GURCHARAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB

1 REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1135 OF 2016 (ARISING OUT OF S.L.P (CRIMINAL) NO. 8764 OF 2016) GURCHARAN SINGH .…APPELLANT VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB ....RESPONDENT J U D G M E N T AMITAVA ROY, J. 1. In assailment is the judgement and order dated 17.12.2014 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Appeal No. S-566-SB of 2004, affirming the conviction of the appellant and co-accused Sukhvinder Singh under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter to be referred to as “IPC”), as entered by the Trial Court. While by the decision impugned, the conviction has been endorsed, the substantive sentence of six years of rigorous imprisonment awarded by the Trial Court to each of the accused persons has been scaled down to one of five years of the same description. The instant appeal seeks to overturn the concurrent determinations on the charge by the courts below.

2 2. We have heard Ms. Kawaljit Kochar, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. V. Madhukar, learned counsel for the respondent. 3. The fascicule of facts, indispensable to comprehend the backdrop of the prosecution, has its origin in the inexplicable abandonment of the deceased Surjit Kaur and her two daughters namely; Geet Pahul and Preet Pahul by Dr. Jaspal Singh, their husband and father respectively, about two years prior to the tragic end of his three family members as above. The prosecution version is that Dr. Jaspal Singh, who was initially in the Government service, had relinquished the same and started a coal factory at Muktsar. He suffered loss in the business and consequently failed to repay the loan availed by him in this regard from the bank. As he and his brother Gurcharan Singh (appellant herein) and others succeeded to the property left by their predecessors, he started medical practice in private. 4. Be that as it may, before leaving his family, he addressed a communication to the concerned bank expressing his inability to repay the loan inspite of his best efforts as he was not possessed of any property in his name. Dr. Jaspal Singh was thereafter not to be traced. Following this turn of events, according to the prosecution,

3 his wife Surjit Kaur and his daughters shifted from Jalalabad where they used to stay to Abohar and started residing in a rented house of one Hansraj (PW3). According to them, they had no source of income and further, they were also deprived of their share in the property and other entitlements, otherwise supposed to devolve on Dr. Jaspal Singh. They were also not provided with any maintenance by the family members of her husband – Jaspal Singh and instead were ill-treated, harassed and intimidated. 5. While the matter rested at that, on 3.10.2000 at about 10.30 p.m., Hansraj, the landlord of the deceased Surjit Kaur, being suspicious about prolonged and unusual lack of response by his tenants, though the television in their room was on, informed the brother of the deceased Surjit Kaur. Thereafter they broke open the door of the room and found all three lying dead. The police was informed and FIR was lodged. 6. In course of the inquisition, the Investigating Officer collected a suicide note in the handwriting of Surjit Kaur and also subscribed to by her daughter Preet Bahul. The suicide note implicated the appellant, his wife Ajit Kaur and the convicted co-accused Sukhvinder Singh @ Goldy as being responsible for their wretched

4 condition, driving them in the ultimate to take the extreme step. A note book containing some letters, written by deceased Geet Pahul was also recovered. On the completion of the investigation, which included, amongst others the collection of the post-mortem report which confirmed death due to consumption of aluminium phosphide, a pesticide, charge-sheet was submitted against the three persons named hereinabove along with Satnam Kaur under Section 306/34 IPC. 7. Whereas Satnam Kaur died during the committal proceedings, charge was framed against the remaining accused persons namely; Gurcharan Singh (appellant), Ajit Kaur and Sukhvinder Singh @ Goldy under the aforementioned provisions of the Code. As the accused persons claimed to be innocent, they were made to face trial. 8. At the trial, the prosecution examined eight witnesses including the doctor, who had performed the autopsy on the dead body. The accused persons stood by the denial of the charge in their statements under Section 313 Cr.P.C. and also examined five witnesses in defence. 9. The Trial Court, on a scrutiny of the evidence adduced, held the appellant herein and the co-accused Sukhvinder Singh to be guilty of

5 the charge levelled against them and awarded them the sentence as hereto before mentioned. It, however, acquitted the co-accused Ajit Kaur. To reiterate, by the impugned verdict, the conviction of the appellant and the co-accused Sukhvinder Singh has been upheld with the marginal modification in the substantive sentence as aforementioned. 10. Mrs. Kawaljit Kochar, learned counsel for the appellant has emphatically urged that the evidence on record does not furnish the ingredients of abetment as visualised in Section 306 of the Code and thus, the conviction is manifestly illegal and is liable to be set-aside. It being patent from the materials on record that the deceased Surjit Kaur and her daughters, had been duly accorded their share in the family property and that they had sufficient means to independently maintain themselves with reasonable comfort, the accusation to the contrary, as levelled by the prosecution, is wholly unfounded, she insisted. According to the learned counsel, the in-laws of the deceased Surjit Kaur had throughout been considerate, compassionate and supportive towards her and two daughters and that the suicide committed by them had been on their own volition and not as a result of any torture, harassment and oppression by

6 them, as alleged. The learned counsel has maintained that the suicide note has not been proved in the handwriting of Surjit Kaur as well and thus, there being no evidence whatsoever in corroboration of the charge of abetment, the conviction and sentence is liable to be set-aside in the interest of justice. 11. Per contra, the learned counsel for the respondent, has urged in confutation, that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, more particularly of (Gurjeet Singh) PW5 and Gaganjit Singh (PW6), the brothers of Surjit Kaur as well as the medical testimony, has proved the imputation against the appellant and co-accused Sukhvinder Singh beyond all reasonable doubt and in the face of concurrent findings recorded by the courts below, on an in-depth appraisal of the materials on record, no interference with the impugned judgement and order is warranted. 12. Though, in the teeth of the sequential findings of guilt of the courts below, normally, reappraisal of the evidence is otherwise uncalled for, we are impelled to embark upon that exercise, having regard to the rival assertions in the unique facts and circumstances of the case. This is more so, as in controversion of the allegation of wilful and deliberate deprivation of the deceased Surjit Kaur and her

7 daughters of their share in the family property, as laid by the prosecution, evidence has surfaced to the contrary, being conceded by her brothers in the course of their testimony at the trial. 13. PW3 Hans Raj, the landlord stated on oath that the deceased Surjit Kaur and her daughters used to reside in the first floor of his house. On the date of the incident, at about 10.00 p.m. his wife reported to him that though the lights of that floor were off, the television was on. The witness thereafter along with his wife knocked the door of the apartment of the deceased, but there was no response. After waiting for some time, the witness informed Gurjit Singh and Gaganjit Singh, the brothers of Surjit Kaur, and on their arrival, as the same state of affairs continued, they broke open the door and found all the three lying dead. The police was thereafter informed. According to this witness, even after this incident, none of the accused persons or the in-laws of Surjit did come to inquire about the same. 14. In cross-examination, the witness mentioned that all the three deceased used to remain dejected and depressed. They however, often visited the parents and the brothers of Surjit. He disclosed that Surjit had a house at Abohar. He admitted that at no point of time,

8 Surjit and her daughters did complain to him about any threat extended by the accused persons. The witness disclosed that though Surjit had expended substantial amount on the coaching of her daughter, she failed in the examination, for which she was morose and anguished. The witness opined that Surjit and her daughters had committed suicide out of grief for their missing husband/father. According to him, the accused persons were not in any manner responsible for their death. 15. PW4 Dr. Kalra, who had performed the post-mortem examination of Preet Bahul, testified on the basis of the report of the chemical analysis of her viscera that death was due to consumption of aluminum phosphide which was sufficient to cause death in due course of time. To the same effect, is the evidence of PW11 Dr. Thakral vis-a-vis Surjit and her daughter Geet. 16. PW5 and PW6 Gurjit and Gaganjit, the brothers of Surjit Kaur did depose in similar lines. They stated that at the time of their death, Geet and Preet were aged 22 years and 18 years respectively. They reiterated the version narrated in the FIR pertaining to the sudden disappearance of their brother-in-law Dr. Jaspal Singh, husband of Surjit, he having suffered losses in business. They also

9 mentioned that, at that time, Dr. Jaspal Singh had heavy outstanding dues qua the bank. They disclosed as well that after the death of Jaktar Singh, the father of Dr. Jaspal, their brother-in-law along with his brothers inherited the joint property. They also reiterated the narration of the facts preceding the discovery of the dead bodies as recited by PW3. They confirmed the recovery and seizure of, amongst others the diary containing the suicide note. They identified the text of the suicide note in the hand of their sister Surjit. They identified the signature of Preet also thereon. These witnesses in their examination-in-chief, though alleged that their sister and nieces had committed suicide because they were deprived of their share in the joint properties, and for which they suffered from sustained depression, in cross-examination, they acknowledged a sale deed executed by the appellant Gurucharan in favour of Surjit regarding half share in the house at Abohar, which was also a segment of the family property. They conceded as well that Satnam Kaur, the mother-in-law of Surjit might have issued a cheque of Rs.68,650/- in her name and that she had opened an account therewith in the name of her brother Gagandeep. They admitted that there was a parcel of land in the name of deceased Surjit at

10 Muktsar. When confronted with the statements under Section 161 Cr.P.C., they admitted of not having disclosed to the Investigating Officer, that the share in land of Dr. Jaspal Singh had not been given to Surjit Kaur. They accepted that the main reason for the depression of the deceased was the absence of near and close relatives. They conceded that neither Surjit nor they had ever lodged any complaint with the police against the accused person for the ill-treatment meted out to her or for denying her entitlements in the joint property. They admitted as well that no civil suit had been filed in that regard. 17. PW6, in addition admitted his signature on the sale deed executed by appellant Gurucharan in favour of Surjit. According to PW6, the sale deed was executed in a family settlement after Jaspal Singh had gone missing. This witness disclosed as well that the appellant and the other family members were ready to transfer the share of his brother-in-law to his sister. 18. The evidence on record, to start with, in our estimate, does not substantiate the imputation that Surjit and her daughters had been deprived wholly of their shares in the joint family property as the heirs of Dr. Jaspal Singh. Admittedly, there is no proof of any threat

11 being extended by the appellant or anyone of the in-laws of Surjit so as to reduce them to destitutes in a petrified state. The disappearance of Dr. Jaspal Singh, the husband of Surjit, father of Preet and Geet though unfortunate, the event had occurred about two years prior to the incident. Neither the appellant nor the in-laws of Surjit did have any role in this regard. The absence of any complaint or civil litigation also permits an inference against the denial of the share in the family property to Surjit and her daughters or of any ill-treatment, torture, oppression meted out to them. There is thus neither any proximate nor remote acts of omission or commission on the part of the appellant and his family members that can be irrefutably construed to be a direct or indirect cause or factor compelling Surjit and her daughters to take the extreme step of self-elimination. 19. The suicide note which transpires to be the sheet anchor of the prosecution case needs extraction for reference as hereunder. “ The whole of my land and property should be given to National Defence Fund. The family of my in-laws especially my mother-in-law, Jeth Master Gurcharan Singh, his wife Ajit Kaur and his son Goldy are responsible for our death. My younger daughter is still minor. My husband was also to die by them. Now how can

12 we live when our living is more than a hell. I pleaded before the Prime Minister, President and Chief Minister but there is no one for me in this society. I also filed a case before the Human Rights Commission. This is our cultured and democratic society. I struggled continuously for 1 ½ years but now no more. My daughters are so intelligent that one is doing pre-medical test and the second is doing Master of Computer Applications. This is the reason that I bore all such pains but still remain alive. If there is any justice in this cultured and democratic society then at least my in-laws should be punished after our death and every common man should get justice. My two biggas land of Diwan Khera, 4 ½ biggas land of Sajrana and 4/5 kanals land at Muktsar should go to Mission Hospital, Muktsar. No body is entitled for my two plots in Bharat Colony Bathinda and my house in Anand Nagri, Abohar. All the sale deeds of the land are lying by my side. Suicide note of my husband is also lying here which I was forced not to hand over to the police on 22 March 1999 and assurance that I and my children would be looked after in a very good manner. Sd/ Surjit Kaur” This is however the translated version of the original which is in Hindi script. 20. A plain perusal of the above quote also reveals that apart from an omnibus grievance against her in-laws to be responsible for their death, for which according to her, they ought to be punished, there is no reference or disclosure of any specific incident in support thereof. The suicide note divulges her ownership of lands and house which

13 per se belies the charge that she had been denied the share of her husband in the family property. Noticeably, no attempt was made by the prosecution to prove the author of the text through an expert and both the courts below solely based their conclusion, in this regard on the evidence of PWs 5 and 6, the brothers of Surjit, who identified the contents to be that of hers again on eye estimation. 21. Section 306 of the Code prescribes the punishment for abetment of suicide and is designed thus: “ Abetment of suicide. – If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.” 22. It is thus manifest that the offence punishable is one of abetment of the commission of suicide by any person, predicating existence of a live link or nexus between the two, abetment being the propelling causative factor. The basic ingredients of this provision are suicidal death and the abetment thereof. To constitute abetment, the intention and involvement of the accused to aid or instigate the commission of suicide is imperative. Any severance or absence of any of this constituents would militate against this indictment. Remoteness of the culpable acts or omissions rooted in the intention

14 of the accused to actualize the suicide would fall short as well of the offence of abetment essential to attract the punitive mandate of Section 306 IPC. Contiguity, continuity, culpability and complicity of the indictable acts or omission are the concomitant indices of abetment. Section 306 IPC, thus criminalises the sustained incitement for suicide. Section 107 IPC defines abetment and is extracted hereunder: “ 107. Abetment of a thing. – A person abets the doing of a thing, who – First – Instigates any person to do that thing; or Secondly – Engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or Thirdly – Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing. Explanation 1 – A person, who by wilful misrepresentation, or by wilful concealment of a material fact which he is bound to disclose, voluntarily causes or procures or attempts to cause or procure, a thing to be done, is said to instigate the doing of that doing. Explanation 2 – Whoever, either prior to or at the time of the commission of an act, does anything in order to facilitate the commission of that act, and thereby facilitate the commission thereof, is said to

15 aid the doing of that act.” 23. Not only the acts and omissions defining the offence of abetment singularly or in combination are enumerated therein, the explanations adequately encompass all conceivable facets of the culpable conduct of the offender relatable thereto. 24. Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 permits a presumption as to the abetment of suicide by a married woman by her husband or any relative of his, if it is proved that she had committed the act within a period of seven years from the date of her marriage and that her husband or such relative of his had subjected her to cruelty. The explanation to this Section exposits “cruelty” to have the same meaning as attributed to this expression in Section 498A IPC. For ready reference, Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1882 is quoted hereunder as well. “ 113A. Presumption as to abetment of suicide by a married woman —When the question is whether the commission of suicide by a woman had been abetted by her husband or any relative of her husband and it is shown that she had committed suicide within a period of seven years from the date of her marriage and that her husband or such relative of her husband had subjected her to cruelty, the Court may presume, having regard to all the other circumstances of the case, that such suicide had been abetted by her husband or by such relative of her husband.

16 Explanation—For the purposes of this section, “cruelty” shall have the same meaning as in section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).” 25. In the legislative backdrop outlined hereinabove, Section 498A of the Code also demand extraction. “ 498A. Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty - Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation- For the purpose of this section, “cruelty” means- (a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or (b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand.” 26. This provision, as the quote hereinabove reveals, renders the husband of a woman or the relative of his, punishable thereby with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and also

17 fine, if they or any one of them subject her to cruelty. The explanation thereto defining “cruelty” enfolds: (a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman; or (b) h arassment of the woman, where it is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her, to meet such demand. 27. Though for the purposes of the case in hand, the first limb of the explanation is otherwise germane, proof of the willful conduct actuating the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health, whether mental of physical, is the sine qua non for entering a finding of cruelty against the person charged. 28. The pith and purport of Section 306 IPC has since been enunciated by this Court in Randhir Singh vs. State of Punjab (2004)13 SCC 129, and the relevant excerpts therefrom are set out hereunder. “ 12. Abetment involves a mental process of instigating a person or intentionally aiding that person in doing of a thing. In cases of conspiracy also it would involve that mental process of entering into conspiracy for the doing of that thing. More active role which can be described as

18 instigating or aiding the doing of a thing is required before a person can be said to be abetting the commission of offence under Section 306 IPC. 13. In State of W.B. Vs. Orilal Jaiswal (1994) 1 SCC 73, this Court has observed that the c ourts should be extremely careful in assessing the facts and circumstances of each case and the evidence adduced in the trial for the purpose of finding whether the cruelty meted out to the victim had in fact induced her to end the life by committing suicide. If it transpires to the court that a victim committing suicide was hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, discord and differences in domestic life quite common to the society to which the victim belonged and such petulance, discord and differences were not expected to induce a similarly circumstanced individual in a given society to commit suicide, the conscience of the court should not be satisfied for basing a finding that the accused charged of abetting the offence of suicide should be found guilty.” 29. Significantly, this Court underlined by referring to its earlier pronouncement in Orilal Jaiswal (supra) that courts have to be extremely careful in assessing the facts and circumstances of each case to ascertain as to whether cruelty had been meted out to the victim and that the same had induced the person to end his/her life by committing suicide, with the caveat that if the victim committing suicide appears to be hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, discord and differences in domestic life, quite common to the society to which he or she belonged and such factors were not expected to

19 induce a similarly circumstanced individual to resort to such step, the accused charged with abetment could not be held guilty. The above view was reiterated in Amalendu Pal @ Jhantu vs. State of West Bengal (2010) 1 SCC 707. 30. That the intention of the legislature is that in order to convict a person under Section 306 IPC, there has to be a clear mens rea to commit an offence and that there ought to be an active or direct act leading the deceased to commit suicide, being left with no option, had been propounded by this Court in S.S. Chheena vs. Vijay Kumar Mahajan (2010) 12 SCC 190. 31. In Pinakin Mahipatray Rawal vs. State of Gujarat (2013) 10 SCC 48, this Court, with reference to Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, while observing that the criminal law amendment bringing forth this provision was necessitated to meet the social challenge of saving the married woman from being ill-treated or forcing to commit suicide by the husband or his relatives demanding dowry, it was underlined that the burden of proving the preconditions permitting the presumption as ingrained therein, squarely and singularly lay on the prosecution. That the prosecution as well has to establish beyond reasonable doubt that

20 the deceased had committed suicide on being abetted by the person charged under Section 306 IPC, was emphasised. 32. The assessment of the evidence on record as above, in our considered opinion, does not demonstrate with unqualified clarity and conviction, any role of the appellant or the other implicated in-laws of the deceased Surjit Kaur, as contemplated by the above provisions so as to return an unassailable finding of their culpability under Section 306 IPC. The materials on record, to reiterate, do not suggest even remotely any act of cruelty, oppression, harassment or inducement so as to persistently provoke or compel the deceased to resort to self-extinction being left with no other alternative. No such continuous and proximate conduct of the appellant or his family members with the required provocative culpability or lethal instigative content is discernible to even infer that the deceased Surjit Kaur and her daughters had been pushed to such a distressed state, physical or mental that they elected to liquidate themselves as if to seek a practical alleviation from their unbearable earthly miseries. 33. In the wake up of the above determination, we are, thus, of the unhesitant opinion that the ingredients of the offence of Section 306

21 IPC have remained unproved and thus the appellant deserves to be acquitted. The findings to the contrary recorded by the courts below cannot be sustained on the touchstone of the law adumbrated by this Court as well as the facts involved. The appeal is thus allowed. The appellant would be set at liberty from custody, if his detention is not required in connection with any other case. .............................................J. ( DIPAK MISRA ) …...........................................J. ( AMITAVA ROY ) NEW DELHI; DECEMBER 2, 2016.

ITEM NO.1B COURT NO.3 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Criminal Appeal No(s). 1135/2016 GURCHARAN SINGH Appellant(s) VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s) Date : 02/12/2016 This appeal was called on for judgment today. For Appellant(s) Ms. Kawaljit Kachar, Adv. Ms.Vasundhra Singh, Adv. Mr.Shryas Mehrotra, Adv. Ms.Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. V. Madhukar, AAG, Punjab Ms. Anvita Cowshish, Adv. Hon'ble Mr. Jutice Amitava Raoy pronounced the judgment of the Bench consisting of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra and His Lordship. The appeal is allowed in terms of the signed reportable judgment. The appellant would be set at liberty from custody, if his detention is not required in connection with any other case. (Gulshan Kumar Arora) (H.S. Parasher) Court Master Court Master (Signed reportable judgment is placed on the file)

ò1 REPORTABLEIN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIACRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTIONCRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1135 OF 2016(ARISING OUT OF S.L.P (CRIMINAL) NO. 8764 OF 2016)GURCHARAN SINGH .â¬ ¦APPELLANTVERSUSSTATE OF PUNJAB ....RESPONDENTJ U D G M E N TAMITAVA ROY, J.1. In assailment is the judgement and order dated 17.12.2014passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh inCriminal Appeal No. S-566-SB of 2004, affirming the conviction ofthe appellant and co-accused Sukhvinder Singh under Section 306 ofthe Indian Penal Code (hereinafter to be referred to as â¬ SIPCâ¬ \235), asentered by the Trial Court. While by the decision impugned, theconviction has been endorsed, the substantive sentence of six yearsof rigorous imprisonment awarded by the Trial Court to each of theaccused persons has been scaled down to one of five years of thesame description. The instant appeal seeks to overturn theconcurrent determinations on the charge by the courts below.22. We have heard Ms. Kawaljit Kochar, learned counsel for theappellant and Mr. V. Madhukar, learned counsel for the respondent.3. The fascicule of facts, indispensable to comprehend thebackdrop of the prosecution, has its origin in the inexplicableabandonment of the deceased Surjit Kaur and her two daughtersnamely; Geet Pahul and Preet Pahul by Dr. Jaspal Singh, theirhusband and father respectively, about two years prior to the tragicend of his three family members as above. The prosecution version isthat Dr. Jaspal Singh, who was initially in the Government service,had relinquished the same and started a coal factory at Muktsar. Hesuffered loss in the business and consequently failed to repay theloan availed by him in this regard from the bank. As he and hisbrother Gurcharan Singh (appellant herein) and others succeeded tothe property left by their predecessors, he started medical practice inprivate.4. Be that as it may, before leaving his family, he addressed acommunication to the concerned bank expressing his inability torepay the loan inspite of his best efforts as he was not possessed ofany property in his name. Dr. Jaspal Singh was thereafter not to betraced. Following this turn of events, according to the prosecution,3his wife Surjit Kaur and his daughters shifted from Jalalabad wherethey used to stay to Abohar and started residing in a rented house ofone Hansraj (PW3). According to them, they had no source ofincome and further, they were also deprived of their share in theproperty and other entitlements, otherwise supposed to devolve onDr. Jaspal Singh. They were also not provided with any maintenanceby the family members of her husband â¬ Jaspal Singh and insteadwere ill-treated, harassed and intimidated.5. While the matter rested at that, on 3.10.2000 at about 10.30p.m., Hansraj, the landlord of the deceased Surjit Kaur, beingsuspicious about prolonged and unusual lack of response by histenants, though the television in their room was on, informed thebrother of the deceased Surjit Kaur. Thereafter they broke open thedoor of the room and found all three lying dead. The police wasinformed and FIR was lodged.6. In course of the inquisition, the Investigating Officer collected asuicide note in the handwriting of Surjit Kaur and also subscribed toby her daughter Preet Bahul. The suicide note implicated theappellant, his wife Ajit Kaur and the convicted co-accusedSukhvinder Singh @ Goldy as being responsible for their wretched4

condition, driving them in the ultimate to take the extreme step. Anote book containing some letters, written by deceased Geet Pahulwas also recovered. On the completion of the investigation, whichincluded, amongst others the collection of the post-mortem reportwhich confirmed death due to consumption of aluminiumphosphide, a pesticide, charge-sheet was submitted against the threepersons named hereinabove along with Satnam Kaur under Section306/34 IPC.7. Whereas Satnam Kaur died during the committal proceedings,charge was framed against the remaining accused persons namely;Gurcharan Singh (appellant), Ajit Kaur and Sukhvinder Singh @Goldy under the aforementioned provisions of the Code. As theaccused persons claimed to be innocent, they were made to face trial.8. At the trial, the prosecution examined eight witnesses includingthe doctor, who had performed the autopsy on the dead body. Theaccused persons stood by the denial of the charge in their statementsunder Section 313 Cr.P.C. and also examined five witnesses indefence.9. The Trial Court, on a scrutiny of the evidence adduced, held theappellant herein and the co-accused Sukhvinder Singh to be guilty of5the charge levelled against them and awarded them the sentence ashereto before mentioned. It, however, acquitted the co-accused AjitKaur. To reiterate, by the impugned verdict, the conviction of theappellant and the co-accused Sukhvinder Singh has been upheldwith the marginal modification in the substantive sentence asaforementioned.10. Mrs. Kawaljit Kochar, learned counsel for the appellant hasemphatically urged that the evidence on record does not furnish theingredients of abetment as visualised in Section 306 of the Code andthus, the conviction is manifestly illegal and is liable to be set-aside.It being patent from the materials on record that the deceased SurjitKaur and her daughters, had been duly accorded their share in thefamily property and that they had sufficient means to independentlymaintain themselves with reasonable comfort, the accusation to thecontrary, as levelled by the prosecution, is wholly unfounded, sheinsisted. According to the learned counsel, the in-laws of thedeceased Surjit Kaur had throughout been considerate,compassionate and supportive towards her and two daughters andthat the suicide committed by them had been on their own volitionand not as a result of any torture, harassment and oppression by6them, as alleged. The learned counsel has maintained that thesuicide note has not been proved in the handwriting of Surjit Kaur aswell and thus, there being no evidence whatsoever in corroboration ofthe charge of abetment, the conviction and sentence is liable to beset-aside in the interest of justice.11. Per contra, the learned counsel for the respondent, has urgedin confutation, that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, moreparticularly of (Gurjeet Singh) PW5 and Gaganjit Singh (PW6), thebrothers of Surjit Kaur as well as the medical testimony, has provedthe imputation against the appellant and co-accused SukhvinderSingh beyond all reasonable doubt and in the face of concurrentfindings recorded by the courts below, on an in-depth appraisal ofthe materials on record, no interference with the impugnedjudgement and order is warranted.12. Though, in the teeth of the sequential findings of guilt of thecourts below, normally, reappraisal of the evidence is otherwiseuncalled for, we are impelled to embark upon that exercise, havingregard to the rival assertions in the unique facts and circumstancesof the case. This is more so, as in controversion of the allegation ofwilful and deliberate deprivation of the deceased Surjit Kaur and her7daughters of their share in the family property, as laid by theprosecution, evidence has surfaced to the contrary, being concededby her brothers in the course of their testimony at the trial.

13. PW3 Hans Raj, the landlord stated on oath that the deceasedSurjit Kaur and her daughters used to reside in the first floor of hishouse. On the date of the incident, at about 10.00 p.m. his wifereported to him that though the lights of that floor were off, thetelevision was on. The witness thereafter along with his wife knockedthe door of the apartment of the deceased, but there was noresponse. After waiting for some time, the witness informed GurjitSingh and Gaganjit Singh, the brothers of Surjit Kaur, and on theirarrival, as the same state of affairs continued, they broke open thedoor and found all the three lying dead. The police was thereafterinformed. According to this witness, even after this incident, none ofthe accused persons or the in-laws of Surjit did come to inquireabout the same.14. In cross-examination, the witness mentioned that all the threedeceased used to remain dejected and depressed. They however,often visited the parents and the brothers of Surjit. He disclosed thatSurjit had a house at Abohar. He admitted that at no point of time,8Surjit and her daughters did complain to him about any threatextended by the accused persons. The witness disclosed that thoughSurjit had expended substantial amount on the coaching of herdaughter, she failed in the examination, for which she was moroseand anguished. The witness opined that Surjit and her daughtershad committed suicide out of grief for their missing husband/father.According to him, the accused persons were not in any mannerresponsible for their death.15. PW4 Dr. Kalra, who had performed the post-mortemexamination of Preet Bahul, testified on the basis of the report of thechemical analysis of her viscera that death was due to consumptionof aluminum phosphide which was sufficient to cause death in duecourse of time. To the same effect, is the evidence of PW11 Dr.Thakral vis-a-vis Surjit and her daughter Geet.16. PW5 and PW6 Gurjit and Gaganjit, the brothers of Surjit Kaurdid depose in similar lines. They stated that at the time of theirdeath, Geet and Preet were aged 22 years and 18 years respectively.They reiterated the version narrated in the FIR pertaining to thesudden disappearance of their brother-in-law Dr. Jaspal Singh,husband of Surjit, he having suffered losses in business. They also9mentioned that, at that time, Dr. Jaspal Singh had heavyoutstanding dues qua the bank. They disclosed as well that after thedeath of Jaktar Singh, the father of Dr. Jaspal, their brother-in-lawalong with his brothers inherited the joint property. They alsoreiterated the narration of the facts preceding the discovery of thedead bodies as recited by PW3. They confirmed the recovery andseizure of, amongst others the diary containing the suicide note.They identified the text of the suicide note in the hand of their sisterSurjit. They identified the signature of Preet also thereon. Thesewitnesses in their examination-in-chief, though alleged that theirsister and nieces had committed suicide because they were deprivedof their share in the joint properties, and for which they suffered fromsustained depression, in cross-examination, they acknowledged asale deed executed by the appellant Gurucharan in favour of Surjitregarding half share in the house at Abohar, which was also asegment of the family property. They conceded as well that SatnamKaur, the mother-in-law of Surjit might have issued a cheque ofRs.68,650/- in her name and that she had opened an accounttherewith in the name of her brother Gagandeep. They admittedthat there was a parcel of land in the name of deceased Surjit at10Muktsar. When confronted with the statements under Section 161Cr.P.C., they admitted of not having disclosed to the InvestigatingOfficer, that the share in land of Dr. Jaspal Singh had not been givento Surjit Kaur. They accepted that the main reason for thedepression of the deceased was the absence of near and closerelatives. They conceded that neither Surjit nor they had ever lodged

any complaint with the police against the accused person for theill-treatment meted out to her or for denying her entitlements in thejoint property. They admitted as well that no civil suit had been filedin that regard.17. PW6, in addition admitted his signature on the sale deedexecuted by appellant Gurucharan in favour of Surjit. According toPW6, the sale deed was executed in a family settlement after JaspalSingh had gone missing. This witness disclosed as well that theappellant and the other family members were ready to transfer theshare of his brother-in-law to his sister.18. The evidence on record, to start with, in our estimate, does notsubstantiate the imputation that Surjit and her daughters had beendeprived wholly of their shares in the joint family property as theheirs of Dr. Jaspal Singh. Admittedly, there is no proof of any threat11being extended by the appellant or anyone of the in-laws of Surjit soas to reduce them to destitutes in a petrified state. Thedisappearance of Dr. Jaspal Singh, the husband of Surjit, father ofPreet and Geet though unfortunate, the event had occurred abouttwo years prior to the incident. Neither the appellant nor the in-lawsof Surjit did have any role in this regard. The absence of anycomplaint or civil litigation also permits an inference against thedenial of the share in the family property to Surjit and her daughtersor of any ill-treatment, torture, oppression meted out to them. Thereis thus neither any proximate nor remote acts of omission orcommission on the part of the appellant and his family members thatcan be irrefutably construed to be a direct or indirect cause or factorcompelling Surjit and her daughters to take the extreme step ofself-elimination. 19. The suicide note which transpires to be the sheet anchor of theprosecution case needs extraction for reference as hereunder.â¬ S The whole of my land and property should be givento National Defence Fund. The family of my in-lawsespecially my mother-in-law, Jeth MasterGurcharan Singh, his wife Ajit Kaur and his sonGoldy are responsible for our death. My youngerdaughter is still minor.My husband was also to die by them. Now how can12we live when our living is more than a hell. Ipleaded before the Prime Minister, President and ChiefMinister but there is no one for me in this society. Ialso filed a case before the Human Rights Commission.This is our cultured and democratic society. Istruggled continuously for 1 Â½ years but now nomore. My daughters are so intelligent that one isdoing pre-medical test and the second is doingMaster of Computer Applications. This is the reasonthat I bore all such pains but still remain alive. Ifthere is any justice in this cultured and democraticsociety then at least my in-laws should be punishedafter our death and every common man should getjustice.My two biggas land of Diwan Khera, 4 Â½ biggas landof Sajrana and 4/5 kanals land at Muktsar should goto Mission Hospital, Muktsar. No body is entitledfor my two plots in Bharat Colony Bathinda and myhouse in Anand Nagri, Abohar. All the sale deeds ofthe land are lying by my side. Suicide note of myhusband is also lying here which I was forced not tohand over to the police on 22 March 1999 andassurance that I and my children would be looked afterin a very good manner. Sd/ Surjit Kaurâ¬ \235This is however the translated version of the original which is inHindi script. 20. A plain perusal of the above quote also reveals that apart from

an omnibus grievance against her in-laws to be responsible for theirdeath, for which according to her, they ought to be punished, there isno reference or disclosure of any specific incident in support thereof.The suicide note divulges her ownership of lands and house which13per se belies the charge that she had been denied the share of herhusband in the family property. Noticeably, no attempt was made bythe prosecution to prove the author of the text through an expert andboth the courts below solely based their conclusion, in this regard onthe evidence of PWs 5 and 6, the brothers of Surjit, who identified thecontents to be that of hers again on eye estimation.21. Section 306 of the Code prescribes the punishment forabetment of suicide and is designed thus:â¬ S Abetment of suicide. â¬ If any person commits suicide,whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall bepunished with imprisonment of either description for aterm which may extend to ten years, and shall also beliable to fine.â¬ \235 22. It is thus manifest that the offence punishable is one ofabetment of the commission of suicide by any person, predicatingexistence of a live link or nexus between the two, abetment being thepropelling causative factor. The basic ingredients of this provisionare suicidal death and the abetment thereof. To constitute abetment,the intention and involvement of the accused to aid or instigate thecommission of suicide is imperative. Any severance or absence ofany of this constituents would militate against this indictment.Remoteness of the culpable acts or omissions rooted in the intention14of the accused to actualize the suicide would fall short as well of theoffence of abetment essential to attract the punitive mandate ofSection 306 IPC. Contiguity, continuity, culpability and complicity ofthe indictable acts or omission are the concomitant indices ofabetment. Section 306 IPC, thus criminalises the sustainedincitement for suicide. Section 107 IPC defines abetment and is extracted hereunder:â¬ S 107. Abetment of a thing. â¬ A person abets thedoing of a thing, who â¬ First â¬ Instigates any person to do that thing; orSecondly â¬ Engages with one or more other personor persons in any conspiracy for the doing of thatthing, if an act or illegal omission takes place inpursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to thedoing of that thing; orThirdly â¬ Intentionally aids, by any act or illegalomission, the doing of that thing.Explanation 1 â¬ A person, who by wilfulmisrepresentation, or by wilful concealment of amaterial fact which he is bound to disclose,voluntarily causes or procures or attempts tocause or procure, a thing to be done, is said toinstigate the doing of that doing. Explanation 2 â¬ Whoever, either prior to or at thetime of the commission of an act, does anything inorder to facilitate the commission of that act, andthereby facilitate the commission thereof, is said to15aid the doing of that act.â¬ \235 23. Not only the acts and omissions defining the offence ofabetment singularly or in combination are enumerated therein, theexplanations adequately encompass all conceivable facets of theculpable conduct of the offender relatable thereto.24. Section 113A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 permits apresumption as to the abetment of suicide by a married woman byher husband or any relative of his, if it is proved that she hadcommitted the act within a period of seven years from the date of hermarriage and that her husband or such relative of his had subjected

her to cruelty. The explanation to this Section exposits â¬ Scrueltyâ¬ \235 tohave the same meaning as attributed to this expression in Section498A IPC. For ready reference, Section 113A of the Indian EvidenceAct, 1882 is quoted hereunder as well. â¬ S 113A. Presumption as to abetment of suicide bya married woman â¬ When the question is whetherthe commission of suicide by a woman had beenabetted by her husband or any relative of herhusband and it is shown that she had committedsuicide within a period of seven years from the dateof her marriage and that her husband or suchrelative of her husband had subjected her to cruelty,the Court may presume, having regard to all theother circumstances of the case, that such suicidehad been abetted by her husband or by such relativeof her husband.16Explanationâ¬ For the purposes of this section,â¬ Scrueltyâ¬ \235 shall have the same meaning as in section498A of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).â¬ \23525. In the legislative backdrop outlined hereinabove, Section 498Aof the Code also demand extraction.â¬ S 498A. Husband or relative of husband of awoman subjecting her to cruelty - Whoever,being the husband or the relative of the husbandof a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shallbe punished with imprisonment for a term whichmay extend to three years and shall also be liableto fine.Explanation- For the purpose of this section,â¬ Scrueltyâ¬ \235 means-(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a natureas is likely to drive the woman to commit suicideor to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb orhealth (whether mental or physical) of thewoman; or(b) harassment of the woman where suchharassment is with a view to coercing her or anyperson related to her to meet any unlawfuldemand for any property or valuable security or ison account of failure by her or any person relatedto her to meet such demand.â¬ \235 26. This provision, as the quote hereinabove reveals, renders thehusband of a woman or the relative of his, punishable thereby withimprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and also17fine, if they or any one of them subject her to cruelty. Theexplanation thereto defining â¬ Scrueltyâ¬ \235 enfolds:(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature asis likely to drive the woman to commit suicide orto cause grave injury or danger to life, limb orhealth (whether mental or physical) of thewoman; or(b) h arassment of the woman, where it is with aview to coercing her or any person related to herto meet any unlawful demand for any property orvaluable security or is on account of failure byher or any person related to her, to meet suchdemand.27. Though for the purposes of the case in hand, the first limb ofthe explanation is otherwise germane, proof of the willful conductactuating the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury ordanger to life, limb or health, whether mental of physical, is the sinequa non for entering a finding of cruelty against the person charged.28. The pith and purport of Section 306 IPC has since beenenunciated by this Court in Randhir Singh vs. State of Punjab(2004)13 SCC 129, and the relevant excerpts therefrom are set out

hereunder. â¬ S 12. Abetment involves a mental process of instigating aperson or intentionally aiding that person in doing of athing. In cases of conspiracy also it would involve thatmental process of entering into conspiracy for the doingof that thing. More active role which can be described as18instigating or aiding the doing of a thing is required beforea person can be said to be abetting the commission ofoffence under Section 306 IPC.13. In State of W.B. Vs. Orilal Jaiswal (1994) 1 SCC 73,this Court has observed that the c ourts should beextremely careful in assessing the facts andcircumstances of each case and the evidence adducedin the trial for the purpose of finding whether thecruelty meted out to the victim had in fact inducedher to end the life by committing suicide. If ittranspires to the court that a victim committingsuicide was hypersensitive to ordinary petulance,discord and differences in domestic life quite commonto the society to which the victim belonged and suchpetulance, discord and differences were not expected toinduce a similarly circumstanced individual in a givensociety to commit suicide, the conscience of the courtshould not be satisfied for basing a finding that theaccused charged of abetting the offence of suicide shouldbe found guilty.â¬ \23529. Significantly, this Court underlined by referring to its earlierpronouncement in Orilal Jaiswal (supra) that courts have to beextremely careful in assessing the facts and circumstances of eachcase to ascertain as to whether cruelty had been meted out to thevictim and that the same had induced the person to end his/her lifeby committing suicide, with the caveat that if the victim committingsuicide appears to be hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, discordand differences in domestic life, quite common to the society towhich he or she belonged and such factors were not expected to19induce a similarly circumstanced individual to resort to such step,the accused charged with abetment could not be held guilty.The above view was reiterated in Amalendu Pal @ Jhantu vs. Stateof West Bengal (2010) 1 SCC 707.30. That the intention of the legislature is that in order to convict aperson under Section 306 IPC, there has to be a clear mens rea tocommit an offence and that there ought to be an active or direct actleading the deceased to commit suicide, being left with no option,had been propounded by this Court in S.S. Chheena vs. VijayKumar Mahajan (2010) 12 SCC 190.31. In Pinakin Mahipatray Rawal vs. State of Gujarat (2013) 10SCC 48, this Court, with reference to Section 113A of the IndianEvidence Act, 1872, while observing that the criminal lawamendment bringing forth this provision was necessitated to meetthe social challenge of saving the married woman from beingill-treated or forcing to commit suicide by the husband or hisrelatives demanding dowry, it was underlined that the burden ofproving the preconditions permitting the presumption as ingrainedtherein, squarely and singularly lay on the prosecution. That theprosecution as well has to establish beyond reasonable doubt that20the deceased had committed suicide on being abetted by the personcharged under Section 306 IPC, was emphasised.32. The assessment of the evidence on record as above, in ourconsidered opinion, does not demonstrate with unqualified clarityand conviction, any role of the appellant or the other implicatedin-laws of the deceased Surjit Kaur, as contemplated by the aboveprovisions so as to return an unassailable finding of their culpabilityunder Section 306 IPC. The materials on record, to reiterate, do not

suggest even remotely any act of cruelty, oppression, harassment orinducement so as to persistently provoke or compel the deceased toresort to self-extinction being left with no other alternative. No suchcontinuous and proximate conduct of the appellant or his familymembers with the required provocative culpability or lethalinstigative content is discernible to even infer that the deceasedSurjit Kaur and her daughters had been pushed to such a distressedstate, physical or mental that they elected to liquidate themselves asif to seek a practical alleviation from their unbearable earthlymiseries.33. In the wake up of the above determination, we are, thus, of theunhesitant opinion that the ingredients of the offence of Section 30621IPC have remained unproved and thus the appellant deserves to beacquitted. The findings to the contrary recorded by the courts belowcannot be sustained on the touchstone of the law adumbrated bythis Court as well as the facts involved. The appeal is thus allowed.The appellant would be set at liberty from custody, if his detention isnot required in connection with any other case. .............................................J. ( DIPAK MISRA ) â¬ ¦...........................................J. ( AMITAVA ROY )NEW DELHI;DECEMBER 2, 2016.ITEM NO.1B COURT NO.3 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGSCriminal Appeal No(s). 1135/2016GURCHARAN SINGH Appellant(s) VERSUSSTATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s)Date : 02/12/2016 This appeal was called on for judgment today.For Appellant(s) Ms. Kawaljit Kachar, Adv.Ms.Vasundhra Singh, Adv.Mr.Shryas Mehrotra, Adv.Ms.Kusum Chaudhary, AORFor Respondent(s) Mr. V. Madhukar, AAG, Punjab Ms. Anvita Cowshish, Adv. Hon'ble Mr. Jutice Amitava Raoy pronounced the judgment of theBench consisting of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra and HisLordship.The appeal is allowed in terms of the signed reportablejudgment. The appellant would be set at liberty from custody, ifhis detention is not required in connection with any other case.(Gulshan Kumar Arora) (H.S. Parasher) Court Master Court Master(Signed reportable judgment is placed on the file)

ITEM NO.60 COURT NO.3 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 8764/2016 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014 in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh) GURCHARAN SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s) (with appln. (s) for exemption from filing c/c of the impugned judgment) Date : 21/11/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DIPAK MISRA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMITAVA ROY For Petitioner(s) Ms. Kawaljit Kachar, Adv. Ms. Vasundhra Singh, Adv. Mr. Shryas Mehrotra, Adv. Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. V. Madhukar, AAG, Punjab Ms. Anvita Cowshish, Adv. UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Leave granted. Arguments concluded. Judgment reserved. (Gulshan Kumar Arora) (H.S. Parasher) Court Master Court Master

SECTIONIIB IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PETITION FOR SPECIAL LEAVE TO APPEAL (CRL.) NO. 8764 OF 2016 WITH CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS PETITION NO. 18779 OF 2016 (Application for exemption from filing certified copy of impugned order) GURCHARAN SINGH ... PETITIONER VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB ... RESPONDENT OFFICE REPORT The matter above mentioned was listed before the Hon'ble Court on 11.11.2016 when the Court was pleased to pass the following order: “Delay condoned. Let a copy of the petitioner on Mr. V. Madhukar, learned Additional Advocate General for the State of Punjab. List the matter on 21.11.2016. Registry is directed to reflect the name of Mr. V. Madhukar, learned AAG in the cause list on that day.“ It is submitted that Ms. Kusum Chaudhary , Counsel for the Petitioner has on 19.11.2016 filed proof of serving a copy of Special Leave Petition on Mr. V. Madhukar, Additional Advocate General for State of Punjab, and his name has been shown in the cause list for 21.11.2016. The matter above mentioned is, therefore, listed before the Hon'ble Court with this office report. DATED this the 19th day of November, 2016. DEPUTY REGISTRAR Copy To: 1) Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, Advocate 2) Mr. V. Madhukar, Additional Advocate General for State of Punjab DEPUTY REGISTRAR C1

¾ITEM NO.60 COURT NO.3 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGSPetition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 8764/2016(Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana atChandigarh)GURCHARAN SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUSSTATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s)(with appln. (s) for exemption from filing c/c of the impugned judgment)Date : 21/11/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today.CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DIPAK MISRA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMITAVA ROYFor Petitioner(s) Ms. Kawaljit Kachar, Adv.Ms. Vasundhra Singh, Adv.Mr. Shryas Mehrotra, Adv.Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. V. Madhukar, AAG, PunjabMs. Anvita Cowshish, Adv. UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E RLeave granted.Arguments concluded.Judgment reserved.(Gulshan Kumar Arora) (H.S. Parasher) Court Master Court Master

ITEM NO.10 COURT NO.3 SECTION IIC S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 10253/2015 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 10/04/2014 in CRRC No. 9/2014 passed by the High Court of Madras at Madurai) JOHNSON Petitioner(s) VERSUS THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER & ANR. Respondent(s) (With appln.(s) for c/delay in filing SLP and c/delay in refiling SLP and office report) Date : 15/11/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGDISH SINGH KHEHAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN MISHRA For Petitioner(s) Mr. S. Beno Bencigar, Adv. Mr. Sanjay Kumar Visen,Adv. For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. Delay condoned. No ground for interference with the impugned order is made out, in exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. The special leave petition is accordingly dismissed. (SWETA DHYANI) (RENUKA SADANA) SR.P.A ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

ITEM NO.27 COURT NO.4 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.)...... CRLMP No(s). 17694/2016 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014 in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh) GURCHARAN SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s) (with appln. (s) for c/delay in filing SLP and c/delay in refiling SLP) Date : 11/11/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DIPAK MISRA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMITAVA ROY For Petitioner(s) Ms. Kawaljit Kochar, Adv. Ms. Krishna P., Adv. Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Delay condoned. Let a copy of the petitioner on Mr. V. Madhukar, learned Additional Advocate General for the State of Punjab. List the matter on 21.11.2016. Registry is directed to reflect the name of Mr. V. Madhukar, learned AAG in the cause list on that day. (Gulshan Kumar Arora) (H.S. Parasher) Court Master Court Master

ITEM NO.27 COURT NO.4 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGSPetition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.)...... CRLMP No(s). 17694/2016(Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana atChandigarh)GURCHARAN SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUSSTATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s)(with appln. (s) for c/delay in filing SLP and c/delay in refiling SLP)Date : 11/11/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today.CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DIPAK MISRA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMITAVA ROYFor Petitioner(s) Ms. Kawaljit Kochar, Adv.Ms. Krishna P., Adv.Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E RDelay condoned.Let a copy of the petitioner on Mr. V. Madhukar, learnedAdditional Advocate General for the State of Punjab.List the matter on 21.11.2016. Registry is directed toreflect the name of Mr. V. Madhukar, learned AAG in the cause liston that day.(Gulshan Kumar Arora) (H.S. Parasher) Court Master Court Master

ITEM NO.27 COURT NO.11 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) Diary No. 10253/2015 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014 in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh) GURCHARAN SINGH AND ANR. Petitioner(s) VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s) (office report on default) Date : 08/07/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA [IN CHAMBERS] For Petitioner(s) Mr. Shreyas Mehrotra, Adv. Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R As prayed for, f urther two weeks' time is granted to learned counsel for the petitioners to comply with the office report dated 14 th March, 2016. (RASHMI DHYANI ) (S.S.R. KRISHNA) SR.P.A. ASSISTANT REGISTRAR

b ITEM NO.27 COURT NO.11 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) Diary No. 10253/2015 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014 in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh) GURCHARAN SINGH AND ANR. Petitioner(s) VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s) (office report on default) Date : 08/07/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA [IN CHAMBERS] For Petitioner(s) Mr. Shreyas Mehrotra, Adv. Ms. Kusum Chaudhary, AOR For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R As prayed for, further two weeks' time is granted to learned counsel for the petitioners to comply with the office report dated 14th March, 2016. (RASHMI DHYANI) (S.S.R. KRISHNA) SR.P.A. ASSISTANT REGISTRARSignature Not VerifiedDigitally signed byRASHMI DHYANIDate: 2016.07.1111:44:41 ISTReason:

ITEM NO.10 COURT NO.8 SECTION IIB S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No.D10253/2015 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 17/12/2014 in CRS No. 566/2004 passed by the High Court Of Punjab & Haryana At Chandigarh) GURCHARAN SINGH AND ANR. Petitioner(s) VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent(s) (Office report on default) Date : 09/02/2016 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.Y. EQBAL [IN CHAMBER] For Petitioner(s) Ms. Kusum Chaudhary,Adv. For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R As prayed for, four weeks' more time is allowed to the petitioners to cure the defects as pointed out by the Registry. (Sanjay Kumar-II) (Indu Pokhriyal) Court Master Court Master

GURCHARAN SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB

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