STATE OF KARANTAKA Vs. KHATU ALIAS HANUMANTHARAYA
LAWS(SC)-2007-7-12
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA (FROM: KARNATAKA)
Decided on July 09,2007

STATE OF KARNATAKA Appellant
VERSUS
KHATU @ HANUMANTHARAYA Respondents

JUDGEMENT

Arijit Pasayat, J. - (1.) Challenge in these appeals is to the judgment rendered by a Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court. By the impugned judgment while believing the evidence of witnesses and the dying declaration recorded, the High Court was of the view that the conviction of the accused respondent was one punishable under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the IPC) and not under Section 302 IPC. Since the evidence of the witnesses and the dying declaration have been accepted the only question that remains to be considered is whether the High Court was justified in holding that the case related to Section 304 Part II and not Section 302 IPC.
(2.) The State of Karnataka questions correctness of the judgment. Learned counsel for the respondent supported the impugned judgment.
(3.) The only reason indicated by the High Court is as under: "The entire narration at Ex.P.10 would point out that the accused got wild when the deceased questioned his wife, who is the sister of the accused. This shows that there is no pre-mediation or a motive for the accused to kill the deceased. On seeing the admonition the accused lost control and chased his brother-in-law. But by doing this, he had the knowledge that this action would definitely end up in the death of his brother in law. The knowledge of his action is clearly established from the material on record. Therefore, the offence do not fall under Section 304 IPC i.e. culpable homicide amounting to murder, but it is an offence falling under Section 304 Part II IPC." ;


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