Holding

The Court held that the appellant's act, lacking pre‑meditated motive and not causing death by injuries sufficient in the ordinary course of nature, falls under Section 304 Part‑II IPC, not Section 302 IPC.

Summary

A police constable seized four guavas from a vendor without paying and a quarrel ensued. The appellant, a carpenter, intervened with his tool (a badze) and struck the constable, causing instantaneous death. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC for murder, a decision affirmed by the High Court. The Supreme Court held that the evidence was misappreciated: there was no clear motive, the fight was sudden, and the injuries were not sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death, thus the offence falls under Section 304 Part‑II IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The conviction was altered to Section 304 Part‑II and the sentence was modified to the period already served, resulting in the appellant’s release.

Issues considered

Whether the appellant's act constitutes murder under Section 302 IPC or culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part‑II IPC.
Whether a motive or pre‑meditation existed to attract the harsher provision.
Whether the injuries inflicted were sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.
Whether the exception under Section 300(4) (sudden fight) applies.

Legislation cited

Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 300, s. 302, s. 304 Part II

Subjects

murderculpable homicide not amounting to murdersudden fightmotiveinjury sufficiencySection 302 IPCSection 304 Part II IPCIndian Penal Codepost‑mortembadzefruit vendor dispute

Judgment

- VADLA CHANDRAIAH A
v.
STATE OF A.P

DECEMBER 7, 2006

[S.B. SINHA AND MARKANDEY KATJU, JJ.] B

Penal Code, 1860; Exceptions I and 4 to Sections 300, 302, 304 Part-
II:

Homicide/murder-Quarrel between a fruit vendor and a police constable C
for non-payment of price of fruits-Intervention by accused and his son,
carpenters-Sudden fight lasted for I 0-15 minutes-Accused hacked the
Constable with a badze causing his death--'Trial Court found the accused
guilty of committing offence punishable u/s 302 !PC and sentenced him
accordingly-Affirmed by High Court-On appeal, Held: High Court erred D
in appreciating evidence and thereby a wrong question posed-As to presence
of motive, once clear evidence with regard to 'grudge' available, Court
should have taken the same to its logical end-Accused was only having a
tool, he was not otherwise armed-Injuries caused to deceased by ac-::used
with the tool is due to sudden provocation-Sudden provocation not in

.. doubt-Post mortem report reveals that injuries inflicted on the deceased by E
accused not sufficient in· the ordinary course of nature to cause his death-
Hence in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, conviction of
appellant altered from s.302 to s.304 Part-II !PC-Sentence modified to the
period already undergone/suffered by him-Directions issued-Sentencing.

The qu~stion which arose for determination in this appeal was as to F
whether in the absence of any motive and in particular the fact that the
accused-appellant was not even known to the deceased, the fight which
took place between them was a sudden one and the injuries which resulted
in the death of other party to the fight, were inflicted in heat of passion,
a case under Section 304 Part-II I.P.C. was made out or not. G
A Police Constable, since deceased, allegedly picked up guavas from
a fruit vendor but did not pay the price thereof. A quarrel ensued between
them. Appellant, a carpenter, who was doing some work in nearby area,
intervened. The quarrel/fight between them continued for 10-lS minutes.
343 II
344 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.
...
A The appellant hacked the deceased with a badze causing his instantaneous
death. He along with his son was charged for commission of murder of the
constable. Trial Court relying upon the statement of prosecution witnesses
found accused-appellant alone guilty of committing the offence punishable u/
s 302 IPC and sentenced him accordingly. On appeal, High Court affirmed
the conviction and sentence. Hence the present appeal.
B
Partly allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: 1.1. There has been a total misappreciation of evidence on the
part of the High Court and a wrong question had been posed. Participation of
the accused-appellant was not in dispute. Presence of motive was there; once
C it was found that there had been no clear evidence with regard to 'grudge' the
court should have taken the same to its logical end. (348-A)

1.2. lfthe quarrel continued for a long time, it would be presumed that
there was no premeditation. If on an issue the appellant quarrelled with a
constable, the deceased, who might have been of the opinion that he was not
D required to pay for the fruits, tampers run high because of the attitude of the
deceased. (348-F, GJ

1.3. The issue as to whether the case would fall under Section 302 IPC
or under Section 304 Part-II thereof or not should bejudged keeping in vie~v
the factual backdrop of the case. For the said purpose, the term 'evidence
E brought on records' must be considered in its entirety. (348-H)

1.4. Deceased was a constable. He took up four guava fruits which PW-
8 was selling. PW-8 and the deceased must have fought for payment of price.
Appellant who along with his two sons had been carrying on carpentry work
must have come to the rescue of PW-8. While doing so, a quarrel must have
F ensued which even, according to the prosecution witnesses, continued for 10
or 15 minutes. If that be so, the question is ifthe appellant bearing any grudge
as against the deceased or there being no cause for sudden provocation would
not arise. Appellant was only having his tool. He was not otherwise armed.
The tool in his hand was required to be used in his occupation. It might have
G been used to cause injuries but sudden provocation therefor may not be much
in doubt. [349-A, B, CJ

1.5. Post-mortem report did not state that the injuries inflicted on the
deceased by the appella.nt were sufficient in ordinary course of nature to cause
death or likely to cause death. [349-D)
H
... VADLACHANDRAIAHv. STATE OF A.P. 345

Shivappa Buddappa Kolkar alias Buddappagol v. State of Karnataka A
and Ors., (2004) 13 SCC 168, relied on.

2.1. In the instant case, Part-I of Section 300 IPC is not attracted as it
is beyond any doubt or dispute that the death was not caused with an intention
to that effect. [350-E)
B
2.2. Fourthly, appended to Section 300 IPC would be attributed if
the person committing the act knows that it is so imminently dangerous
that it must, in all probability, cause death or such bodily injury as is likely
to cause death, and commits such act without any excuse for incurring
the risk of causing death or such injury as aforesaid that will attract C
Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code. (350-F)

Sukhbir Singh v. State of HmJ1ana (2002] 3 SCC 327; Sandhya Jadhav
(Smt) v. State of Maharashtra (2006] 4 SCC 653; Pappu v. State of MP.
[2006] 7 SCC 391 and Kai/ash v. State of MP., (2006) 9 Scale 681, relied on.

3. In view the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, the conviction D
of the appellant should be altered from Section 302 IPC to one under Section
304 Part-II thereof. Ends of justice would be met if the sentence awarded to
the appellant is modified to the period already undergone by him.
(352-H; 353-AJ

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 1288 of E
2006.

From the final Judgment and Order dated 19-7-2005 of the High Court
of Judicature, Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in Criminal Appeal No. 969/
2003.
F
Ranjan Mukherjee (SCLSC) for the Appellant.

D. Bharathi Reddy, P. Vinay Kumar and Sneha Bhaskaran for the
Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by G

S.B. SINHA, J. Delay condoned.

Leave granted.

On 17.10.2000, at about 3.30 p.m., the deceased Manik Rao, a police H
346 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A constable, was walking down the street. P.W.8 (B.Narasimha) was a vendor
of guava. Manik Rao picked up four guavas from his vend but did not pay
the price thereof. On being asked to do so, he allegedly said that the same
would be paid latter. The appellant together with his son were doing some
carpentry work on the same street. Apparently, a quarrel took place between
P.W.-8 (8.Narasimha) and the said Manik Rao. The appellant and his son
B intervened. The quarrel continued for 10-15 minutes. Allegedly, Appellant
hacked the deceased Manik Rao with a badze (a heavy sharp axe like
instrument used in the carpentry work) causing instantaneous death of the
deceased. Appellant together with his son were charged for commission of
murder of the said deceased Manik Rao.
c The prosecution, in support of its case, examined four eye witnesses.
P.W.l 's (V.Narasimha Rao), presence on the scene however, has been doubted
by the learned trial judge. Learned Sessions Judge and the High Court have
relied upon P.W.-2 to P.W.-4 (V.Damodar Rao, K.Narayana & Kammeta
Anjaiah) to arrive at a conclusion that it was the appellant alone who had
D caused the aforementioned injuries to the deceased Manik Rao. Accused Nos.
I and 3, who were the father and brother of the appellant, were acquitted.

A principal question which arises for our consideration is to whether in
the aforementioned peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the appellant
can be said to have committed the offence punishable under Section 302
E I.P.C. or under Section 304 Part-II thereof.

In view of the limited notice issued in this case, we would proceed on
the basis that the appellant alone who had caused injuries to the deceased
Manik Rao.

F Before, however, we advert to the legal question as regards the nature
of offence, we may notice that P. W.-15 (Dr.M.Pavan Kumar) in his evidence
on the basis of post-mortem examination report prepared by Dr.O.Butchi
Babu Reddy stated that the following anti-mortem injuries were found on the
dead body of Manik Rao :-
G "I. Elliptical shaped penetrating incised wound with a length of 6
c.ms on either side, a diametre of 2 I /2 c.m at the centre and a depth
of 8 c.ms extending upto the meninges on the left temporal region.
Hematoma present below the mesninges. (Diagram was drawn).

2. Elliptical shaped incised wound adjoining the left clavical (with
H
VADLA CHANDRAIAH v. STATE OF A.P. [S.B. SINHA, J.] 347

no fracture of clavical) present on the left side of anterior aspect A
of neck extending upto stomclavical joint on left side of 6 c.ms.
on either side and a diametre of 2 1/2 c.m. at the centre and a
depth of I 0 c.ms. with bleeding cutting through left carodids and
all the great vessels of neck on left and also left bronchus.
Bleeding extending upto left hilem.
B
3. A clearly incised triangular shaped injury measuring 7 c.ms., 6
c.ms and 3 1/2 c.ms (triangle) and a depth of 4 c.ms. without the
skin collaped and exposing external oblic and deltoid and other
mussels groups with blood clots on them on the anterior aspect
of left shoulder.
c
4. Incised wound 6 c.ms. X 2 c.ms. X 2 c.ms. on the left side of
back with blood clots in the muscles."

The High Court, in its Judgment, refused to accept the plea of the
appellant herein that the offence committed by him would not be one under
Section 302 I.P.C. but under Section 304 Part-II thereof in the foJJowing D
words:-

"The learned counsel for the appellant further contends that there
is no motive for the appellant/accused no. I to attack the deceased,
and that there is inconsistency in the prosecution evidence i.e. P. W.8,
that it was the accused no.2 that interfered first when the deceased E
refused to pay the price for the guava fruits and so, the case of the
prosecution cannot be accepted. This discrepancy is not that much
material nor is a ground to disbelieve the prosecution case regarding
participation .of the appellant/accused no. I. It is not known whether
apart from the incident of deceased not paying price for the guava F
fruits, the accused had any other motive. In Ex.P-1/complaint, it is
just referred that on account of grudge, the deceased was attacked.
But, there is no clear evidence with regard to the grudge. When there
is overwhelming evidence regarding participation of accused no. I,
establishment of grudge is of no consequence. Thus, in view of the G
evidence of P. W. 2 to P. W.4, who are eye witnesses to the incident,
and as there is no dispute over the sudden death of the deceased we
are not inclined to accept the contention of the learned counsel for
the appellant that the appellant/accused no. I is not responsible for the
injuries that caused the death of the deceased."
H
348 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. IO S.C.R.

A A bare perusal of the said findings of the High Court would clearly
show that there has been a total misappreciation of evidence on its part and
a wrong question had been posed. Participation of the appellant was not in
dispute. Presence of motive was. Once it was found that there had been no
clear evidence with regard to 'grudge' the court should have taken the same
B to its logical end.

The question which was thus required to be posed and answered was ,._
whether in the absence of any motive and in particular the fact that the
appellant was not even known to the deceased, the fight which took place
was a sudden one and the injuries were inflicted in heat of passion and thus
C a case under Section 304 Part-II I.P.C. was made out or not.

The said contention of the appellant was sought to be answered by the
High Court stating :-

"It is strenuously argued by the learned counsel for the appellant
D that even assuming that accused no. I .caused the injuries on the
deceased, no offence punishable under Section 302 IPC is constituted
and that it was a case of sudden flash, where the appellant/ accused
no. I attacked the deceased, and such being the case, the offence bas
to fall under Section 304 Part I or II IPC. We are not inclined to
accept this contention either, as there was altercation between the
E deceased and the accused, which went on for about I 0 to I 5 minutes,
and the evidence of P.W.-15, who spoke about the post mortem
examination, shows that the deceased suffered as many as four injuries
with a heavy weapon like Badze. If it was a case where in a sudden
fight the accused attacked the deceased and caused an injury, there
F was possibility of accepting the contention of the defence that no
offence punishable under Section 302 IPC is constituted."

If the quarrel continued for a long time, it would be presumed that
there was no premeditation. If on an issue the appellant quarreled with a
constable who might have been of the opinion that he was not required to pay
G for the fruits, tampers run high because of the attitude of the deceased.

The issue as to whether the case would fall under Section 302 IPC or
under Section 304 Part-II thereof or not should be judged keeping in view the
aforementioned factual backdrop. For the said purpose, the term 'e·1idence
brought on records' must be considered in its entirety.
H
VADLA CHANDRAJAH v. ST ATE OF A.P. [S.B. SINHA, J.] 349

The deceased Manik Rao was a constable. He took up four guava fruits A
which P.W.-8 (B.Narasimha) was selling. P.W.-8 (B.Narasimha) and the
deceased must have fought for payment of price. Appellant who along with
his two sons had been carrying on carpentry work must have come to the
rescue of P. W.-8 (B.Narasimha). While doing so, a quarrel must have ensued
which even, according to the prosecution witnesses, continued for l 0 or 15 B
minutes. If that be so, the question is if the appellant's being any grudge as
against the deceased or there being no cause for sudden provocation would
not arise. Appellant was only having his tool. He was not otherwise armed.
The tool in his hand was required to be used in his occupation.

It might have been used to cause injuries but sudden provocation C
therefor may not be much in doubt.

We may notice that in the post-mortem report, Dr. 0. Butchi Reddy did
not state that the injuries inflicted on the deceased by the appellant were
sufficient in ordinary course of nature to cause death or likely to cause death.
In Shivappa Buddappa Kolkar alias Buddappagol v. State of Karnataka D
and Ors., [2004] 13 SCC 168, a Division Bench of this Court in a case where
there had been no such opinion on the part of the doctor who had conducted
the post-mortem examination opined:-

"13. We need not dilate further on this aspect as it is not the
prosecution case that the appellant was responsible for causing any E
injury other than Injury (1). If so, it is fairly clear that the injuries to
occipital region as well as the thorax injury which caused damage to
the ribs and lungs are both severe injuries and according to the medical
evidence both these injuries cumulatively caused death. There is no
evidence of the medical expert to the effect that Injury (1) by itself F
would have caused instantaneous death as has happened in this case
or that Injury (1) by itself was sufficient in the ordinary course of
nature to cause death. No doubt Injury (1) is a severe injury on a vital
part and in all likelihood, it could cause death. Yet, it is difficult to
extricate the impact of an equally severe injury which was found to G
be present on internal examination. In these circumstances, it is not
safe to draw a conclusion that the injury inflicted by the appellant, if
at all it was intended to be inflicted, by itself would be sufficient in
the ordinary course of nature to cause death. On the state of medical
evidence we have, it is not possible to draw such definite conclusion.
Considering the nature of the injury and weapons used and the H
350 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006) SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

A circumstances in which the injury came to be inflicted, we are of the
view that the appellant shall be imputed with the knowledge that the
injury inflicted· by him was likely to cause death. He is therefore
liable to be convicted under Section 304 Part II."

We may now examine the ingredients of the provisions of Section 300
B of I.P.C. which reads as under :-
"300. Murder.- Except in the cases hereinafter excepted, culpable
homicide is murder, if the act by which the death is caused is done
with the intention of causing death, or~

C Secondly.- If it is done with the intention of causing such bodily
injury as the offender knows to be likely to cause the death of the
person to whom the harm is caused, or-

Thirdly.-If it is done with the intention of causing bodily injury to
any person and the bodily injury intended to be inflicted is sufficient
D in the ordinary course of nature to cause death, or-

Fourthly.-If the person committing the act knows that it is so
imminently dangerous that it must, in all probability, cause death or
such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, and commits such act
without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing death or such
E injury as aforesaid."

In this case, Part-I of Section 300 is not attracted as it is beyond any
doubt or dispute that the death was not caused with an intention to that effect.

Fourthly, appended to Section 300, would be attributed if the person
F committing the act knows that it is so imminently dangerous that it must, in
all probability, cause death or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death,
and commits such act without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing
death or such injury as aforesaid that will attract Section 300 of the Indian
Penal Code.
G
In Sukhbir Singh v. State of Haryana, (2002] 3 SCC 327, wherein two
fatal blows were inflicted by the appellant therein by a bhala on the upper
right portion of chest of the deceased, this Court opined :-

"19. The High Court has also found that the occurrence had taken
H place upon a sudden quarrel but as the appellant was found to have
VADLACHANDRAIAHv. STATE OF A.P. [S.B. SINHA,J.] 351

acted in a cruel and unusual manner, he was not given the benefit of A
such exception. For holding him to have acted in a cruel and unusual
manner, the High Court relied upon the number of injuries and their
location on the body of the deceased. In the absence of the existence
of common object, the appellant cannot be held responsible for the
other injuries caused to the person of the deceased. He is proved to B
have inflicted two blows on the person of the deceased which were
sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause his death. The
infliction of the injuries and their nature proves the intention of the
appellant but causing of such two injuries cannot be termed to be
either in a cruel or unusual manner. All fatal injuries resulting in
death cannot be termed as cruel or unusual for the purposes of not C
availing the benefit of Exception 4 of Section 300 IPC. After the
injuries were inflicted and the injured had fallen down, the appellant
is not shown to have inflicted any other injury upon his person when
he was in a helpless position. It is proved that in the heat of passion
upon a sudden quarrel followed by a fight, the accused who was
armed with bhala caused injuries at random and thus did not act in D
a cruel or unusual manner."

Again in Sandhya Jadhav (Smt) v. State of Maharashtra, [2006] 4 SCC
653, this Court noticed the distinction between Section 300 Exception I and
Section 300 Exception 4 and came to the conclusion that the Court is bound E
to consider a large number of factors for arriving at an opinion as to whether
the fight was sudden or not and/or whether the deceased has taken undue
advantage of the situation in the following words :-

"9. The Fourth Exception to Section 300 IPC covers acts done in
a sudden fight. The said Exception deals with a case of prosecution F
not 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 I there is total deprivation of self-control, in
case of Exception 4, there is only that heat of passion which clouds
men's sober reasons and urges them to deeds which they would not G
otherwise do. There is provocation in Exception 4 as in Exception l;
but the injury done is not the direct consequence of that provocation.
In fact Exception 4 deals with cases in which nom:ithstanding 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, H
352 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2006] SUPP. 10 S.C.R.

... A
·
yet the subsequent conduct of both 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 it were so, the Exception more
appropriately applicable would be Exception I. There is no previous
B deliberation or determination to fight. A fight suddenly takes place,
for which both parties are more or less to be blamed. Jt 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 turn it did. There is then
mutual provocation and aggravation, and it is difficult to apportion
c 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. To bring a case
within Exception 4 all the ingredients mentioned in it must be found.
D It is to be noted that the "fight" occurring in Exception 4 to Section
300 IPC is not defined in !PC. 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 account of the verbal altercation in the beginning. A fight is a
E 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 sudden quarrel. It is a question uf fact and
whether a q1;1arrel 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 there was no
F premeditation. It must further be shown that 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
advantage".

Again in Pappu v. State of M. P., [2006) 7 SCC 39 I, this Court reiterated
G the same legal principle. (See also: Kai/ash v. State of MP., [2006) 9 Scale
681.

Keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, we
are of the opinion that the conviction of the appellant should be altered from
H Section 302 IPC to one under Section 304 Part-II thereof. It is stated by the
VADLA CHANDRAIAH v. STATE OF A.P. [S.B. SINHA,"J.) 353

learned counsel that the appellant has continuously been in jail from 17 .10.2000 A
till date. In view of the statement made by learned counsel for the appellant,
we are of the opinion that the ends of justice would be met if we modify the
sentence awarded to the appellant as the period already undergone by him.
The appeal is allowed to the above extent.

The appellant shall be set at liberty forthwith, if not wanted in connection B
with any other case.

S.K.S. Appeal partly allowed.

-