Holding

The killing occurred in a sudden fight without pre‑meditation or undue advantage, thus falling under Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC and warranting conviction under Section 304 Part I, not Section 302.

Summary

The appellants were convicted of murder under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for a fatal assault on the deceased during a quarrel. The Supreme Court examined whether the incident fell within Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, which applies to killings occurring in a sudden fight without pre‑meditation, undue advantage, or cruelty. The Court clarified the meaning of "fight", "sudden fight" and "undue advantage", distinguishing Exception 4 from Exception 1. Finding that the facts involved mutual provocation, a sudden quarrel, and no undue advantage, the Court held that the offence should be classified as culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part I. Consequently, the conviction was altered from Section 302 to Section 304 Part I and the sentence reduced to ten years imprisonment. The appeal was partly allowed.

Issues considered

Whether the facts satisfy the requirements of Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC
Whether a conviction under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC is appropriate
Interpretation of the terms "fight", "sudden fight" and "undue advantage" under Exception 4
Distinction between Exception 1 and Exception 4 of Section 300 IPC

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 313(1)
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 300 Exception 4, s. 302, s. 304 Part I, s. 34

Subjects

Exception 4Section 300 IPCSection 302 IPCSection 304 Part I IPCculpable homicide not amounting to murdersudden fightundue advantagemutual provocationconviction alteration

Judgment

~·
\

A THANKACHAN AND ANR.
v.
STATE OF KERALA

NOVEMBER 13, 2007
B
[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT AND P. SATHASIVAM, JJ.] t·

Penal Code, 1860:

c s.300 exception 4, s. 302, ands. 304 Part (1)-Applicability of
s.300 exception·4-Held: Is applicable when act is covered without
premeditation, in a sudden fight-Besides, offender should not have
taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel/unusual manner andfight
must have been with the person killed-On facts, sudden fight between
D the accused and deceased, mutual provocation and blows on each
side-On exhortation by one accused, the other stabbing the deceased
with knife resulting in his death-Courts below convicting under s. 302
rlw s.34 and imposing life imprisonment-In the facts of the case,
conviction altered.from s. 302 to s.304 Part (1)-Custodial sentenr;e
altered to ten years.
E
s.300 exception 1and4-Distinction between-Explained.
Words andphrases:
'Fight', 'suddenfight' and 'undue advantage '-Meaning of-In
F the context of Exception 4 to Section 300 JPC.
-1
According to the prosecution case, on the fateful day, accused
A 1-A 4 came to the house of deceased. A2 caught hold of deceased
and dragged him. A2 hit the deceased on his head with the bottle.
The deceased also hit A2 on the head with the bottle. On exhortation
G
by Al, A2 and A4 inflicted injuries to deceased on his head with
chopper and A3 stabbed deceased with knife. The deceased became ~

unconscious and later succumbed to his injuries. Trial court convicted
the accused under section 302 read with s.34 IPC and imposed life

H 1128 r
/

THANKACHANv. STATE 1129

imprisonment. High Court allowed the appeals filed by Al and A4, A
however dismissed the appeals filed by appellants-Al and A3. Hence
the present appeal.
Partly allowing the appeal, the Court
HELD: 1.1. The Exception 4 to section 300 IPC can be invoked B
if death is caused (a) without premeditation; (b) in a sudden fight in
the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel; (c) withoutthe offender
having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner;
and (d) the fight must have been with the person killed. To bring a
case within Exception 4 all the ingredients mentioned in it must be C
found. (Para 10] [1133-G, H; 1134-A]
1.2. The Fourth Exception to section 300 IPC covers acts done
in a sudden fight. The said Exception deals with a case of prosecution
not covered by the First Exception, after which its place would have D
been more appropriate. The Exception is founded upon the same
principle, for in both there is absence of premeditation. But, while
in the case of Exception 1 there is total deprivation of self-control,
in case of Exception 4, there is only that heat of passion which clouds
men's sober reason and urges them to deeds which they would not
otherwise do. There is provocation in Exception 4 as in Exception E '
1; but the injury done is not the direct consequence of that
provocation. In fact Exception 4 deals with cases in which
notwithstanding that a blow may have been struck, or some
provocation given in the origin of the dispute or in whatever way the
}-
quarrel may have originated, yet the subsequent conduct of both F
parties puts them in respect of guilt upon equal footing. A "sudden
fight" implies mutual provocation and blows on each side. The
homicide committed is then clearly not traceable to unilateral
provocation, nor in such cases could the whole blame be placed on
one side. For if if were so, the Exception more appropriately G '
applicable would be Exception 1. There is no previous deliberation
or determination to fight. A fight suddenly takes place, for which both
parties are more or less to be blamed. It may be that one of them
starts it, but if the other had not aggravated it by his own conduct it
H
1130 SUPREME COURT REPORTS . [2007] 11 S.C.R.

A would not have taken the serious turn it did. There is then mutual
provocation and aggravation, and it is difficult to apportion the share
of blame which attaches to each fighter. [Para 10)
1.3. Word "fight" occurring in Exception 4 to section 300 IPC
is not defined in IPC. It takes two to make a fight. Heat of passion
B -+
require$. that there must be no time for the passions to cool down
and in dus case, the parties have worked themselves into a fury on
account of the verbal altercation in the beginning. A fight is a combat
between two or more persons whether with or without weapons. It is
not possible to enunciate any general rule as to what shall be deemed
c to be a sudden quarrel. It is a question of fact and whether a quarrel
is sudden or not must necessarily depend upon the proved facts of
each case. For the application of Exception 4, it is not sufficient to
show that there was a sudden quarrel and that there was no
premeditation. It must further be shown that the offender has not
D &ken undue advantage or acted in cruel or unusual manner. The
expression "undue advantage" as used in the provision means
"unfair advantage". [Para 10) (1134-A, B, CJ
Sandhya Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra, (2006) 4 SCC 653,
E relied on.
1.4. Considering the facts, the appropriate conviction would be
under section 304 Part I and not section 302 IPC. The conviction is
accordingly altered. Also custodial sentence is altered to ten years.
(Para 12] (1134-D)
F --(
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.
1535 of 2007.
From the final Judgment and Order dated 16.03.2005 of the High
Court ofKerala at Emakulam in Crl. A. No. 449 of2003.
G
C.N. Sree Kumar, P.R. Nayak and Harshad V. Hameed for the 1-
Appellants.
G. Prakash for the Respondent.

H The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
THANKACHANv. STATE[PASAYAT,J.] 1131

DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. 1. Leave granted. A

2. Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by a Division Bench 1

of the Kerala High Court, dismissing the appeal filed by the appellants
who were described as A2 and A3 indicating their position before the
trial court, while allowing the appeals filed by the two other accused B
t persons (Al and A4).
3. The conviction of the appellants for offence punishable under
Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in
short the 'IPC') and sentence of imprisonment for life and a fine of
Rs.20,000/-with default stipulation was upheld. C
4. The prosecution version in a nutshell is as follows:
On 7.2.1997 at or about 6.45 p.m. at Ayamkudy Kara in Muttuchira
Village of Vaikom Taluk in Kotayam District, the 4th accused came driving
his goods autorickshaw (pick-u-auto) along with Al to A3 in the said D
goods carrier and pulled up in front of Marangattil House of Sathyadevan ·
@ Sahadevan@ Sahadi (hereinafter referred to as the 'deceased'). The
deceased was the driver of a mini lorry. A2 straight away went over to
the deceased who was sitting along with PW2 in the varanda of his house.
A2 caught hold of the deceased by the tuck of his dhoti and dragged E 1

him on to the Ezhumanthuruthi Kapoola road in front. The deceased
picked up a soda bottle from the parapet of his house. Seeing this A2
went and picked a soda bottle from the adjacent grocery shop run by
Rajamma (PW 7), the wife of the deceased and came on to the road.
From the southern mud road (road margin) in front of the aforesaid F 1

grocery shop, A2 struck the deceased on the head with the soda bottle.
Then the deceased also hit A2 on the head with the soda bottle in his
hand and inflicted an injury. Seeing this A2 sprinkled chilly powder on
the eyes of the deceased. The chilly powder got into the eyes of the
deceased who stood there with both hands held against his face and G i

rubbing his eyes. Al then exhorted his companions to cut Sahadevan to
death. Thereupon A2 drew a chopper from inside his shirt and cut the
deceased on his head inflicting injuries. A3 stabbed the deceased on his
right arm with a knife inflicting injury. A4 then cut the deceased on the
back of his head with a chopper. The deceased fell on the road and was H 1
I 132 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 11 S.C.R.

A taken by PWs.l, 2 and 8 to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
The deceased who had become unconscious on account of the injuries
sustained by him succumbed to the same at about 2.10 p.m. on 8.2.1997.
Since the aforesaid acts were done by Al to A4 in prosecution of their
common intention to do so, the accused persons were charged for having
B committed the offence of murder punishable under Section 302 read with
Section 34 IPC. +-
On the accused pleading not guilty to the charge framed against them
by the court below for the aforementioned offence, the prosecution was
permitted to adduce evidence in support of its case. The prosecution
C examined 16 witnesses as PWs 1 to 16 and got marked -17 documents
as Exts. Pl to Pl 7 and 8 material objects as Mos. 1 to 8.
After the closure of the prosecution's evidence the accused were
questioned under Section 313(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
D (in short 'Cr.P.C.') with regard to the incriminating circumstances
appearing against them in the evidence for the prosecution. They denied
those circumstances and maintained their innocence. They admitted that
Exts. Pl6 and Pl 7 are the wound certificates pertaining to A2 and A3
respectively.
E When called upon to enter on their defence, the accused examined
the Secretary of the Ayamkudy Branch of KPMS as DWI.
5. Placing reliance on the evidence of PWs 2, 3, 7 and 8 the trial
Court recorded conviction. As noted above, appeal was preferred before
F the High Court by all the four accused persons, and the appeal filed by
the present appellants was dismissed while that of co-accused was
allowed.
6. In support of the appeal learned counsel for the appellant
submitted even if prosecution version accepted in toto offence under
G Section 302 IPC is not made out. As a matter of fact it is the prosecution
version that the deceased first assaulted appellant no. I with a broken
bottle and caused several injuries.
7. Learned counsel for the respondent on the other hand submitted
H that the trial Court and the High Court have rightly found the accused
j
THANKACHANv. STATE[PASAYAT,J.] 1133

pe·rsons guilty of offence punishable under Section 302 IPC. A
8. In essence the stand of learned counsel for the appellant is that
Exception IV to Section 300 IPC would apply to the facts of the case.
9. For bringing in operation of Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC, it
has to be established that the act was committed without premeditation, B
in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel without the
offender having taken undue advantage and not having acted in a cruel
or unusual manner.
10. The Fourth Exception to Section 300 IPC covers acts done in
a sudden fight. The said Exception deals with a case of prosecution not C
covered by the First Exception, after which its place would have been
more appropriate. The Exception is founded upon the same principle, for ·
in both there is absence of premeditation. But, while in the case of
Exception 1 there is total deprivation of self-control, in case of Exception
4, there is only thatheat of passion which clouds men's sober reason and D
urges them to deeds which they would not otherwise do. There is
provocation in Exception 4 as in Exception 1; but the injury done is not
the direct consequence of that provocation. In fact Exception 4 deals with
cases in which notwithstanding that a blow may have been struck, or u.e
provocation given in the origin of the dispute or in whatever w•. _ the E
quruTel may have originated, yet the subsequent conduct of both parties
puts them in respect of guilt upon equal footing. A "sudden fight" imnlies
mutual provocation and blows on each side. The homicide committed is
then clearly not traceable to unilateral provocation, nor in such cases could
the whole blame be placed on one side. For if it were so, the Exception F
more appropriately applicable would be Exception 1. There is no previous
deliberation or determination to fight. A fight suddenly takes place, for
which both parties are more or less to be blamed. It may be that one of
them starts it, but if the other had not aggravated it by his own conduct it
would not have taken the serious tum it did. There is then mutual G
provocation and aggravation, and it is difficult to apportion the share of
blame which attaches to each fighter. The help of Exception 4 can be
invoked if death is caused (a) without premeditation; (b) in a sudden fight;
(c) without the offender having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel
or unusual manner; and (d) the fight must have been with the person killed. H
1134 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 11 S.C.R.

A To bring a case within Exception 4 all the ingredients mentioned in it must
be found. It is to be noted that tlie "fight" occurring in Exception 4 tti·, ,
Section 300 IPC is not defined in IPC. It takes two to make a fight. Heat
of passion requires that there must be no time for the passions to cool
down and in this case, the parties have worked themselves into a fury on
B account of the verbal altercation in the beginning. A fight is a combat
between two or more persons whether with or without weapons. It is
not possible to enunciate any general rule as to what shall be deemed to
be a sudden quarrel. It is a question of fact and whether a quarrel is
sudden or not must necessarily depend upon the proved facts of each
c case. For the application of Exception 4, it is not sufficient to show that
there was a sudden quarrel and that there was no premeditation. It must
further be shown that the offender has not taken undue advantage or acted
in cruel or unusual manner. The expression "undue advantage" as used in
the provision means "unfair advantag~".
D 11. The above position is highlighted in Sandhya Jadhav v. State
of Maharashtra, [2006] 4 SCC 653.
12. Considering the background facts, appropriate conviction would
be under Section 304 Part I IPC and not Section 302 IPC. The conviction
E is accordingly altered. Custodial sentence of ten years would suffice. Fine
amount is reduced to Rs.5,000/-. In case fine is not paid, default ~ntence
would be two years.
13. Appeal is allowed to the aforesaid extent.
F N.J. Appeal Partly allowed.