for the offence punishable under Section 148 of I.P.C. The High
Court also held that though no charge was framed by trial Court under
Section 148, since it was found that all the accused participated and the F
main charge framed against the accused is under Section 302 and as no
prejudice is caused to the accused, the accused could be convicted for a
lesser offence under Section 325 r/w Sec. 149 I.P.C.

On appeal, the appellants contended that the order passed by the
High Court convicting the appellants for the offence punishable under G
Section 325 r/w Sec. 149 is on the face of it illegal as no charge was framed
,._, under Section 149 and that all accused were charged only for the offence
·"r punishable under Section 302 I.P.C. The Respondent contended that even
though it is an error on the part of the trial Court of not framing the
charge under Section 302 r/w Sec. 149 I.P.C. no prejudice is caused to the H
361
362 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] 1 S.C.R.

A accused as relevant facts were placed before the Court and the attention
of the accused also was drawn.
., -
Dismissing the Appeal, the Court

HELD : 1.1. The non-framing of charge would not vitiate the convic-
B tion if no prejudice is caused thereby to the accused. The trial Court
should be fair to the accused, fair to the State and fair to the vast mass of
t
the people for whose protection penal laws are made and administered.
Criminal Procedure Code is a procedural law and is designed to further
the ends of justice and not to frustrate them by the introduction of endless
technicalities. [369-G]
c
Panduram v. State of Hyderabad, AIR (1955) SC 216, cited.

Ramkishan and Ors. v. State of Rajasthan, [1997) 7 SCC 518 and
Willie (William) Slaney v. State of M.P., [1955) 2 SCR 1140, relied on.
D 1.2. It is apparent that no prejudice is caused to the accused who were
charged for the offence under Section 302, by not framing the charge for the ,J...;
offence punishable under Section 325 r/w Sec. 149. The conviction of the
accused no. 3 to 6 for the offence punishable under Section 325 r/w Sec. 149
cannot be said to be anyway illegal which requires to be set aside. [370-B-C]
E CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.
64 of 1994.

From the Judgment and Order dated 5.7.93 of the Andhra Pradesh
High Court in Cr!. A. No. 1088 of 1992.
F L.N. Gupta, (A.C.) for the Appellants.

Gunt.ur Prabhakar for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

G SHAH, J. Short question in this appeo.I is whether some accused
could be convicted for the offence punishable under Section 325 read with
149, when all of them were charged for an offence punishable under
Section 302 I.P.C. The appeal is filed against the judgment and order
··-
...,.
passed by the High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad
H in Criminal Appeal No. 1088 of 1992 by which the High Court reversed the
/ KAMMARIBRAHMIAH v. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR H.C. OF AP. (SHAH, J.] 363

judgment and order passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, Mahabub- A
nagar in Sessions Case No. 156 of 1992 acquitting the accused no. 1 to 6
for the offence punishable under Section 302 IPC and convicted the
accused no. 1 for the offence punishable under Section 304 part II IPC,
accused no. 2 for the offence punishable under Section 325 IPC; and
accused no. 3 to 6 for the offence punishable under Section 325 IPC read
with Section 149. At the time of admission, the appeal filed by the original
B
)
accused no. 1 & 2 was dismissed, leave was granted to the accused no. 3
to 6 and they were ordered to be released on bail.

Before deciding the contention raised by the learned counsel for the
parties, it would be necessary to narrate few facts. It is the prosecution C
story that Accused No. 1, 2, 4 & 5 are brothers. On 17th November, 1989,
the accused no. 1 had picked up the quarrel in the morning regarding the
usage of pasage in the field and thereafter at about 3.30 p.m., accused no.
1 to 6 can.ie to the field belonging to the deceased and quarrelled regarding
the use of passage and water by the deceased. Deceased was beaten and
he fell down. At that time, P.W. 3, younger brother of the deceased went D
. -c>._
to the r1escue but he was prevented by accused no. 4 & 5 who held him
tight. Accused no. 3 & 6 caught hold of the deceased and at that time
accused no. 2 gave a stick blow on the head and accused no. 1 stabbed
twice the deceased with a barisa on his right flank and all of them ran away.
As per the doctor's evidence, who performed post-mortem examination, E
the deceased was having the following injuries :

1. Contusion over the right cheek i.e. 3-4" length 1" width.

2. Contusion over the right elbow joint over the lateral posterior part
i.e., 3" below the right elbow joint 1" length Xl/2" width. F

3. A deep stab injury over the mid scapulor region l" length 1/2"
width 4-5" depth.

4. A deep stab injury ove the right infro-memory region 1" length X
1/2" width X 4-5" depth. From the evidence of P.W. 1 to 4, the Court G
arrived at the conclusion that the death of the deceased was the:, result of
the injuries inflicted by accused no. 1 & 2 and the evidence was cor-
roborated by the injuries caused to the deceased as mentioned in post-mor-
tem examination. The Court also held that prosecution evidence establishes
beyond reasonable doubt that accused no. 4 & 5 caught hold witness H
364 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999] 1 S.C.R.
... ~

A Venkataiah who went to rescue the deceased. Similarly, accused no. 3 & 6
caught hold of the deceased and at that time accused no. 1 & 2 inflicted
injuries. On the basis of the aforesaid evidence led by the prosecution, High
Court held that prosecution has made out a case that accused formed an
unlawful assembly and during the course of the said unlawful asembly, they
caused injuries and so they were liable to be convicted for the offence
B punishable under Section 148 of the IPC. The Court further held that it is
-..:
true that· there is no charge framed by the trial court for the offence
punishable under Sectic,n 148 against the accused but since it was found
that all participated and the main charge framed against the accused is
under Section 302 and as no prejudice is caused to the accused the accused
c could be convicted for a lesser offence under Section 325 read with 149
I.P.C.

At the time of hearing of this appeal, learned Counsel appearing on
behalf of the appellant submitted that the Order passed by the High Court
D convicting the appellants for the offence punishable under Section 325 read
with 149 is on the face of it illegal as no charge under Section 149 was ,;. -

framed against the accused. He contended that all accused were charged
only for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC for causing
injuries to the deceased Itikala Mogulaiah. As against this, learned counsel
for the State vehemently submitted that even though it is an error on the
E part of the Additional Sessions Judge of not framing the charge under
Section 302 read with 149 of IPC no prejudii::e is casued to the accused as
relevant facts were placed before the Court and the attention of the
accused also was drawn. Futher, they are punished for lesser offence,
therefore, the order passed by the High Court is justified and legal.
F
In this view of the matter, the only contention which requires decision
is whether the conviction of the accused 3 to 6 for the offence punishable
under Section 325 read with 149 of IPC can be maintained even if no
charge under Section 149 was framed by the trial court. It is true that there
G is an error apparent on the part of the Additional Sessions Judge in not
framing the charge for the offence punishable under Section 149 IPC '
despite the clear case of the prosecution that there was a quarrel in the
·-
_,,

morning between the deceased and the accused no. 1 on the question of
passage for watering the fields and thereafter at 3.30 p.m. all the accused
H came in the field of the deceased, they picked up the quarrel and inflicted
KAMMARI BRAHMIAH v. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR H.C. OF AP. (SHAH, J.] 365
......
'fl' injuries on the deceased. Still the question would be whether the conviction A
~
of A3 to A6 by the High Court for the offence under Section 325 read with
149 can be said to be illegal which requires to be quashed and set aside if
no prejudice is caused by not framing of charge under section 148 and
charge under section 302 read with 149.

For deciding this contention, we would first refer to section 464 of B
)
~
the Criminal Procedure Code which reads as under :

"Effect of omission to frame, or absence of, or error in, charge - (1) No
finding, sentence or order by a Court of competent jurisdiction shall be
deemed invalid merely on the ground that no charge was framed or on the
ground of any error, omission or irregularity in the charge including any
c
misjoinder of charges, unless in the opinion of the Court of appeal,
confirmation or revision, a failure of justice has in fact been occasioned
thereby.

(2) If the Court of appeal, confirmation or revision is of opinion that D
-....... a failure of justice has in fact been occasioned, it may -

(a) If the case of an omission to frame a charge, order that a charge
be framed and that the trial be recommenced from the point immediately
after the framing of the charge.
E
(b) in the case of an error, omission or irregularity in the charge,
direct a new trial to be had upon a charge framed in whatever manner it
thinks fit;

Provided that if the Court is of opinion that the facts of the case are
such that no valid charge could be preferred against the accused in respect F
-r of the facts proved, it shall quash the conviction."

The aforesaid section is in mandatory forms and it specifically
provides ------ what is to be done in cases where charge is not framed or
there is an error, omission or irregularity in framing of the charge. From
the unequivocal terms of the section, it can be stated that finding, sentence G
or order could be set aside only in those cases where tht. facts are such
that no valid charge could be preferred against the accused in respect of
the facts proved. Secondly, if the facts are such that charge could be framed
and yet it is not framed but there is no failure of justice, has in fact been
occasioned thereby, the finding sentence or order of the court of com- H
366 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999) 1 S.C.R.

A petent jurisdiction is not to be set aside on that ground. Thirdly, if there is ..,
failure of justice occassioned by not framing of the charge or in case an
error, omission or irregularity in charge re-trial of the case is to be directed
as provided under sub-section (2).

In the present case, the facts are clear. It establishes beyond
B reasonable doubt that because of the morning quarrel between the accused
no. 1 and the deceased, the accused no. 1 to 6 went at the field of the
deceased at about 3.30 p.m. They picked up the quarrel and inflicted
•
injuries on the deceased. In view of these facts, the learned counsel for the
appellant was not in a position to point out any prejudice caused to the
c accused by not framing of the charge under Section 148 or for the offence
punishable under section 302 read with section 149 except by stating that
by not framing charge properly accused have lost an opportunity of leading
rebuttal evidence. He relied upon the decision rendered in the case of
Panduram v. State of Hyderabad, AIR (1955) S.C. 216 wherein the Court
has observed that Section 149 unlike Section 34 creates a specific offence
D and deals with punishment of that offence alone; hence, strong reasons for
using Section 149, when it is not charged even if it be possible to convict _,;._-

under that Section in the absence of any specific charge, is required and
the Court has left the point undecided.

E In our view, this question is concluded by the decision rendered in
the case of Ramkishan and Other v. State of Rajasthan, [1997] 7 SCC 518
wherein the Court has relied upon the decision of this Court in the case
of Willie (Willam) Slaney v. State of M.P., [1955] 2 S.C.R. 1140 and held
that ommission to mention Section 149 IPC specifically in the charge is
only an irregularity and since no prejudice is shown to have been caused
F
to the accused by that omission, it could not affect their conviction. The
Court in that case from the established facts and circumstances convicted
the accused under Section 304 part II IPC read with Section 149 IPC and
not unde1 Section 302 IPC even though no specific charge indicating the
applicability of Section 149 IPC was framed.
G
Further, at this stage it would be worthwhile to refer to some discus-
•-"'
sions on the question involved from the case of Willie (William) Slaney v. 7,~

The State of Madhya Pradesh, [1955] 2 SCR 1140, wherein the larger bench
has elaborately discussed the provisions of Section 232, 233, 237 238, 535
H & 537 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 (Section 232, 535 and 537 are
KAMMARI BRAHMIAH v. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR H.C. OF A.P. [SHAH, J.} 367

combined as section 464 in Criminal Procedure Code 1973) and observed A
- >{ that "the Code is a code of procedure and, like all procedural laws, is
designed to further the ends of justice and not to frustrate them by the
introduction of endless technicalities. The object of the Code is to ensure
that an accused person gets a full and fair trial along certain well- estab-
lished and well-u11-derstood lines that accord with our notions of natural
justice. If he does, if he is tried by a competent court, if he is told ·and B
clearly understands the nature of the offence for which he is being tried,
if the case agains(him is fully and fairly explained to him and he is afforded
a full and fair opportunity of defending himself, then, provided there is
substantial compliance with the outward forms of the law, mere mistakes
in procedure, mere inconsequential errors and omissions in the trial are c
regarded as venal by the Code and the trial is not vitiated unless the
accused can show substantial prejudice. That, broadly speaking, is the basic
principle on which the Code is based." After considering the various
decisions, the Court further observed that "the swing of the pendulum has
been away from technicality, and a greater endeavour has been made to D
regard the substance rather than the shadow and to administer justice fairly
and impartially as it should be administered; fair to the accused, fair to the
State and fair to the vast mass of the people for whose protection penal
laws are made and administered."

Thereafter, Court examined the scheme of relevant sections as well E
as section 535 & 537 and held that "Section 535 uses the words "shall be
deemed invalid" which indicate that a total omission to frame a charge
would render the conviction invalid but for Section 535 which serves to
validate it when. that sort of "irregularity" has not occasioned a "failure of
justice" Section '537 docs not use any of these expressions but merely says F
that no conviction or sentence "shall be reversed or altered" unless there
has in fact been a failure of justice" The Court thereafter negatived the
contention that total omission to frame the charge would not be covered
by Section 535 or 537 and held as under; "Chapter XIX deals comprehen-
sively with charges and sections 535 and 537 cover every case in which there
is a departure from the rules set out in that Chapter. Such departures range G
from errors, omissions and irregularities in charges that are framed, down

- ,-...
~
to charges that might have been framed and were not and include a total
omission to frame a charge at all at any stage of the trial. In all these cases
the only question is about prejudice. We say this because the Code
repeatedly says so in express and emphatic terms and because that is the H

-
368 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1999] 1 S.C.R.

A foundation on which rules of procedure are based. We say it because that
accords with logic and principle and reason and because it touches the
deep verities on which the structure of justice is erected and maintained."
The Court pertinently further observed, "We are unable to find any magic
or charm in the ritual of a charge. It is the substance of these provisions
that count and not their outward form. To hold otherwise is only to provide
B avenues of escape for the guilty and afford no protection to the innocent.
We agree that a man must know what offence is he being tried for and that
he must be told in clear and unambiguous terms and that it must all be
"explained to him" so that he really understands (section 271(1) in sessions
trials, section 255(1) in warrant cases) but to say that a technical jargon of
C words whose significance no man not trained to the law can grasp or follow
affords him greater protection or assistance than the informing and the
explaining that are the substance of the matter, is to base on fanciful theory
wholly divorced from practical reality; and the same applies to the vast bulk
of jurors who attend our courts. They are none the wiser because of a
D formal charge except· in a vague and general way that is of no practical
account. The essence of the matter is not a technical formula of words but
the reality. Was he told? Was it explained to him? Did he understand? Was
it done in a fair way?"

Thereafter, Court dealt with not framing the charge under Section
E 34 or 149 and held that "endeavour was made in the argument to draw a
distinction between cases falling under section 34 of the Indian Penal Code
and those under section 149 of the Indian Penal Code. It was contended
that even if no separate charge is necessary when section 34 is called in aid
because section 34 does not create a separate offence, one is essential for
F a conviction under section 149 and that there, at any rate, the absence of
a separate charge is fatal. This. is not a case under Section 149 of the Indian
Penal Code so the question does not really arise but it is necessary to
advert to the argument because, on the view we take of sections 225, 535
and 537, it is immaterial what the offence is and whether there is a charge at
all. The only question is whether the imgularity occasioned prejudice." The
G Court further held. it is to be observed that section 535 of the Code is
mandatory in its terms, just as mandatory as Section 233. If it be accepted
that an absence of a charge would, but for its provisions, render a convic-
tion invalid, this section cures such an invalidity when there is, in fact, not
in theory but in fact, no failure of justice." Dealing with the facts in the
H case, the Court further held as under :
KAMMARI BRAHMIAH v. PUBLIC PROSECUTOR H.C. OF AP. [SHAH, J.] 369

"Put at its highest,· all that the appellant can urge is that a charge A
in the alternative ought to have been framed, which in itself imports that

..- "' it could have been so framed. As was said by the Privy Council in Begu
v. King-Emperor(l) and also by this Court in Lachm an Singh v. The State
(2) -

"A man may be convicted of an offence, although there has been no B
charge in respect of it, if the evidence is such as to establish a charge that.
might have been made. That is what happened here ........... They were not
charged with that formally, but they were tried on evidence which brings
the case under section 237(1)

The variation between murder and concealing evidence after the
c
crime is no more than the variation between killing a man jointly with
another, sharing his intention, or allowing the other to do the actual killing
with the same common intention."

In a differing judgment, Chandrasekhara Aiyar, J. observed that D
"Sections 34, 114 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code provide for criminal
liability viewed from different angles as regards actual participants, acces-
sories and men actuated by a common object or a common intention : and
the charge is a rolled-up one involving the direct liability and the constrnctive
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
E
under one or other of 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 F
brought about the offence and such evidence is of course relevant."

- The aforesaid discussion leaves no doubt that non-framing of charge
would not vitiate the conviction if no prejudice is caused thereby to the
accused. As observed in the aforesaid case, the trial should be fair to the
accused, fair to the State and fair to the vast mass of the people for whose G
protection penal laws are made and administered. Criminal Procedure
Code is a procedural law and is designed to further the ends of justice and
-"'-· not to frustrate them by the introduction of endless technicalities. In the
·~
present case, accused were tried on the prosecution version that all of them
went at 3.30 p.m. in the field of the deceased; they picked up the quarrel H
370 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1999) 1 S.C.R.
A with him, inflicted injuries to the deceased as narrated by the prosecution
witnesses, accused no. 3 to 6 participated as stated above; the statements
were recorded under section 313 of the CPC and the questions were asked
~ -
to the effect that they jointly came at 3.30 p.m. and caused injuries to the
deceased as stated by the prosecution witnesses and the role assigned to
B accused no. 3 to 6 was also specifically mentioned. Hence, it is apparent
that no prejudice is caused to the accused who were charged for the
offence under section 302, by not framing the charge for the offence
punishable under section 302 read with 149. In this view of the matter, the
conviction of the accused no. 3 to 6 for the offence punishable under
section 325 read with 149 cannot be said to be anyway illegal which requires
C to be set aside.
In' the result, appeal is dismissed.

V.M. Appeal dismissed.