Chandrachud, C. J. - (1.) The appellants in Criminal Appeal No. 15 of 1977 were convicted by the learned Sessions Judge, Patiala, for various offences arising out of an incident dated November 27, 1973, in which four persons were murdered. Appellant Nidhan Singh was convicted under Section 302 I. P, C. for the murder of Gurcharan Singh and was sentenced to death. Appellants Balwinder Singh and Harnam. Singh, who are the sons of Nidhan Singh, were convicted under Section 302 read with Section 34 I. P. C. for the murder of Charat Singh, Shisha Singh and- Hamir Kaur as also for the murder of Gurcharan Singh. All the appellants were further convicted under Section 307 read with Section 34 I. P. C. for causing injuries to Gian Singh and Didar Singh, and under Section 27 of the Arms Act for unlawful use of firearms.
(2.) The three accused filed a common appeal in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana against their conviction and sentence. The learned Sessions Judge referred the death sentence for confirmation to the High Court. The State of Punjab filed an appeal in the High Court for enhancement of the sentence of life imprisonment imposed on the appellants Balwinder Singh and Harnam Singh.
(3.) The High Court confirmed the conviction of the appellants on all the charges as also the sentence of life imprisonment awarded to them on some of the charges. It, however, set aside the death sentence imposed on appellant Nidhan Singh and reduced it to life imprisonment.;