Mattar v. State of U.P.

The appellant and his brother were charged for double murder - one of Ashok Kumar and other of Ram Prasad, Appellant was convicted under Section 302 IPC and his brother for offence under Section 302/34 IPC by Court of Sessions. They were awarded life sentence.

During the pendency of appeal in the High Court against conviction and sentence passed by the Court of-Sessions, brother of the appellant died. The appellants' appeal was heard by a Division Bench of the High Court. There was difference of opinion between the two learned judges, one expressed the opinion that the appeal of the appellant deserves to the allowed and the other learned judge was of the opi~ion that the appeal deserves to be dismissed. Both the learned Judges gave separate judgments which are fairly lengthy and contain a detailed examination of evidence. In view of this difference of opinion the matter was placed before a third learned Judge.

The .case of the pro5ecution is based on the ocular testimony of three witnesses PWs I, 2 and 3, besides the testimony of the informant PW4 and other evidence including medical evidence produced in the trial before the Court Sessions. The third learned Judge, before whom the matter was placed, expressed the opinion that the appellant was rightly convicted under Section 302 IPC and awarded sentence of life imprisonment. In that opinion a brief reference has been made to the testimony of only one of the eye-witnesses, namely PW2 Smt. Kallania. According to the prosecution she was eye-witness to the murder of Ram Prasad and not to the murder of the other deceased-Ashok Kumar. The eye-witnesses to the murder of Ashok Kumar, according to the prosecution case, were PWI and PW3. PW3 is an employee of PWl. Ashok Kumar deceased was brother of PWI, PW4 is father of Ashok Kumar and PWI Sushi! Kumar.

In view of the opinion of third learned judge the appeal was dismissed by the High Court, The judgment and order of High Court is under challenge in this appeal. We have gone through the opinion of the third learned Judge. Unfortunately, except a brief reference to the testimony of PW2, the said opinion does not show that the leaned judge independently considered the testimony of other eye-witnesses, in particuiar-PWI and PW3. The judges in different dissenting opinions have given detailed reasons, for and against the acceptance of version as deposed by these eye witnesses. The third learned Judge, under these circumstances, was required to independently examine the matter and express his opinion. It is not permissible to only or merely indicate the agreement with one or other view without giving reasons therefore. Therefore, Mr.BB Singh, learned counsel for the appellant is right in his submission that the matter deserves to be remanded to the High Court so that it may be heard afresh by a third j~ge so as to make available to the parties a reasoned opinion showing that r'ihe relevant evidence and submissions that may be urged by counsel for the parties ' have been independently . considered. We refrain from expressing any opinion on the merits ofthe case and make it clear that merits have not been examined by this Court which aspect would be considered by the High Court (third Hon'ble judge) in accordance with law.

In view of the fact that the appellant is in custody for a long period, we request the High Court to decide the matter expeditiously and, if possible, within a period of four months.

For the aforesaid reasons, we set aside the judgment and order of the High Court in Crl. A.No.2091/80 and remit the matter to the High Court in terms aforestated. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. p 334 of 1999.

From the Judgment and Order dated 6.4.18/13.I0.98 & 16.10.98 of the Allahabad High Court in Cr!. Appeal No. 2091 of 1980.

B.B. Singh, Kumar Rajesh Singh and Ms. Sunita Rani Singh for the Appellant..

Ms. Vibha Datta Makhija and A.S Pundir for the Respondent.