IN THE COURT OF JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE:
JANGAON: WARANGAL DISTRICT.
Present: SMT.C.M. RAJYA LAKSHMI,
JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE,
JANGAON.
Dated this the 18 th day of November, 2016.
C. C. NO: 106 OF 2011
Between: -
The State of Telangana, through the Inspector of Police, P.S. Jangaon.
...Complainant.
And
Sk.Bhajee, S/o. Ali Sahab, Age: 36 years, Occu: Driver of Lorry No. AP 16 TY 5141, R/o. Paritala Village, Kanchikacherla Mandal, Krishna District.
...Accused
This case is coming before me, for final hearing and disposal on this day in the presence of Sri Nagaraju M, learned Assistant Public Prosecutor for the State and of Sri P.Maheedhar Rao, Advocate for the accused; upon perusing the material papers on record, upon hearing the arguments on both sides and having stood over for consideration till this day, the Court delivered the following.
J U D G M E N T
The Inspector of Police, P.S. Jangaon, filed charge sheet against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337, 338 of I.P.C., in Crime No. 67/2011 of P.S. Jangaon.
2.The brief averments of the case of the prosecution are that on 10-03-2011 at about 12-30 hours, the accused being the driver of Lorry bearing No. AP 16 TY 5141, drove the same in rash and negligent manner with high speed coming from Jangaon to Siddipet side and dashed to the auto of one Thipparaboina Ilaiah, near Obulkeshavapur 2
Bus Stage, due to which the said Thipparaboina Ilaiah (deceased No.1), who was the driver of auto and the inmates of auto namely Valigonda
Srinivas and Peddaboina Yellaiah (deceased Nos. 2 and 3) struck in the auto and sustained severe injuries and died on the spot and other inmates namely Peddaboina Siddamma (PW-5), Peddaboina Navya (PW-6), Peddaboina Lakshmi (PW-8), Gangula Balaiah (PW-14) and Pulle
Saraswathi (PW-9), have sustained severe injuries. Immediately, the injured were shifted to Area Hospital, Jangaon.
3.On the strength of the written complaint of PW-1, son of deceased
No.1, a case in Crime No. 67/2011 under Sections 304-A, 337 I.P.C., was registered by the Police, Jangaon, and investigated. After completion of investigation, Police filed charge sheet against the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337, 338 I.P.C., .
4.The case was taken on file for the offences punishable under
Sections 304-A, 337, 338 I.P.C., against the accused.
5.On appearance of the accused, the copies of documents were furnished u/Sec.207 Cr.P.C. The accused was examined u/Sec.251
Cr.P.C., for the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337, 338
I.P.C., and explained the substance of accusation against him, for which he pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
6.The prosecution, in order to prove its case, examined PWs 1 to 18 and got marked Exs.P-1 to P-14.
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7.After completion of prosecution evidence, the accused was examined u/Sec.313 Cr.P.C., and incriminating evidence is read over and explained to him. Having understood the same, the accused denied the incriminating evidence and reported no defence evidence.
8.Now the point for consideration is :
Whether the prosecution has proved the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt for the offences punishable u/Sections 304-A, 337, 338 I.P.C.?
9.It is the case of the prosecution that on 10-03-2011 at about 12-30 hours, on Jangaon – Siddipet State Highway-9, near
Obulkeshavapur Bus Stage, the accused being the driver of Lorry bearing No. AP 16 TY 5141, drove the said vehicle in a rash and negligent manner with high speed and dashed against the Auto bearing
No. AP 23 U 3995, due to which the driver of auto by name
Thipparaboina Ilaiah and inmates of auto namely Valigonda Srinivas and
Peddaboina Yellaiah succumbed to the injuries and PWs 5, 6, 8, 9 and 14 sustained simple injuries.
10.The plea of the accused, as can be seen from the tenor of the cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses and also as per his statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C., and also as argued by the learned defence counsel, is one of total denial and false implication. He did not adduce any oral or documentary evidence in support of his defence.
11.The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor argued that the prosecution could successfully prove the guilt of accused in commission 4 of offence beyond reasonable doubt and that the evidence of PWs 5 to 9 and PW-14, who are inmates of the auto and sustained injuries in the said accident, clearly proved that the accused was the driver of crime vehicle at the relevant point of time and drove the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner with high speed and caused the incident. The evidence of PWs 5 to 9 and 14 is also supported by the other evidence of Medical Officers, examined as PWs 10 and 11, who conducted autopsy over the dead body of the deceased 1 to 3 and issued post mortem examination reports, opined that the deceased persons died due to “Shock Hemorrhage caused due to multiple injuries” and the
Motor Vehicle Inspector, who was examined as PW-3 and issued Motor
Vehicle Inspection Report-Ex.P-2 opining that the accident did not occur due to any mechanical defects of the vehicle and even the evidence of
PWs 16 and 17, who are the Investigating Officers and PWs 12, 13 and 15, who are panch witnesses for Inquest Panchanamas of the deceased 1 to 3 and Crime Details Form, is corroborated in all material aspects with regard to registering F.I.R., conducting Crime Details Form and
Inquest Panchanamas, including arrest of the accused. As such the evidence of PWs 1 to 18 coupled with Exs.P-1 to P-14 has established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, he prays the
Court to convict the accused as per law.
12.On the other hand, the learned defence counsel has vehemently argued that the evidence of PWs 1 and 4 cannot be relied and acted upon as they are circumstantial witnesses and PW-2, who is cited as eye witness, has not identified the accused as after the incident the driver of 5 crime vehicle fled away from the scene. He also argued that PWs 5 to 9 and 14, cannot be relied upon as they did not specifically identify the accused that he drove the crime vehicle at the relevant point of time of incident and caused the incident.
The learned defence counsel has strenuously argued that the evidence of prosecution witnesses is inconsistent and incorroborative and does not inspire confidence to base conviction of the accused and the accused is not the driver at the relevant of time and the investigating agency also failed to examine the owner of crime vehicle to prove that the accused drove the crime vehicle at the time of accident. With the said pleas, he sought for acquittal of the accused.
13.Heard both sides. Perused the case record.
14.To bring home the guilt of the accused, prosecution examined
PWs 1 to 18 and got marked Exs.P-1 to P-14. PW-1 is the defacto complainant and son of deceased No.1 Thipparaboina Ilaiah, PW-2 is an eye witness, PW-3 is Motor Vehicle Inspector, PW-4 is wife of deceased
No.2 Valigonda Srinivas, PWs 5 to 9 and PW-14 are injured persons and eye witnesses, PWs 10 and 11 are Medical Officers, who conducted post mortem examination over the dead body of the deceased 1 to 3 and issued Post Mortem Examination Reports-Exs.P-3 to P-5 and issued
Medical Certificates of the injured persons PW-9, PW-14 and PW-16 under Exs.P-6 to P-8, PWs 12, 13 and 15 are the panch witnesses for
Inquest Panchanamas and Crime Details Form and PWs 16 and 17 are the Investigating Officers.
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15.The accused did not examine any witnesses on his behalf and no documents have been marked on his behalf.
16.PW-1 is defacto complainant and son of deceased No.1 (Thipparaboina Ilaiah). He deposed that his father used to eke out his livelihood by plying auto bearing No. AP 23 U 3995 in Jangaon. On 10-03-2011 his father went with his auto on hire to one Bonala Yakaiah of Wadlakonda in connection with a marriage function by carrying the relatives of said Yakaiah. They were proceeding towards Bondugula
Village from Wadlakonda. When the auto of his father reached at
Obulkeshavapur Bus Stage, a lorry bearing No. AP 16 5141 came and hit the auto of his father at about 12-30 PM. As a result of which his father and two others sustained multiple injuries and died on the spot. Some other inmates of the auto sustained injuries. On information through his friend over phone, he immediately rushed to the hospital and saw his father's dead body. Later he lodged Ex.P-1-written complaint before the
Police.
PW-1 in his cross-examination though deposed that he do not know the contents of Ex.P-1 as they were not read over and explained to him but he further deposed that on his narration the Sub-Inspector of
Police drafted Ex.P-1 at the scene of offence and he put his signature on it. PW-1 is only a circumstantial witness and his evidence is hear-say evidence about the occurrence of offence.
17.PW-2, who cited as eye witness, deposed in his chief-examination that while he was returning from Obulkeshavapur Village to his village on his motor cycle, when he reached at the bus stage of 7
Obulkeshavapur Village one auto, which was going towards
Obulkeshavapur Village from Peddapahad Village at that time one Lorry, which was coming from Jangaon side and proceeding towards Siddipet side came in a rash and negligent manner and dashed against the auto, as a result of which the auto went and hit to a road side tree, due to which three passengers, who were traveling in the auto sustained grievous injuries and died on the spot and some other persons sustained injuries. Then, they called 108 Ambulance and shifted the injured to
Government Area Hospital, Jangaon, for treatment.
Though he deposed in his chief-examination that he can identify the driver of crime lorry but as the accused was absent on that day and the matter was posted to 17-04-2014 at request of the learned Assistant
Public Prosecutor, and when during the course of recording chief- examination, PW-2 deposed that he cannot identify the accused due to lapse of time and after the incident, the driver of crime vehicle fled away from the scene of offence, which is contrary to his earlier evidence. As such, his evidence cannot be relied upon in connecting the accused with the alleged offences.
18.PW-4, wife of deceased No.2 (Valigonda Srinivas), deposed that her husband met with road accident while he was proceeding in an auto at Obulkeshavapur Village and she came to know further that one lorry dashed towards the auto. PW-4 is also a circumstantial witness.
19.PWs 5 to 9 and 14, inmates of the auto and injured persons, deposed that while they were proceeding in hired auto, which belongs to one Ilaiah from Vadlakonda to Bondugula Village and when their auto 8 reached near Obulkeshavapur Bus Stage at about 12-30 PM, at that time one lorry came from Jangaon, proceeding towards Cherial and dashed towards their auto, due to which their auto dashed towards a
Neam Tree and due to which they sustained multiple injuries and the auto driver, Srinivas and husband of PW-5 by name Yellaiah died on the spot. Later they were shifted to Area Hospital, Jangaon. They further deposed that at the time of accident, the Lorry came in high speed and they identified that the accused is the driver of crime vehicle and the number of crime vehicle is AP 16 TY 5141.
During cross-examination of PWs 5 to 9, they admitted that after the accident, the accused brought them to the Area Hospital, Jangaon, and they gave descriptive particulars of the accused to the Police. They also admitted that earlier to the incident, they have not seen the accused at any point of time. It is suggested to them that the auto was over loaded with 8 to 10 passengers at the time of incident, which is denied by them. There are no material contradictions or omissions elicited in their evidence and that their evidence proves that the lorry came at high speed in a rash and negligent manner and dashed against the auto.
20.PW-3 (M.Samba Murthy), Motor Vehicle Inspector, who inspected the crime Lorry after the accident, opined that the accident did not occur due to any mechanical defects of the crime vehicle and accordingly, issued Motor Vehicle Inspection Report-Ex.P-2. The evidence of PW-3 (M.Samba Murthy), Motor Vehicle Inspector, clearly 9 proved that the accident did not occur due to any mechanical defects of the crime vehicle.
21. PWs 10 and 11, Medical Officers, who conducted Post Mortem
Examination over the dead bodies of deceased 1 to 3, opined that the cause of death is shock due to hemorrhage due to multiple injuries, which are possible in a road traffic accident. Exs.P-3 to P-5 are post mortem examination reports of the deceased 1 to 3. PW-11 also examined the injured persons namely P.Saraswathi (PW-9), Balaiah (PW-14) and P.Navya (PW-6) and issued Medical Certificates under
Exs.P-6 to P-8. On perusal of Medical Certificates of injured persons under Exs.P-6 to P-8, it is found that they sustained simple injuries.
PW-5 deposed that she sustained injuries all over her body and also on her forehead, PW-7 deposed that she sustained head injury and also sustained injuries all over her body and PW-8 deposed that she sustained spinal cord injury and also sustained multiple injuries all over her body but to that effect there are no medical certificates filed.
Hence, there is no evidence to show that the injured sustained grievous injuries attracting the ingredients of the offence punishable under
Section 338 I.P.C.
22.PWs 12, 13 and 15, who are panch witnesses for Inquest
Panchanama of the deceased 1 to 3 and Crime Details Form, deposed that in their presence, Police conducted the Inquest Panchanamas and
Crime Details Form under Exs.P-9, P-10 and P-14-Inquest Panchanamas of deceased 1 to 3 respectively and Crime Details Form under Ex.P-11.
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23.PW-17 (M.Jithender), Inspector of Police, Jangaon, deposed that on receipt of Ex.P-1-complaint from PW-1, he registered a case in Crime No.
67/2011 for the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337 I.P.C., and issued First Information Report under Ex.P-12, then he proceeded to the scene of offence by securing the presence of PW-13 and LW-14 and observed the scene of offence, prepared Crime Details Form under
Ex.P-11 and summoned the Photographer (PW-18) and had taken the photos of the scene of offence. The photos along with compact disc is marked under Ex.P-14. Then he shifted the dead bodies for conducting inquest panchanamas and post mortem examinations and on 15-03-2011 he arrested the accused.
24.PW-16 (D.Upender), Sub-Inspector of Police, Jangaon, deposed that on 10-03-2011 on the instructions of Station House Officer,
Jangaon, he proceeded to Area Hospital, Jangaon and conducted Inquest
Panchanama over the dead body of the deceased Peddaboina Yellaiah under Ex.P-14.
25.Therefore, this Court believing the version of PWs 5 to 9 and 14, which is corroborated with the evidence of PW-3, PWs 10 to 18 and held that their evidence shows that the accused had driven the lorry in a rash and negligent manner and committed the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337 I.P.C.
26.The learned defence counsel argued that the Investigating Agency has not cited the owner of crime vehicle as a witness and all the witnesses ascertained the name of accused on the basis of Cell Number, 11 which was written on the Crime Lorry and no material has been collected by the Investigation Officer from the owner of the vehicle to show that the accused was actually driving the vehicle on that particular day.
During the cross-examination of PW-16-Investigating Officer, the learned defence counsel elicited that he did not mention the cell number in the statements of witnesses and the witnesses have not given any descriptive particulars of the accused in their statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C., and PW-2 stated before him that after the accident, the driver of crime vehicle jumped from the Lorry and ran away from the spot.
When the eye witnesses and injured persons, who travelled in the auto, clearly identified the accused as the driver of crime lorry and after the accident, the accused shifted the injured to the Area Hospital,
Jangaon, their evidence is held sufficient to base conviction of the accused.
The learned defence counsel further argued that PW-2, who is cited as eye witness, has not identified the accused as driver of crime vehicle at that particular time and he further deposed that after the incident the driver of crime vehicle fled away from the scene and PW-9 also admitted that she do not know how many persons were proceeding in the crime lorry on the date of incident.
The learned defence counsel vehemently argued that all the witnesses ascertained the name of accused through the cell number, which was written on the Crime Lorry, which is not reliable and the owner of the vehicle has not been examined, as such, the prosecution 12 failed to prove that the accused was actually driven the vehicle on that particular day and when there is any doubtful circumstance with regard to the identity of the accused, that benefit should always be given in favour of the accused.
To that effect, he relied on the decision reported in a case of
State of Karnataka Vs. S.Manoharan (2014 Crl.L.J. Page
No.3307) (2014 1 ACC 841) (2014 Supreme (Kar) 759). But the same is not found to the relevant with the present case as the injured persons, who travelled in the auto, clearly identified the accused that he is the driver of crime lorry and driven the vehicle in a speedy manner and after the accident, the accused brought them to the Area Hospital,
Jangaon.
27.At this juncture, this Court referred to the decision of two-Judge
Bench in Dalbir Singh Vs. State of Haryana ((2000) 5 SCC 82), a hall mark decision with regard to road accidents in which it is held as follows: :- “When automobiles have become death traps any leniency shown to drivers, who are found guilty of rash driving would be at the risk of further escalation of road accidents. All those who are manning the steering of automobiles, particularly professional drivers, must be kept under constant reminders of their duty to adopt utmost care and also of the consequences befalling them in cases of dereliction. One of the most effective ways of keeping such drivers under mental vigil is to maintain a deterrent element in the sentencing sphere. Any latitude shown to them in that sphere would tempt them to make driving frivolous and a frolic.” 13 “Bearing in mind the galloping trend in road accidents in India and the devastating consequences visiting the victims and their families, criminal courts cannot treat the nature of the offence under Section 304-A
I.P.C., as attracting the benevolent provisions of Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act. While considering the quantum of sentence to be imposed for the offence of causing death by rash or negligent driving of automobiles, one of the prime considerations should be deterrence. A professional driver pedals the accelerator of the automobile almost throughout his working hours. He must constantly inform himself that he cannot afford to have a single moment of laxity or inattentiveness when his leg is on the pedal of a vehicle in locomotion. He cannot and should not take a chance thinking that a rash driving need not necessarily cause any accident; or even if any accident occurs it need not necessarily result in the death of any human being; or even if such death ensues he might not be convicted of the offence; and lastly, that even if he is convicted he would be dealt with leniently by the Court.
He must always keep in his mind the fear psyche that if he is convicted of the offence for causing death of a human being due to his callous driving of the vehicle he cannot escape from a jail sentence. This is the role which the
Courts can play, particularly at the level of trial courts, for lessening the high rate of motor accidents due to callous driving of automobiles.”
The Hon'ble Supreme Court even in one of the latest Judgments i.e. State of Punjab Vs. Saurabh Bakshi dated 30-03-2015 in
Criminal Appeal No. 520 of 2015 also adopted the same view by citing the case law supra and conviction was accordingly upheld.
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28.In view of the aforesaid discussion of oral and documentary evidence and in view of the findings of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, this
Court is of the considered opinion that the prosecution has proved the charges under Sections 304-A, 337 I.P.C. Accordingly, the accused is found guilty for the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337 I.P.C.
The accused is found not guilty for the offence punishable under Section 338 I.P.C.
(Typed to dictation, corrected and pronounced by me in the Open Court on this the 18th day of November, 2016.)
Sd./-
JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE
JANGAON.
ORDER ON THE POINT OF SENTENCE
29.Accused is questioned about the quantum of sentence, to which he submitted that he has wife and children, who are dependent on him and he is the sole bread-winner in the family and requested this Court to take a lenient view.
Having regard to the nature of the offences proved and keeping in view that three persons have lost their lives and six others sustained injuries and the devastating consequences visiting the victims and their families, it is not a fit case to invoke the benevolent provisions of the
Probation of Offenders' Act, in favour of the accused, as he committed the offence under Section 304-A I.P.C., and a lenient view cannot be taken in awarding sentence, hence, this Court is of the opinion that the ends of justice would be met only if a deterrent view is adopted in punishing the accused. Therefore, the accused is sentenced to undergo 15
Simple Imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay fine of
Rs.800/- for the offence punishable under Section 304-A I.P.C., and to pay fine of Rs.200/- for the offence punishable under Section 337 I.P.C., total fine of Rs.1,000/-, in default of payment of fine he shall undergo
Simple Imprisonment for a period of three months each for the said offences. Both the sentences shall run concurrently.
30. In the result, the accused is found guilty for the offences punishable under Sections 304-A, 337 I.P.C., accordingly, he is convicted under Section 255(2) Cr.P.C., and sentenced to undergo Simple
Imprisonment for a period of two years and to pay fine of Rs.800/- for the offence punishable under Section 304-A I.P.C., and to pay fine of
Rs.200/- for the offence punishable under Section 337 I.P.C., total fine of
Rs.1,000/- and in default of payment of fine he shall undergo Simple
Imprisonment for a period of three months each. Both the sentences shall run concurrently.
The period of remand undergone by the accused, if any, shall be given set off under Section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The accused is acquitted under Section 255 (1) Cr.P.C., for the offence punishable under Section 338 I.P.C.
He is also apprised of his right to have legal aid to prefer an appeal before the Hon’ble Court of Sessions, if he has no sufficient means to engage his Advocate before the Hon’ble Court of Sessions.
Sd./-
JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE,
JANGAON.
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APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESSES EXAMINED
FOR PROSECUTION: FOR DEFENCE:
PW-1: Thipparaboina Sathish – Defacto Complainant -None-
PW-2: Anreddy Prathap Reddy – Eye Witness
PW-3: M.Samba Murthy – Motor Vehicle Inspector
PW-4: Valigonda Radha – Circumstantial Witness
PW-5: Peddaboina Siddamma – Injured
PW-6: Peddaboina Navya – Injured
PW-7: Rajaboina Lakshmi – Eye Witness
PW-8: Peddaboina Lakshmi – Injured
PW-9: Pulle Saraswathi – Injured
PW-10: Dr. Srihari – Medical Officer
PW-11: Dr. Poli Reddy – Medical Officer
PW-12: Gone Kistaiah – Panch witness for Inquest
Panchanama of deceased No.1
PW-13: Dandeboina Satyanarayana – Panch witness for Inquest
Panchanama of deceased No.2 and Crime Details Form
PW-14: Gangula Balaiah – Injured
PW-15: Chada Surender Reddy – Panch Witness for Inquest Panchanama of deceased No.3
PW-16: D.Upender – Investigating Officer
PW-17: M.Jithender – Investigating Officer
PW-18: Ghanapuram Dayakar – Photographer
EXHIBITS MARKED
< FOR PROSECUTION:
Ex.P-1 : Written complaint of PW-1 dated 10-03-2011
Ex.P-2 :Motor Vehicle Inspection Report dated 11-03-2011
Ex.P-3 :Post Mortem Examination Report of Thipparaboina Ilaiah (D-1) dated 26-03-2011
Ex.P-4 :Post Mortem Examination Report of Peddaboina Yellaiah (D-3) dated 26-03-2011 17
Ex.P-5 :Post Mortem Examination Report of Valigonda Srinivas (D-2)
dated 24-04-2011
Ex.P-6 : Medical Certificate of PW-9 dated 10-03-2011
Ex.P-7 : Medical Certificate of PW-14 dated 10-03-2011
Ex.P-8 : Medical Certificate of PW-6 dated 10-03-2011
Ex.P-9 :Inquest Panchanama dated 10-03-2011 of Thipparaboina
Ilaiah (D-1)
Ex.P-10:Inquest Panchanama dated 10-03-2011 of Valigonda
Srinivas (D-2)
Ex.P-11: Crime Details Form dated 10-03-2011
Ex.P-12:Inquest Panchanama dated 10-03-2011 of Peddaboina
Yellaiah (D-3)
Ex.P-13:First Information Report dated 10-03-2011
Ex.P-14:Photographs along with Compact Disc
FOR DEFENCE:
- Nil -
:MATERIAL OBJECTS:
-Nil-
Sd./-
JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE,
JANGAON.
// TRUE COPY //