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IN THE HONB’LE HIGH COURT OF GUJRAT

IN THE CASE OF

ANITA
VS
STATE OF GUJRAT

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF APPEALENT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. List of abbreviations

2. Index of authorities

3. Statement of jurisdiction

4. Summary of facts

5. Questions raised

6. Summary of arguments

7. Argument advanced

8. Prayer

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1 .ipc - Indian penal code

2. consti-constitution

3.cri.law- criminal law

4. sec-section

5. art-article

6. hon’ble-honourable

7. cj-chief justice

8. doc.-document

9. govt.-government

10. para-paragraph

11. sc-supreme court

12. cr.p.c.-code of criminal procedure

13. h.c. high court

14. scc- supreme court cases

15. scj- Supreme Court journal

16. air- All India reporter

17. jt- judgement times

18. Cr.l.j. - Criminal law

19. ghj- Gujarat law herald

20. Guj. - Gujarat

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INDEX OF AUTHOURITIES
Books referred

1. Gaur k.d.indian penal code, universal publisher

2. Thakkar c.k, criminal law and practice, Asoka law house

3. Thakore dhirijlal keshavlal, ipc, 31st edition

4. Gandhi b.m.,ipc

5. merriam-webster’s dictionary of law 1st edition, Springfield, 2005

6. Singhal m.l.ipc, 2nd edition, premier publishing company

7. Sarkar on Indian penal code, dwiwedi law agency

8. Universal,s criminal manual universal law company

9. Raghavan on law of crime, 4th edition, Indian law house, 1996

10. Singh jaspal Indian penal code all india reporter pvt lmtd.

Website referred

1. www.pacilli.com last visited on 8th September 2010

2. www.manupatra.com last visited on 8th September 2010

3. www.legal.com research.com last visited on 8th September 2010

4. www.indianlaw.com

5. www.legalservice.com

6. www.indianlawinfo.com

7. www.indianlaworg.com

8. www.judisnic.in

9. www.scjudgements.in

10. www.supremecourt.com

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Authorities cited

1. Gurcharan Singh vs. state of Punjab

2. K.M. Nanavti vs. state of Maharashtra
3. R. vs. Duffey
4. Holmes vs. director of public prosecution
5. R vs. Ahluwalia

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STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

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The Respondent has submitted to the jurisdiction of this Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat.

The High Court’s jurisdiction is invoked under Criminal Procedure Code. The parties shall
accept any Judgement of the Court as final and binding upon them and shall execute it in its
entirety and in good faith.

Thus the matter stands in this Honorable Court.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. That, Anita and Aman were married from the past five years.

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2. That, from the last three years, Aman has taken to going out drinking of an evening
and coming back home late at night.

3. That, Anita frequently scolded him for the same and told him she would leave him if
he didn’t mend his ways.

4. That, it was found that Aman has a violent temper and on some occations he had hit
Anita forcefully. And on other occations, Aman has forced Anita to engage in sexual
intercourse with him despite of her protests.

5. That, Anita took a help from a counsellor who advised her to leave Aman.

6. That, the next time when Aman came home drunk, he staggered into the bedroom and
Anita told him she was leavening him the next day.

7. That, whereupon Aman punched out at her several times, breaking some of her teeth,
cutting her lips and badly bruising her.

8. That, eventually Aman went to sleep on the bed with Anita sobbing in the corner of
the room.

9. That, several hours later, in the early hours and whilst Aman was still asleep in a
drunken stupor, Anita went downstairs and poured herself a couple of large brandies.

10. That, she then went to the tool shed in the garden and took out a large hammer.

11. That, Anita returned to the bedroom and hit Aman several times about the head and
killing him.

12. That, she then calmly called the police and said; “you had better come quickly- I have
just murdered my husband”.

13. That, Anita was arrested and questioned the next day and she made the statement to
the police.

14. That, in the statement, Anita explained that she just could not take any more and that
she had told the counsellor that she would leave Aman if he ever hurt her again.

15. That, Anita was charged with murder at the trial court.

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16. That, she is appealing against that verdict on the basis that judge should have
considered her defence of provocation.

17. That, judge had not considered the defence because of the cooling of period of some
hours.

ISSUE RAISED
I. Whether the provocation was valid?

II. Whether Anita committed culpable homicide or murder?

III. Whether Anita has acted in involuntarily intoxication or private defence or not?

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SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Murder versus Culpable Homicide: The distinction

revisited
Murder (defined under Section 300) and culpable homicide (defined under Section 299) are
two offences under the Indian Penal Code the distinction between which has always been
perplexing to the law students. For their benefit, we are referring to a recently reported
decision of the Supreme Court wherein these principles have been explained in extensio as
under;
18. Section 299 and Section 300 IPC deals with the definition of culpable homicide and
murder respectively. Section 299 defines culpable homicide as the act of causing death; (i)
with the intention of causing death or (ii) with the intention of causing such bodily injury as
is likely to cause death or (iii) with the knowledge that such act is likely to cause death. The
bare reading of the section makes it crystal clear that the first and the second clause of
the section refer to intention apart from the knowledge and the third clause refers to
knowledge alone and not intention. Both the expression "intent" and "knowledge" postulate
the existence of a positive mental attitude which is of different degrees. The mental element
in culpable homicide i.e. mental attitude towards the consequences of conduct is one of
intention and knowledge. If that is caused in any of the aforesaid three circumstances, the
offence of culpable homicide is said to have been committed. Section 300 IPC, however,
deals with murder although there is no clear definition of murder provided in Section 300
IPC. It has been repeatedly held by this Court that culpable homicide is the genus and murder
is species and that all murders are culpable homicide but not vice versa. Section 300 IPC
further provides for the exceptions which will constitute culpable homicide not amounting to

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murder and punishable under Section 304. When and if there is intent and knowledge then the
same would be a case of Section 304 Part I and if it is only a case of knowledge and not the
intention to cause murder and bodily injury, then the same would be a case of Section 304
Part II. The aforesaid distinction between an act amounting to murder and an act
not amounting to murder has been brought out in the numerous decisions of this Court.

19. In the case of State of A.P. v. Rayavarapu Punnayya, (1976) 4 SCC 382, this Court
observed as follows at page 386:

"12. In the scheme of the Penal Code, "culpable homicides" is genus and "murder" its specie.
All "murder" is "culpable homicide" but not vice-versa. Speaking generally,
"culpable homicide" sans "special characteristics of murder", is "culpable homicide not
amounting to murder". For the purpose of fixing punishment, proportionate to the gravity of
this generic offence, the Code practically recognises three degrees of culpable homicide. The
first is, what may be called, "culpable homicide of the first degree". This is the greatest form
of culpable homicide, which is defined in Section 300 as "murder". The second may be
termed as "culpable homicide of the second degree". This is punishable under the first part of
Section 304. Then, there is "culpable homicide of the third degree". This is the lowest type of
culpable homicide and the punishment provided for it is, also, the lowest among the
punishments provided for the three grades. Culpable homicide of this degree is punishable
under the second part of Section 304."

20. Placing strong reliance on the aforesaid decision, this Court in the case of Abdul Waheed
Khan v. State of A.P., (2002) 7 SCC 175, observed as follows at page 184:

"13. Clause (b) of Section 299 corresponds with clauses (2) and (3) of Section 300. The
distinguishing feature of the mens rea requisite under clause (2) is the knowledge possessed
by the offender regarding the particular victim being in such a peculiar condition or state of
health that the internal harm caused to him is likely to be fatal, notwithstanding the fact that
such harm would not in the ordinary way of nature be sufficient to cause death of a person in
normal health or condition. It is noteworthy that the "intention to cause death" is not an
essential requirement of clause (2). Only the intention of causing the bodily injury coupled

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with the offender's knowledge of the likelihood of such injury causing the death of the
particular victim, is sufficient to bring the killing within the ambit of this clause. This aspect
of clause (2) is borne out by Illustration (b) appended to Section 300.

14. Clause (b) of Section 299 does not postulate any such knowledge on the part of the
offender. Instances of cases falling under clause (2) of Section 300 can be where the
assailant causes death by a fist-blow intentionally given knowing that the victim is suffering
from an enlarged liver, or enlarged spleen or diseased heart and such blow is likely to cause
death of that particular person as a result of the rupture of the liver, or spleen or the failure of
the heart, as the case may be. If the assailant had no such knowledge about the disease or
special frailty of the victim, nor an intention to cause death or bodily injury sufficient in the
ordinary course of nature to cause death, the offence will not be murder, even if the injury
which caused the death, was intentionally given. In clause (3) of Section 300, instead of the
words "likely to cause death" occurring in the corresponding clause (b) of Section 299, the
words "sufficient in the ordinary course of nature" have been used. Obviously, the distinction
lies between a bodily injury likely to cause death and a bodily injury sufficient in the ordinary
course of nature to cause death. The distinction is fine but real and if overlooked, may result
in miscarriage of justice. The difference between clause (b) of Section 299 and clause (3) of
Section 300 is one of degree of probability of death resulting from the intended bodily injury.
To put it more broadly, it is the degree of probability of death which determines whether a
culpable homicide is of the gravest, medium or the lowest degree. The word "likely" in clause
(b) of Section 299 conveys the sense of probable as distinguished from a mere possibility.
The words "bodily injury ... sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death" mean
that death will be the "most probable" result of the injury, having regard to the ordinary
course of nature.

15. For cases to fall within clause (3), it is not necessary that the offender intended to cause
death, so long as the death ensues from the intentional bodily injury or injuries sufficient to
cause death in the ordinary course of nature. Rajwant Singh v. State of Kerala is an apt
illustration of this point.

16. In Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab Vivian Bose, J. speaking for the Court, explained the
meaning and scope of clause (3). It was observed that the prosecution must prove the
following facts before it can bring a case under Section 300 "thirdly". First, it must establish
quite objectively, that a bodily injury is present; secondly, the nature of the injury must be
proved. These are purely objective investigations. Thirdly, it must be proved that there was

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an intention to inflict that particular injury, that is to say, that it was not accidental or
unintentional or that some other kind of injury was intended. Once these three elements are
proved to be present, the enquiry proceeds further, and fourthly, it must be proved that the
injury of the type just described made up of the three elements set out above was sufficient to
cause death in the ordinary course of nature. This part of the enquiry is purely objective and
inferential and has nothing to do with the intention of the offender.

17. The ingredients of clause "thirdly" of Section 300 IPC were brought out by the illustrious
Judge in his terse language as follows: (AIR p. 467, para 12) "12. To put it shortly, the
prosecution must prove the following facts before it can bring a case under Section
300 `thirdly'; First, it must establish, quite objectively, that a bodily injury is
present; Secondly, the nature of the injury must be proved; These are purely objective
investigations. Thirdly, it must be proved that there was an intention to inflict that particular
bodily injury, that is to say, that it was not accidental or unintentional, or that some other kind
of injury was intended. Once these three elements are proved to be present, the enquiry
proceeds further and, Fourthly, it must be proved that the injury of the type just described
made up of the three elements set out above is sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course
of nature. This part of the enquiry is purely objective and inferential and has nothing to do
with the intention of the offender."

18. The learned Judge explained the third ingredient in the following words (at p. 468): (AIR
para 16) "The question is not whether the prisoner intended to inflict a serious injury or a
trivial one but whether he intended to inflict the injury that is proved to be present. If he can
show that he did not, or if the totality of the circumstances justify such an inference, then, of
course, the intent that the section requires is not proved. But if there is nothing beyond the
injury and the fact that the appellant inflicted it, the only possible inference is that he
intended to inflict it. Whether he knew of its seriousness, or intended serious consequences, is
neither here nor there. The question, so far as the intention is concerned, is not whether he
intended to kill, or to inflict an injury of a particular degree of seriousness, but whether he
intended to inflict the injury in question; and once the existence of the injury is proved the
intention to cause it will be presumed unless the evidence or the circumstances warrant an
opposite conclusion."

19. These observations of Vivian Bose, J. have become locus classicus. The test laid down by
Virsa Singh case for the applicability of clause "thirdly" is now ingrained in our legal system
and has become part of the rule of law. Under clause thirdly of Section 300 IPC, culpable

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homicide is murder, if both the following conditions are satisfied i.e. (a) that the act
which causes death is done with the intention of causing death or is one with the intention of
causing a bodily injury; and (b) that the injury intended to be inflicted is sufficient in the
ordinary course of nature to cause death. It must be proved that there was an intention to
inflict that particular bodily injury which, in the ordinary course of nature, was sufficient to
cause death viz. that the injury found to be present was the injury that was intended to be
inflicted.

20. Thus, according to the rule laid down in Virsa Singh case even if the intention of the
accused was limited to the infliction of a bodily injury sufficient to cause death in the
ordinary course of nature, and did not extend to the intention of causing death, the offence
would be murder. Illustration (c) appended to Section 300 clearly brings out this point.

21. Clause (c) of Section 299 and clause (4) of Section 300 both require knowledge of the
probability of the act causing death. It is not necessary for the purpose of this case to dilate
much on the distinction between these corresponding clauses. It will be sufficient to say that
clause (4) of Section 300 would be applicable where the knowledge of the offender as to
the probability of death of a person or persons in general as distinguished from a particular
person or persons -- being caused from his imminently dangerous act, approximates to
a practical certainty. Such knowledge on the part of the offender must be of the highest
degree of probability, the act having been committed by the offender without any excuse
for incurring the risk of causing death or such injury as aforesaid.

22. The above are only broad guidelines and not cast-iron imperatives. In most cases, their
observance will facilitate the task of the court. But sometimes the facts are so intertwined
and the second and the third stages so telescoped into each, that it may not be convenient to
give a separate treatment to the matters involved in the second and third stages."

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Section 300 (murder)

I. Except in the case hereinafter excepted, culpable homicide is murder, if the act by
which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death or,

II. 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 the harm is caused, or,

III. If it is done with the intention of causing bodily injury to any person and the bodily
injury indented to be inflected is sufficient in the course of nature to cause death, or,

IV. If the person committing the act knows that it must, in all probability, cause death or
such bodily injury as is likely to cause death

Exception 1:- when culpable homicide is not murder:-

Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, whilst deprived of the power of self control
by grave and sudden provocation, cause the death of any other person by mistake or accident.

The above exception is subject to the following provisions:

I. That the provocation is not sought or voluntarily provoked by the offender as an

excuse for killing or doing harm to any person.

II. That the provocation is not given by anything done in obedience to the law, or by a
public servant.

III. That the provocation is not given by anything done in the lawful exercise of the right
to private defence.

IV. Whether the provocation was grave and sudden enough to prevent the offence from
amounting to murder is question of fact.

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Exception 2 :- Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, in the exercise in good faith
of the right to private deface of person or property, exceeds the power given to him by law
and causes the death of the person against whom he is exercising such right to private defence
without premeditation, and without any intention of doing more harm than is necessary for
the purpose of such defence.

Exception 3:- Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, being a public servant or
aiding a public servant acting for the advancement of public justice, exceeds the powers
given to him by law, and causes death by doing an act which he, in good faith, believes to be
lawful and necessary for the due discharge of his duty as such public servant and without ill-
will towards the person whose death is caused.

Exception4:- Culpable homicide is not murder if it is committed without premeditation in a

sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel and without the offender having
taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner.

Explanation:- It is immaterial in such cases which party offers the provocation or commits the
first assault.

Exception 5:- Culpable homicide is not murder when the person whose death is caused,
being above the age of 18 years, suffers death or takes the risk of death with his own consent.

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SECTION 299

CULPABLE HOMICIDE
Whoever causes death by doing an act with the intention of causing such bodily injury as is
likely to cause death, or with the knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause death,
commits the offence of culpable homicide.

Explanation :-1 A person who causes bodily injury to another who is labouring under a
disorder, disease or bodily infirmity, and thereby accelerates the death of that other, shall be
deemed to have caused his death.

Explanation 2 :- Where death is caused by bodily injury, the person who causes such bodily
injury shall be deemed to have caused the death, although by resorting proper remedies and
skilful treatment the death might have been prevented.

Explanation 3:- the causing of the death of the child in the mother’s womb is not homicide.
But it may amount to culpable homicide to cause the death of any living child, if any part of
that child has been brought forth, though the child may not have breathed or been completely
born.

Murder distinguished from culpable homicide

“Culpable homicide” is genus, and “murder” is the specie. All “murder” are culpable
homicide but not vice-versa

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3. Whether Anita has acted in involuntarily intoxication or private defence or not?

In the current case the lady anita has acted under involuntarily intoxication because it is true
she herself has drunk the brandies but her mental state at that time was not sufficient to
understand the nature and consequences of her act which is defined under article 86 of the
Indian penal code. Here no mens rea was there and she acted in her right to private defence
which is defined under section 96 of Indian penal code. She has acted in good faith.this
principal has laid down in the cases of basdev vs state of pepsu and das kandha vs state of
orrisa.

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Equivalent citations: 1999 CriLJ 3918

Bench: M Karpagavinayagam, V Bakthavatsalu

V. Raja vs State on 5/2/1999

JUDGEMENT

M. Karpagavinayagam, J.

1. Raja, the appellant herein, challenging the conviction imposed upon him for the offence
under Section 302, I.P.C., has filed this appeal.

2. The prosecution case is as follows :-

(a) P.W.1 Alif Raja is residing in Kurumbapatti village in Palani. P.W.2, Chinnadurai is
living in Madhanapuram in Palani. P.W. 3 Thandapani is residing at Palani Adivaram. All the
three witnesses are friends. They used to play cards for stakes in poramboke land under a
Karuvelan tree near Vaiyapuri Tank.

(b) The occurrence took place on 15-3-87 at about 3.00 p.m. The appellant along with P.Ws.
1 to 3 gathered in the said place for playing cards on the fateful day. P.W.2 Chinnadurai
spread a green cloth M.O.1 for playing cards. Thereafter, all the persons were gambling with
playing cards M.O. 2 series. The deceased Rajendran, one of the players, was winning in all
the games, whereas the appellant Rajendran was losing. Ultimately, the appellant lost all his
money in the game. So, he could not gamble further and he requested the deceased Rajendran
to allow him to participate in the free cards. However, the deceased Rajendran refused to give
him free cards and asked to to get out.

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(c) So, the appellant got annoyed at this and in a bid of rage, he took out a knife M.O. 3 from
inside his banian and inflicted a single stab injury on the left side of the chest of the said
Rajendran. On receipt of the said injury Rajendran fell down. All the witnesses and others
attempted to catch the appellant. He threatened them with the knife and took to his heels. The
witnesses came near the deceased and found that he already died. So, Kulanthaivelu, the
brother of the deceased along with P.W.1, went to the police station.

(d) P.W. 8, the Writer received a complaint from the said Kulantaivelu, which was attested by
P.W.1. The same was registered in Crime No. 75/86 under Section 302, I.P.C. The F.I.R. is
Ex. P-9. These documents were sent to the Court as well as to the higher officials.

(e) P.W.ll,the Inspector of Police, on receipt of the copy of the F.I.R., took up investigation at
6.15 p.m. on 15-3-87. He came to the seen and prepared the observation mahazar Ex. P-4 and
Rough Sketch Ex. P-14 in the presence of P.W.5. He recovered green cloth M.O.1, one 50

paise coin M.O. 5, 4 Beedies M.O. 6 series, a match box M.O. 6, playing cards M.O. 2 series
and blood stained earth M.O. 8 from the scene of occurrence. He also recovered Rs. 27/-
M.O. 4 series under 'Athatshi' Ex. P-6. Thereafter, he conducted inquest and examined
witnesses P.Ws. 1 to 3. Ex. P-15 is the inquest report. Thereafter, he sent the body for post-
mortem to the hospital.

(f) P.W.5, the Medical Officer attached to the Palani Government Hospital, conducted post-
mortem on 16-3-87 at 10.30 a.m. He found the following external injury :-

An elipitcal transversely placed wound over left side of chest 3" below left clavicle close
sternum over the second intercostal space measuring 2 1/2 x 1" exposing the subcutaneous
tissue intercostal muscles and rib. Depth of the wound by probing measures 3 1/2.

V. Raja vs State on 5 February, 1999. He found that the deceased died due to fatal injury to
the great vessel ascending aorta causing haemorrhage.

(g) On 17-3-87, P.W.11 went to Kodaikanal Branch Road and arrested the accused in the
presence of P.W.6. When the arrest was resisted by the appellant/accused, the police used
force to apprehend him.

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(h) Thereafter, the appellant gave a confession, the admissible portion of which is Ex. P-7. In
pursuance of the said confession, M.O. 3 knife was recovered from the place on being
pointed out by the accused. Since the accused had injury on his body, he was sent to the
hospital. P.W.4 examined the accused on 17-3-87 and issued the wound certificate Ex. P-3.

(i) P.W.11 sent the material objects for chemical analysis. Thereafter, P.W. 11 after
completing the investigation, filed the charge sheet against the appellant on 23-4-87.

3. During the course of trial, on the side of prosecution, P.Ws. 1 to 11 were examined, Ex. P-
1 to P-16 were filed and M.Os. 1 to 15 were marked. On questioning under Section 313,
Cr.P.C., the accused denied having participated in the commission of offence.

4. On a careful scrutiny of the materials placed by the prosecution, the trial Court concluded
that the appellant caused the death of the deceased and convicted him for the offence referred
to above. This verdict is being challenged in this appeal.

5. Mr. Selvam, the learned Senior Counsel, took us through the entire evidence. He would
submit that the case of the prosecution brussles with several infirmities, inasmuch as the
person, who gave the F.I.R. was not examined, that the motive aspect as projected by the
prosecution is quite flimsy, that the medical evidence has not established the case as put
forward by the ocular evidence, that the recovery cannot be believed, since the

same is said to be recovered after the accused was arrested and beaten and it cannot be said to
be a voluntary confession, that the very fact that the injuries found on the accused were
appeared to be brown colour would go to show that the injuries would have been caused
during the course of quarrel between the accused and the victim on the date of occurrence and
the said thing has not been placed before the Court by the prosecution and that therefore, the
conviction imposed upon the appellant is not proper and the same is liable to be set aside.

6. Per contra, the learned Government Advocate, would resist the same stating that the
evidence of P.Ws. 1 to 3 is cogent and consistent and nothing has been elicited in the course
of their cross-examination so as to discredit the credibility of those witnesses and the medical
evidence adduced by the Doctor would clear corroborate the ocular testmony adduced by the
witnesses and that therefore, the trial Court has correctly concluded that the appellant is liable
to be convicted for the murder.

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7. We have given our anxious consideration to the divergent contentions urged by the counsel
on either side.

8. The occurrence took place in a day light. According to the prosecution, the witnesses and
the deceased as well as the accused were playing cards from 3.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. When the
deceased refused to allow the accused to play free cards, since the accused lost all his money,
this occurrence had taken place. According to the prosecution, all the three eye witnesses
examined in this case had participated in the game.

9. No doubt, it is true that one of the persons, who played the cards and who gave the F.I.R. is
none other than the brother of the deceased and he has hot been examined. So, when the
author of the F.I.R. has not been examined, as correctly pointed out by Mr. Selvam, the
learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant, no importance could be attached to the
contents of the F.I.R.

10. But, it must be noticed that the said F.I.R. has been attested by P.W. 1, who is one of the
eyewitnesses. Though we need not act upon Ex. P-1, the fact that the brother of the deceased
has given the complaint attested by P.W.I could be relied upon, in the light of the evidence
adduced by P.W. 1 in the Court. The evidence of P.W. 1, in our view, is fully corroborated by
the evidence of P.Ws. 2 and 3. The consistent version with regard to the occurrence as given
by P.Ws. 1 to 3 is further established by the medical evidence adduced by the Doctor.

11. No doubt, it is true that though the occurence took place on 15-3-87, the accused was
arrested only on 17-3-87 by the police applying mild force. Therefore, it cannot be contended
that the knife was recovered in pursuance of a volunatry confession. Therefore, in our view,
the evidence relating to the recovery of the weapon cannot be given much credence, in view
of the admission made by the Inspector of Police that the accused was arrested after applying
mild force, since his arrest was resisted by him.

12. So, in the light of the above things, we have to necessarily eschew the F.I.R. as well as
the evidence relating to the recovery of the weapon. But, it does not mean that the materials
in relation to the occurrence placed by the ocular witnesses P.Ws. 1 to 3 are to be rejected in
toto.

13. The reading of the deposition of these witnesses would clearly show that the occurrence
could have taken place as alleged by the prosecution. The injuries fround on the accused were

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treated by Doctor P.W.4 to whom the accused told that he was beaten by the police
considerably on 17-3-87 at 4.00 a.m.

14. It is contended by the learned counsel for the appellant that since the injuries were found
to be brown, those injuries must have been caused one or two days prior to that and therefore,
the possibility of the accused sustaining injuries during the course of occurrence cannot be
ruled out.

15. In our view, this contention does not merit acceptance. Further, those things have not
been culled out from the Doctor during the course of cross-examination. Whatever it is. Since
we are convinced by the evidence of P.Ws. 1 to 3, we have no hesitation to hold that the
deceased died only due to the injury caused by the appellant. Therefore, the conclusion of the
trial Court with reference to the act played by the appellant in having caused the injury,
which resulted in the death of the deceased, is perfectly justified and proper.

16. Coming to the nature of offence said to have been committed by the appellant, the learned
counsel for the appellant would submit that even assuming that the entire facts are true, it
cannot be concluded that the conviction can be sustained under Section 302, I.P.C., but it
could fall either under Section 304, Part-I or 304 Part-II, I.P.C. in view of the fact that the act
attributed to the appellant would come under First and Fourth Exception of Section 300,
I.P.C.

17. Mr. Elango, the learned Government Advocate, in opposing the said submission, would
cite the decision in State of Karnataka v. Vedanayagam (1994) 3 Crimes 1017 stating that if
the injury inflicted by the accused caused to death of the deceased, then naturally, eventhough
the person inflicted single stab or single injury, he shall be convicted for murder only under
First or Fourth Exception of Section 300, I.P.C.

18. We have carefully considered the rival contentions made by either side.

19. This is a case where the occurrence had taken place when the appellant requested the
deceased to allow him to play free cards, as he lost the entire money in the game. However,
the deceased, who was winning in all the games not only refused to allow the appellant to
participate, but also asked him to get out of the place. In such a situation, the appellant took
out the knife, which he was keeping inside his banian and gave a single stab and ran away.

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20. So, in our view, the exception firstly to Section 300, I.P.C. would apply in the instant
case, since this act has been committed by the appellant, while he was deprived of the power
of self-control by grave and sudden provocation.

21. In the decision in Muthusamy v. State by Inspector of Police (1994) 1 Mad LW (Cri) 44
the Division Bench of this Court, relying upon the various decisions of the Supreme Court
including the decision of K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra , has laid down the
following principles:-

(1) The test of grave and sudden provocation is whether a reasonable man, belonging to the
same class of society as the accused, placed in the situation in which the accused was placed
would be provoked so as to lose his self-control.

(2) In India, words and gestures may also, under certain circumstances, cause grave and
sudden provocation to an accused so as to bring his act with the first Exception of Section
300, I.P.C.

(3) The mental background created by the previous act of the victim may be taken into
consideration in ascertaining whether the subsequent act caused grave and sudden
provocation for committing the offence.

(4) The fatal blow should be clearly traced to the influence of passion arising from that
provo-cation and not after the passion had cooled down by lapse of time, or otherwise giving
room and scope for premeditation and calculation.

22. In the light of these principles, if we assess the materials placed before this Court, we are
satisfied that the act has been committed by the appellant by suddenly taking the knife from
his banian, since the words uttered by the deceased asking the appellant to go out, inspite of
the fact that the appellant did not have any money and he lost the entire money in the playing
of cards, would definitely cause grave and sudden provocation because we have to see the
mental background, of the appellant created by the previous act of the deceased by asking
him to go out of the place which shall be taken into consideration in ascertaining as to
whether the act has been committed under grave and sudden provocation, though P.Ws. 1 to 3
have not given the details about this aspect.

23. The evidence of P.W. 1 is very clear to the effect that the appellant/accused having lost
ten times, on the 11th time, he requested the deceased Rajendran to allow him to play free

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cards. The deceased not only did not allow him to play free cards and distributed the cards to
others by ignoring the appellant, but also shouted at the appellant asking him to get out.

24. In these circumstances, it can be concluded that the act of removing the knife which he
had kept inside his banian and stabbing on the chest and causing a single injury and running
away from the place would definitely fall under First Exception of Section 300, I.P.C. which
is liable to be punished under Section 304, Part-I, I.P.C. In view of the matter, we deem it fit
to convert the conviction under Section 302, I.P.C. into 304, Part II, I.P.C.

25. In the result, the conviction and sentence imposed upon the appellant under Section 302,
I.P.C. are set aside. Instead, the appellant is convicted for the offence under Section 304,
Part-I, I.O.C and sentenced to undergo R.I. for 7 years. With this modification, the appeal is
dismissed. The trial Court is directed to take steps to commit the accused to judicial custody
to undergo the remaining period of sentence. The bail bond, if any, executed by the appellant
stands cancelled.

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PRAYER

Whereby in the lights of question presented , arguments advanced and authorities cited, the
counsel from the side of appellant , humbly prays before the hon’ble court:

To declare that:-

1. The appeal should be allowed and rather than sec 300 murder she should be charged with
culpable homicide under sec 299.

2. The husband of the lady should be charged with cruelty, rape,sexuall harassment under sec
498(A),375etc.

3. Should take care of mental condition of the lady

Or any other appropriate remedy which may deem fit in the lights of justice ,equity , and
fairness and the counsel from yhe appealent shall forever be duty bound to pray

-counsel from the side of appellant

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