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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

u/s Under Section

AC Appeal Cases

Anr Another’s

Art. Articles

Co. Company

Edn. Edition

Hon’ble Honourable

i.e. That is

HC High Court

SC Supreme Court

NO. Number

AIR All India Reporter

Cri LJ / Cr LJ Criminal Law Journal

Cr.P.C. Code of Criminal Procedure

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


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Sec. Section

SCC Supreme Court Cases

v. Versus

SCR Supreme Court Reporter

BOOKS REFERRED

1. KD Gaur, The Indian Penal Code, (15th Ed., Law Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2016

2. Ramjeth Malani & DS Chopra, The Indian Penal Code (Vol. II , Thomson Reuters)

3. Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code, (33rd Ed., Lexis Nexis, 2016)

4. Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, The Code of Criminal Procedure (20th Ed., Lexis Nexis 2016)

5. SC Sarkar, The Indian Penal Code,1860 (3rd Ed., Dwivedi Law Agency, 2014)

6. S.N.Mishra,The code of criminal procedure, (22nd Ed., Central Law publications, 2020)

7. RV, Kelkar, Criminal Procedure, (7th ed. EBC, 2021)

8. P.S.A Pillai’s Criminal law,( 14th ed. Lexis-Nexis, 2021)

9. Surya Narayan Mishra, Shriniwas Gupta (ed.), Indian Penal Code (Central Law Agency, Allahabad, 20th
Edi, 2016).

10. Sir H.S. Gour, H.S. Gour’s Commentary on the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Law Publishers (India) Pvt.
Ltd., 2017

11. K.N. Chandrashekhar, Pillai,Essays on Indian Penal Code, 1860, Universal Law Publication, 2019.

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


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LEXICONS:

1. Aiyar, P Ramanatha, The Law Lexicon, (2nd Ed. 2006)

2. Garner B.A., Black‟s Law Dictionary, (9th ed., 2009)

WEBSITES REFERRED

1. Bandoim, Lana. “What Does the Appendix Do?” Verywellhealth.Com, 5 Feb. 2023,
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-does-the-appendix-do-5270731.

2. “CK-12 College Human Biology.” CK-12 , 4 Nov. 2021,


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ah
UKEwir6ZnD49eEAxUxRmwGHU_mBMwQFnoECCYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ck12.o
rg%2Fbook%2Fck-12-
humanbiology%2Fsection%2F2.0%2F&usg=AOvVaw1iLw57ONLeQA0O96x3fFNZ&opi=8997844
9.

3. Watson, Stephanie. “What You Need to Know About Ruptured Appendix.” Healthline.Com, 2022,
https://www.healthline.com/health/ruptured-appendix.

LIST OF AUTHORITIES

1. Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1994 SCC 569


2. Mahadeo Prasad v. State of West Bengal (AIR 1954 SC 724)
3. Gobinda Singh v. State, AIR 1946 JLR 361
4. Commissioner of Income Tax v. Patranu Dass Raja Ram Beri, AIR 1982 PH 1, 4
5. State of Maharashtra v. Meyer Hans George, AIR 1965 SC 722
6. Nathulal v. State of M.P. AIR 1966 SC 43
7. Amrik Singh v. State of PEPSU, 1955 AIR 309
8. Ninaji Raoji Bhaudha v State of Maharashtra, 1976 AIR 1537
9. Pulicherla Nagaraju @ Nagaraja Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2006) 11 SCC 444
10. Trimukh Maroti Kirkan vs. State of Maharashtra ,2006 AIR SCW 5300
11. Srju Prasad v. State of Bihar, AIR 1965 SC 843: (1965) 1CrLJ 766: (1965) 2 SCJ 126:

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


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12. Bhagwan Din v. State, AIR 1967 ALL 580:
13. John v. State of Kerela, ILR (1969) 2 Ker 604:1969 Ker LT 488
14. State of Maharshtra v. Balram Bama Patil,1983 CrLJ 331(SC)
15. Rau Bhagwanta Hargude v. State of Maharasthra, AIR 1979 SC 1224
16. State of Rajasthan v Dhool Singh, AIR 2004 SC 1264
17. Gudar Dusadh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1972 SC 952
18. Visa Singh v. State of Punjab,AIR 1958 SC 465
19. Anil Kumar v. State,Criminal Appeal No. 489/2012
20. Faqira v. State AIR 1955 All. 321

21. Miller v. Minister of Pensions, [1947] 2 All ER 373


22. State of Punjab v. Budh Prakash A1.R. 1989 S.C. 1094.
23. Surinder Kumar v. Union Territory. Chandigarh AIR 1989 S.C. 1094
24. Sathees Kumar v. State of Kerala, 1993 S.C.Cr.R. 134 at p. 136 (Ker.).
25. Kirpal Singh u. State, A.I.R. 1951 Punj, 137 at p. 140.
26. Hans Raj Singh v. Emperor, ALR. 1946 Lah. 41 at pp. 43, 46
27. Amirthalinga Nadar v. State of Tamil Nadu (1976) 2 SCC 195
28. Bhimanna v. State of Karnataka (2012) 9 SCC 650
29. Prabhakar Vithal Gholve v. State of Maharashtra, (2016) 12 SCC 490
30. Sandhya Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra (2006) 4 SCC 653)
31. Jai Prakash v. State 1991 SCR (1) 202
32. Randhir Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 2004 SC 5097
33. State of U.P. vs. Indrajeet Alias Sukhatha, (2000) (7) SCC 249)
34. Anwarul Haq v. State of U.P. 2005 AIR SCW 2522
35. Mathai vs. State of Kerala, (2005) 3 SCC 260
36. Parahu v. State, 1961 MPLJ SN 77
37. Kamla Bai vs Naresh, (2016) 160 AIC 50

38. State of U.P. vs. Indrajeet Alias Sukhatha, 2000) (7) SCC 249

39. Mathai vs. State of Kerala, (2005) 3 SCC 260

40. Parahu v. State, 1961 MPLJ SN 77

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


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STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION

The prosecution has filed the appeal against the decision of the Trial .This appeal has been filed under
Section 378(1)(b) of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Section 378(1)(b) provides as under -

Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), and subject to the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (5), -

(b) the State Government may, in any case, direct the Public Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High
Court from an original or appellate order of an acquittal passed by any Court other than a High Court [not
being an order under clause (a)] or an order of acquittal passed by the High Court of Session in revision.]

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


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FACTS OF THE CASE

1. Abhay Raichand was a rich businessman of the city Riverdale. He was an extremely arrogant and
short- tempered by nature and was in the quarreling with everyone on petty issues also. The
deceased, Rupam Singh was an athlete by profession and Abhay Raichand's immediate neighbour.

2. Both Abhay Raichand and Rupan Singh were never on friendly terms with one another. On one
occasion, the deceased, Rupan Singh had kept a function in his house. However, Abhay Raichand
was not invited in the function due to the nature of Abhay Raichand because of which his ego was
hurt. On that day when the deceased, Rupam Singh was parking his car in front of the gate of the
house of Abhay Raichand, the deceased, Rupam Singh was sternly warned by Abhay Raichand not to
park the car on that place as being already irritated by the deceased, Rupam Singh.The deceased
Rupam Singh refused to remove the car replying that it was not Abhay Raichand's personal property,
and that the car will be removed after the function and departure of guests.

3. Abhay Raichand lost his balance of mind and slapped Rupam Singh. Both started quarreling and
grapped each other, in the course Abhay Raichand gave a fist blow on the stomach of deceased,
Rupam Singh and consequently appendicitis of the deceased, Rupam Singh busted, and the deceased
fell down in severe pain in stomach.

4. Abhay Raichand immediately threw the deceased in the car of deceased itself and drove the car
towards the nearest hospital. At the same time since a large number of cars were parked in the street,
Abhay Raichand had to face difficulty to take the car out of the street and a lot of time was wasted.

5. The deceased, Rupam Singh could not be saved, and doctors gave a statement that if the deceased,
Rupam Singh had been brought ten minutes early, the deceased, Rupam Singh could have been
saved. Besides the medical report also mentioned that one tooth of the deceased, Rupam Singh was
also found to be broken.

6. Abhay Raichand was charged with the offence of murder under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code.
The Trial Court convicted Abhay Raichand only under Section 326 of Indian Penal Code for causing
grievous hurt.

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


ISSUES RAISED

1) WHETHER THE ACCUSED, ABHAY RAICHAND HAS COMMITTED MURDER UNDER


SECTION 302 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE?

2) WHETHER THE ACCUSED IS ENTITLED TO ANY EXCEPTIONS OR NOT?

3) WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT WAS RIGHT IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED UNDER
SECTION 326 OF I.P.C

MEMORIAL ON BEHALF OF RESPONDENT


SUMMARY OF ARGUEMENTS

ISSUE I: WHETHER THE ACCUSED, ABHAY RAICHAND HAS COMMITTED


MURDER UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE?

It is humbly submitted before the Honourable Court that the alleged accused has not committed any
offence under this section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. As there was no intention on the part
of accused to cause death of the deceased and the same was result of fight which was provoked by
the deceased himself even after the warnings given by the accused. Further it is to be stated that the
prosecution has not been able to prove their case beyond the reasonable doubt not only this, there is
absence of any ocular evidence and medical evidence which is a prerequisite in proving the case.

ISSUE II: WHETHER THE ACCUSED IS ENTITLED TO ANY EXCEPTIONS OR NOT?

It is most humbly submitted before the Honourable Court that the accused is entitled to exception IV
of section 300 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 which is a case of sudden fight. This was a case of sudden
fight and without any pre-mediation. It is further stated that the alleged deceased had himself shown
aggression towards the accused and the wrong was first committed by the deceased by parking the
car in front of the accused house and even after the warning given by the accused, the deceased
provoke the accused which leads to sudden fight between them. The accused had not exceeded his
authority or acted in brutal or cruel manner.

ISSUE III: WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT WAS RIGHT IN CONVICTING THE
ACCUSED UNDER SECTION 326 OF I.P.C?

It is most humbly submitted before this Honourable Court that the trial court was not right in
convicting the accused under section 326 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. As the word “fist” is not a
deadly weapon, and the prosecution fails to prove the guilt of the accused under this section as the
ingredients are not fulfilled.
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ARGUMENTS ADVANCED

ISSUE I: WHETHER THE ACCUSED, ABHAY RAICHAND HAS COMMITTED MURDER


UNDER SECTION 302 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE?

It is most humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Court that the accused has not committed murder under
section 302 of the Indian penal code, 1860.

‘Actus reus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea’ is a fundamental principle in criminal law that translates to "an
act does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty mind 1and guilty mind in present case is absent as it
was not voluntary, also “actus me invito factus non est means actus” which, according to common law,
signifies “an act done against my will is not my act.

All Crimes always includes two elements ‘actus rea’ and ‘mens rea’, if any of them is absent in a particular
crime then that act will not come under the ambit of Crime.

In the case of Mahadeo Prasad v. State of West Bengal2, the court held that no external conduct, howsoever
serious in consequences, is generally punished unless the prohibited consequence is produced by some
wrongful intent, fault or mens rea.

SECTION 300 OF THE IPC,1860 PROVIDES THE DEFINITION OF THE MURDER AND
ENUMERATE THE INGREDIENTS OF THE OFFENCE.

Section 300 Murder

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

(Secondly)— If it is done with the intention of causing such bodily injury as the offender knows to be likely to
cause the death of the person to whom the harm is caused, or—

(Thirdly)— If it is done with the intention of causing bodily injury to any person and the bodily injury
intended to be inflicted is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death, or
1
Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1994 SCC 569

2
Mahadeo Prasad v. State of West Bengal AIR 1954 SC 724

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(Fourthly)— If the person committing the act knows that it is so imminently dangerous that it must, in all
probability, cause death or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, and commits such act without any
excuse for incurring the risk of causing death or such injury as aforesaid.

To constitute the offence of attempt to murder, following two ingredients of offence


must be present3:

• An Intention and Knowledge of committing murder- MENS REA

• The doing of an act towards it- ACTUS REUS

ABSENCE OF MENS REA IN THE PRESENT CASE:-

Mens Rea is considered as guilty intention4,which is proved or inferred from the acts of the accused5. The

Supreme Court has held that Mens Rea is an essential ingredient of a criminal offence. 6

It implies a conscious desire or purpose to bring about the fatal consequences. Intent can be inferred from the
circumstances surrounding the crime, the conduct of the accused, or any premeditation involved.

It is presumed that every sane person intends the result that his action normally produces and if a person hits
another on a vulnerable part of the body, and death occurs as a result, the intention of the accused can be no
other than to take the life of the victim and the offence committed amounts to murder. 7

In the present case there was no intention on the part of the accused to kill the deceased. Further, his act of
driving him instantly to the hospital depicts his innocence.

The Supreme Court in Ninaji Raoji Bhaudha v. State of Maharashtra8, held that:

3
Gobinda Singh v. State, AIR 1946 JLR 361
4
Commissioner of Income Tax v. Patranu Dass Raja Ram Beri, AIR 1982 PH 1, 4

5
State of Maharashtra v. Meyer Hans George, AIR 1965 SC 722
6
Nathulal v. State of M.P. AIR 1966 SC 43
7
Amrik Singh v. State of PEPSU, 1955 AIR 309

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Where there is no evidence as to any intention on the part of the appellant either to cause death or have the
knowledge that such injuries would be likely to cause death, it would not be justified to convict under section
302 or section 304 of IPC.

In Pulicherla Nagaraju @ Nagaraja Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh 9 considered these aspects and held
that:

"29. Therefore, the Court should proceed to decide the pivotal question of intention, with care and caution,
as that will decide whether the case falls under Section 302 or 304 Part I or 304 Part II. Many petty or
insignificant matters utterance of a rude word or even an objectionable glance, may lead to altercations and
group clashes culminating in deaths. Usual motives like revenge, greed, jealousy or suspicion may be totally
absent in such cases. There may be no intention. There may be no premeditation. In fact, there may not even
be criminality.

The intention to cause death can be gathered generally from a combination of a few or several of the
following, among other, circumstances;

(i) nature of the weapon used;

(ii) whether the weapon was carried by the accused or was picked up from the spot;

(iii) whether the blow is aimed at a vital part of the body;

(iv) the amount of force employed in causing injury;

(v) whether the act was in the course of sudden quarrel or sudden fight or free for all fight;

(vi) whether the incident occurs by chance or whether there was any premeditation;

(vii) whether there was any prior enmity or whether the deceased was a stranger;

(viii) whether there was any grave and sudden provocation, and if so, the cause for such

Provocation;

8
Ninaji Raoji Bhaudha v State of Maharashtra, 1976 AIR 1537

9
Pulicherla Nagaraju @ Nagaraja Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2006) 11 SCC 444
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(ix) whether it was in the heat of passion;

(x) whether the person inflicting the injury has taken undue advantage or has acted in a cruel and

unusual manner;

(xi) whether the accused dealt a single blow or several blows.

The above list of circumstances is, of course, not exhaustive and there may be several other special
circumstances with reference to individual cases which may throw light on the question of intention.”

It is submitted that there was no weapon used by the accused and moreover the injury was not given on a
vital part of the body.

In Trimukh Maroti Kirkan v. State of Maharashtra10, court held as under: "In the case in hand, there is no
eyewitness of the occurrence and the case of the prosecution rests on circumstantial evidence. The normal
principle in a case based on circumstantial evidence is that the

(a) circumstances from which an inference of guilt is sought to be drawn must be cogently and
firmly established;

(b) that those circumstances should be of a definite tendency unerringly pointing towards the guilt of

the accused;

(c) that the circumstances taken cumulatively should form a chain so complete,

(d) that there is no escape from the conclusion that within all human probability, the crime was

committed by the accused and

(e) they should be incapable of explanation on any hypothesis other than that of the guilt of the
accused and inconsistent with their innocence."

Intention to kill should be clearly proved by circumstances like the persistence of attack on vital parts of the
body or the assailant lying in wait armed with dangerous weapons or declarations made by him that the
victim would be killed. The intention is not gatherable merely from the resultant injury. 11

10
Trimukh Maroti Kirkan v. State of Maharashtra ,2006 AIR SCW 5300
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Supreme Court in State of Maharashtra v. Balaram Bama Patil12, it was held that to convict under this
section what court has to see is whether the act irrespective of the result, was done with intention or
knowledge and circumstances mentioned in this section.

ACCUSED CASE

In the present case neither any weapon was used, nor was the blow given on any vital organ of the deceased
which clearly shows that there was intention on the part of the accused.

It is most humbly submitted before this court that the factual matrix clearly stated that “Abhay Raichand
immediately threw the deceased in the car of the deceased itself and drove the car towards the nearest
hospital.”

This sequence of events raises a significant question about the alleged intent to kill on the part of the
accused. If, indeed, Mr. Raichand harboured any malicious intent towards the deceased, logic dictates that he
would not have taken immediate steps to transport the deceased to the nearest hospital.

The act of swiftly placing the deceased in the car and driving towards medical assistance suggests an urgent
and genuine concern for the well-being of the victim. It stands to reason that if Mr. Raichand had intended
harm, he would have refrained from seeking medical help or taken actions inconsistent with providing
immediate aid.

Moreover, this medical testimony serves as a crucial piece of exculpatory evidence for Mr. Abhay
Raichand. It underscores the urgency and diligence exhibited by the accused in rushing the deceased to the
hospital. The tragic outcome was not a result of any delay or intentional harm caused by Mr. Raichand but
rather an unfortunate consequence of the time-sensitive nature of the medical emergency.

1. DOES NOT FALL UNDER CLAUSE 1

The first clause of section 300 stipulates that when an act (including legal omission) is done with the
intention of causing death, then it is culpable homicide amounting to murder. It is the simplest and at the
same time, the gravest of the species of murder.

11
Shri Prasad v. State of Bihar, AIR 1965 SC 843: (1965) 1CrLJ 766: (1965) 2 SCJ 126: Bhagwan Din v. State, AIR 1967 ALL

12
State of Maharshtra v. Balram Bama Patil,1983 CrLJ 331(SC)
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In the case of Rau Bhagwanta Hargude v. State of Maharasthra 13, when an accused hit the deceased on a
vital part of the body, the chest, with the blade of a sword, two feet in length with such force as to impair the
liver and the aorta, it was held the offence was plainly one of murder.

However, in the present case, the deceased was given a fist blow on the stomach which is not a vital organ.

The research publishes the following as the vital organs:

“The human body contains five organs that are considered vital for survival. They are the heart, brain,
kidneys, liver, and lungs14”

The stomach performs four main functions: mechanical digestion by contracting to smash up food, chemical
digestion by releasing acid to help chemically break up food, and then absorption and secretion. The stomach
is sometimes surgically removed as a result of cancer or trauma. In 2012, a British woman had to have her
stomach removed after ingesting a cocktail that contained liquid nitrogen. 15 When the stomach is removed,
surgeons attach the oesophagus (gullet) directly to the small intestines. With a good recovery, people can eat
a normal diet alongside vitamin supplements.

2. NOT COVERED BY CLAUSE II :

The second clause of section 300 stipulates that if a person intentionally causes bodily injury, with the
knowledge that such bodily injury will cause death of the person injured, then it will be culpable homicide
amounting to murder.

Thus, the mens rea or the mental attitude contemplated under clause 2 of section 300 is twofold.

1. First, there must be an intention to cause bodily harm.

2. Secondly, there must be "knowledge" that death is the "likely" result or consequence of such
intended bodily injury. Here subjective knowledge matters.

In State of Rajasthan v Dhool Singh16,the Supreme Court held the accused guilty of murder who inflicted
an incised cut with a sword on the neck of the deceased, which led to excessive bleeding and the

13
Rau Bhagwanta Hargude v. State of Maharasthra ,AIR 1979 SC 1224

14
(https://www.ck12.org/book/ck-12-human-biology/)

15
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/17/oscars-wine-bar-lancaster-gaby-scanlon-stomach-liquid-nitrogen
16
State of Rajasthan v Dhool Singh, AIR 2004 SC 1264

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consequential heart failure, on the ground that he knew that the bodily injury caused by him would likely
cause death of the injured.

In the case at hand, no subjective knowledge was on the part of the accused that a simple blow would lead to
his appendix to burst. Hence no malice or ill intention could be imposed on the accused.

3. NOT COVERED BY CLAUSE III :

In the case of Gudar Dusadh v. State of Bihar17 The court held that the essence of the clause is the
sufficiency of the injury in the ordinary course of nature to cause death. When the word "sufficiency" is used,
it means where there is a very high probability of the injury resulting in death.

In Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab18, the Supreme Court laid down that in order to bring a case within clause

(3) of section 300, the prosecution must prove the following:

(1) It must establish, quite objectively, that a bodily injury is present.

(2) The nature of the injury must be proved.

(3) It must be proved that there was an intention to inflict that particular bodily injury,

that is to say, that it was not accidental or unintentional, or some other kind of injury was intended.
Once these three elements are proved to be present, the enquiry proceeds further, and

(4) It must be proved that the injury of the type just described made up of the three
elements set out above, is sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature.

The court in the case held that merely because the blow landed on a particular spot on the body divorced
from the circumstances in which the blow was given it would be hazardous to say that the accused intended
to cause that particular injury. 19

The Supreme Court in Jai Prakash v. State20 expressed the following opinion in paragraph 13:

17
Gudar Dusadh v. State of Bihar, AIR 1972 SC 952

18
Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab,AIR 1958 SC 465
19
Randhir Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 2004 SC 5097
20
Jai Prakash v. State 1991 SCR (1) 202
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“It can thus be seen that the ‘knowledge’ as contrasted with ‘intention’ signifies a state of mental realisation
with the bare state of conscious awareness of certain facts in which the human mind remains supine or
inactive.

On the other hand, ‘intention’ is a conscious state in which mental faculties are aroused into activity and
summoned into action for the purpose of achieving a conceived end. It means shaping of one's conduct so as
to bring about a certain event. Therefore, in the case of ‘intention’ mental faculties are projected in a set
direction. Intention need not necessarily involve premeditation. Whether there is such an intention or not is
a question of fact. In Clause Thirdly the words ‘intended to be inflicted’ are significant. As noted already,
when a person commits an act, he is presumed to expect the natural consequences. But from the mere fact
that the injury caused is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death it does not necessarily
follow that the offender intended to cause the injury of that nature. However, the presumption arises that he
intended to cause that particular injury. In such a situation the Court has to ascertain whether the facts and
circumstances in the case are such as to rebut the presumption and such facts and circumstances cannot be
laid down in an abstract rule and they will vary from case to case.”

It is worth mentioning here that the third element that the intention to cause the particular body injury is
absent in the present case. Also, the fourth element cannot be proved as fist blow in stomach cannot in
anyway be fatal.

In the case of Anil Kumar v. State21, the court held that even the medical experts did not have any
knowledge that a mere kick on the stomach would lead to the possibility of death. If the medical expert did
not have such knowledge implicitly, it is unsafe to hold that a common man would have such a knowledge.

Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab 22the weapon used, the degree of force released in wielding it, the antecedent
relations of the parties, the manner in which the attack was made that is to say sudden or premeditated,
whether the injury was inflicted during a struggle or grappling, the number of injuries inflicted and their
nature and the part of the body where the injury was inflicted are some of the relevant factors.” In the case of
Virsa Singh (supra), in paragraphs 16 & 17, it was observed and held as under:

‘16. ... The question is not whether the prisoner intended to inflict a serious injury or a trivial one but
whether he intended to inflict the injury that is proved to be present. If he can show that he did not, or if the

21
Anil Kumar v. State,Criminal Appeal No. 489/2012

22
Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab,AIR 1958 SC 465
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totality of the circumstances justify such an inference, then, of course, the intent that the section requires is
not proved. But if there is nothing beyond the injury and the fact that the appellant inflicted it, the only
possible inference is that he intended to inflict it. Whether he knew of its seriousness, or intended serious
consequences, is neither here nor there. The question, so far as the intention is concerned, is not whether he
intended to kill, or to inflict an injury of a particular degree of seriousness, but whether he intended to inflict
the injury in question; and once the existence of the injury is proved the intention to cause it will be
presumed unless the evidence or the circumstances warrant an opposite conclusion. But whether the
intention is there or not is one of fact and not one of law. Whether the wound is serious or otherwise, and if
serious, how serious, is a totally separate and distinct question and has nothing to do with the question
whether the prisoner intended to inflict the injury in question.’

4. DOES NOT FALL IN CLAUSE IV :

Clause (4) of section 300 contemplates generally, commission of acts which are so imminently dangerous
that it is likely to cause death. Under this clause, the act need not be directed at any particular individual nor
there an intention to cause the death of any particular individual. It has to merely be a reckless act, which is
imminently dangerous.

Charles Darwin was the first to publicly assert that the appendix was a "leftover" organ from evolution
that serves no purpose. This was supported by the fact a person can live perfectly well without an appendix.

That the organ varies dramatically in size and shape adds further credence to the assumption that the
appendix is, in fact, vestigial23.

The risk of rupture increases the longer that appendicitis treatment is delayed. The risk is about 2% 36
hours after symptoms start. After that, the risk increases by about 5% every 12 hours.24

In the case of Faqira v. State25 The Court held that an attack by fists or by wooden end of scythe is not by
itself of such a nature as must in all probability cause death.

23
(What Does the Appendix Do? Anatomy, Function, Diseases (verywellhealth.com).
24
(https://www.healthline.com/health/ruptured-appendix)

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Thus, the case is not covered under any of the four clauses of murder.

5. NO CULPABLE HOMICIDE:

Section 299 IPC reads as:-

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

It is noteworthy to mention here neither the accused had knowledge nor intention. Therefore, the death is
not caused by the act of the accused.

LEGAL CAUSATION

It is a narrower and more subjective concept as compared to factual causation. Not every cause in fact can be
said to be the cause in law. It is more of an inquiry made by a lawman rather than a layman. The isolation of
a legal cause from amongst a possible multitude of factual causes is a process involving subjective common
sense rather than objectively measurable criteria. However, while attempting to assign criminal liability in
this manner, one must seek some form of abnormality or culpable behaviour.

Novus actus interveniens

The accused may avoid liability even if found factually caused the harm in two circumstances known as

Novus actus interveniens. First, some third party intervened between the defendant’s act and the result i.e.
voluntary intervention by 3rd party. And second, some events occurred between the accused’s conduct and
end result i.e. abnormal intervention or unforeseeable natural events.

The accused’s innocence in this case is attributed to the delay in reaching the hospital caused by traffic,
coupled with the absence of significant injury.

CLEAN HANDS DOCTRINE

The Clean Hands Doctrine is a legal principle that states that a person who has acted wrongly, either morally
or legally, cannot seek equitable relief for their own wrongdoing. The maxim does not come into play

25
Faqira v. State AIR 1955 All. 321
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“unless the depravity, the dirt in question on the hand, has an immediate and necessary relation to the equity
sued for.”

In the case at hand, the issue started because of the unreasonable demand of deceased wherein deceased,
Rupam Singh parked his car in front of the gate of the house of Abhay Raichand, the deceased, Rupam
Singh was sternly warned by Abhay Raichand not to park the car on that place as being already irritated by
the deceased, Rupam Singh. The deceased Rupam Singh refused to remove the car replying that it was not
Abhay Raichand's personal property and that the car will be removed after the function and departure of
guests.

Hence, it is submitted before this Hon’ble Court that since neither the knowledge, nor the intention is present
in the present case. It is in the light of justice that the accused be acquitted.

BURDEN OF PROOF:

In the legal realm, the presumption of innocence and burden of proof are fundamental concepts essential for
a fair legal system. These principles are pivotal in the Indian legal framework, ensuring justice is
administered fairly.

In a criminal case, the cardinal principle is that the accused is innocent till the guilt is proved beyond
reasonable doubt by the prosecution. The prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt is a rule
of caution laid down by the Courts of Law in respect of assessing the evidence in criminal cases. The general
burden of establishing the guilt of the accused is always on the prosecution and it never shifts. Even in
respect of the cases covered by Section 105 of the Indian Evidence Act, the prosecution is not absolved of its
duty of discharging the burden.

Lord Denning, J. in Miller v. Minister of Pensions26, while examining the degree of proof required in
criminal cases stated: "That degree is well-settled. It need not reach certainty but it must reach a high degree
of probability. Proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean proof beyond the shadow of a doubt. The law
would fail to protect the community if it admitted fanciful possibilities to deflect the course of justice.

The 'Burden of Proof' lies with the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.
In a place where there is a party and too many cars parked on the street, it's strange that no one noticed the
incident.

26
Miller v. Minister of Pensions, [1947] 2 All ER 373
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ISSUE II: WHETHER THE ACCUSED IS ENTITLED TO ANY EXCEPTIONS OR NOT?

It is most humbly submitted before this court that the accused is entitled to exception under section 300 of
Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The act of the accused falls under the following exceptions:

EXCEPTIONS –4

Exception 4.—Culpable homicide is not murder if it is committed without premeditation in a sudden fight in
the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel and without the offender's having taken undue advantage or acted
in a cruel or unusual manner. Explanation.—it is immaterial in such cases which party offers the provocation
or commits the first assault.

The fourth exception covers acts done in a sudden fight. This exception deals with a case of provocation not
covered by the first exception, after which its place would have been more appropriate. The exception is
founded upon the same principle for in both there is the absence of premeditation but while in the one case
there is the total deprivation of self- control; in this there is only that heat of passion which clouds men's
sober reason and urges them to deeds which they would not otherwise do.

In fact, the present exception deals with cases in which notwithstanding that a blow may have been struck, or
some provocation given in the origin of the dispute or in whatever way the quarrel may have originated, yet
the subsequent conduct of both parties puts them in respect of guilt upon an equal footing.

Where the accused gave a fatal blow without pre-meditation in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a
sudden quarrel and there is no evidence that the accused took any undue advantage or acted in a cruel or
unusual manner but merely gave single blow on the stomach of the deceased which proved fatal, and he did
not go on assaulting the deceased despite his falling down unconscious on the ground, and took him to the
hospital. It is contented before this court that the word “immediately” is used i.e. he immediately took the
deceased to the hospital which clearly shows that he did not act in a cruel manner and his act was not pre-
mediated.

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In State of Punjab v. Budh Prakash 27, the accused and the deceased exchanged a few hot words when the
accused caught the deceased by the neck, gave him a few fists and squeezed his neck. The death of the
deceased occurred in the sudden fight that ensued after the sudden quarrel. There was no premeditation. It
was held that Exception 4 to Sec. 300 was applicable.

28
The Supreme Court in Surinder Kumar v. Union Territory. Chandigarh held that in order to invoke
Exception 4 to Sec. 300 four requirements must be satisfied.

(a) it was a sudden fight.

(b) There is no pre-meditation the act was done, in a heat of passion, and

(c) The assailant had not taken any undue advantage or acted in a cruel manner.

As for the sudden quarrel, the court said, "The cause of the quarrel is not relevant nor is it relevant who
offered the provocation or started the assault".

Heat of passion requires that there must be no time for the passion to cool down and in this case the parties
have worked themselves into a fury on account of the verbal alteration in the beginning.

INGREDIENTS

This exception can be invoked if and only if death is caused-

(a) without premeditation,

(b) in a sudden fight,

(c) without the offender having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner, and

27
State of Punjab v. Budh Prakash A1.R. 1989 S.C. 1094.

28
Surinder Kumar v. Union Territory. Chandigarh AIR 1989 S.C. 1094
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(d) the fight must have been with the person killed.

1. Premeditation.

To constitute a premeditated killing, it is necessary that the accused should have reflected with a view to
determine whether he would kill or not: and that he should have determined to kill as the result of that
reflection: that is to say, the killing should be a pre-determined killing upon consideration and not a sudden
killing under the momentary excitement and impulse of passion upon provocation given at the time or so
recently before as not to allow time for reflection. 29

But in considering whether the exception is applicable to any given set of facts, the first test is not whether
the killing was premeditated or not. The test is whether the act of an accused which caused the deceased's
death was done without premeditation.

EVIDENCE OF PREMEDITATION

Premeditation may be established by direct or positive evidence or by circumstantial evidence.

In the matter at hand, it is vehemently asserted before this esteemed court that there exists no evidence to
substantiate any premeditated actions on the part of the accused. Contrary to the notion of premeditation, the
absence of weapon employment or specific targeting of vital areas of the deceased indicates a lack of intent
on behalf of the accused.

Furthermore, it is crucial to emphasize that the altercations leading to the unfortunate incident stemmed from
the parking dispute, wherein the deceased disregarded a stern warning issued by the accused. These
altercations were a consequence of the parking scenario, rather than indicative of any premeditated plan or
scheme by the accused.

2. Sudden Fight

29
Kirpal Singh v. State, A.I.R. 1951 Punj, 137 at p. 140.
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The most important element of this exception is that there should be a sudden fight. Fight, i.e. at least an
offer of violence on both sides.

The term "fight" occurred in Exception 4 to Sec. 300. I.P.C., is not defined in the Indian Penal Code. It takes
two to make a fight. In order to constitute a fight, it is necessary that blows should be exchanged, and it is
not necessary that weapons should be used. "Fight" postulates a bilateral transaction in which blows are ex-
changed.

If a person gives a blow to another, there will be a fight only if the other hits him back or at least he gets
ready and attempts to assault but none if he keeps quiet and does nothing. In that case it will be only a one-
sided attack and not a fight.

It is contented before this court that the sudden fight took place between the two as the factual matrix clearly
mention that “both started quarrelling and grabbed each other”
In Hans Raj Singh v. Emperor30, court held that a word or a gesture may be as provocative as a blow. The
word "fight" as used in this exception does not necessarily mean a fight with weapons A fight is "a combat
between two or more persons", whether with or without weapons. Exception 4 of Sec 300 covers only acts
done in a sudden fight.

The number of wounds caused during the occurrence is not a decisive factor but what is important is that
the occurrence must have been sudden and unpremeditated, and the offender must have acted in a fit of
anger.

In Amirthalinga Nadar v. State of Tamil Nadu31, Justice P.N.Bagwati, held that in a case of Sudden fight,
where the fatal blow was given as a part of the sudden fight that arose out of sudden quarrel between the
appellant’s party and deceased’s party, there is no scope for premeditation

In the case of Bhimanna v. State of Karnataka32Due to a dispute over pathway, there was a sudden quarrel
between the accused and the deceased. The accused stopped attacking as soon as the deceased fell down.
This is indicative of the fact that there was no intention to kill and there was no premeditation.

30
Hans Raj Singh v. Emperor, ALR. 1946 Lah. 41 at pp. 43, 46

31
Amirthalinga Nadar v. State of Tamil Nadu (1976) 2 SCC 195

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In Prabhakar Vithal Gholve v. State of Maharashtra33, it was a case of sudden fight without Premeditation.
There was no proof of motive and injuries were present in the body of the accused. When injury on the
appellant has also been proved there is sufficient material to infer the reasonable possibility of a grave and
sudden provocation. it can be safely inferred that there was no intention on the part of the accused persons to
cause death.

For the application of Exception 4, it is not sufficient to show that there was a sudden quarrel and that there
was no premeditation. It must further be shown that the offender has not taken undue advantage or acted in
a cruel or unusual manner. The expression "undue advantage" as used in the provision means "unfair
advantage".

The above position is highlighted in Sandhya Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra34”

Heat of Passion and Momentary Impulse:

It is contented that the altercation between the accused and the deceased resulted from
a momentary lapse of judgment in the heat of passion. This aligns with the
psychological theory that actions committed in the heat of the moment may not reflect
a premeditated intent.

Psychological Impact of Ego and Provocation:

It is contented that the accused's actions were influenced by provocation and wounded pride due to the
perceived insult at not being invited to the deceased's function. This aligns with criminology theories that
suggest ego and provocation can lead to impulsive actions without a calculated intent to cause harm.

In the present case, the accused's actions were not driven by a premeditated intent to cause death. The
altercation arose from a heated exchange over a trivial matter, suggesting a lack of clear intention to cause

32
Bhimanna v. State of Karnataka (2012) 9 SCC 650

33
Prabhakar Vithal Gholve v. State of Maharashtra, (2016) 12 SCC 490
34
Sandhya Jadhav v. State of Maharashtra (2006) 4 SCC 653)

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harm. The accused's mental state during the incident was influenced by the immediate provocation and the
impact on his ego, contributing to a momentary lapse in judgment.

Therefore, it is respectfully submitted that the circumstances of the altercation fall within the purview of
Exception 4 of Section 300 of the IPC. The accused's actions were not premeditated, and the altercation
occurred in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel, without any indication of undue advantage or cruelty.
As such, the accused should be entitled to the protections afforded by Exception 4, and the charges against
them should be evaluated accordingly.

ISSUE III: WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT WAS RIGHT IN CONVICTING THE ACCUSED
UNDER SECTION 326 OF I.P.C?

It is most humbly submitted before this Hon’ble Court that the trial court was erroneous in convicting the
accused under section 326 of the IPC as the ingredients of the section 326 are not fulfilled.

DEFINITION OF GRIEVOUS HURT

1. "Grievous hurt has been defined under section 320 of the Indian Penal Code which reads as under:-

Section 320 Grievous hurt. The following kinds of hurt only are designated as "grievous" :-

First-Emasculation.

Secondly- Permanent privation of the sight of either eye.

Thirdly Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear.

Fourthly- Privation of any member or joint.

Fifthly Destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint.

Sixthly Permanent disfiguration of the head or face.

Seventhly Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth.

Eighthly Any hurt which endangers life, or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of
twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits.

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SECTION 322. VOLUNTARILY CAUSING GRIEVOUS HURT-

Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause
is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said "voluntarily to cause grievous hurt."

Explanation. A person is not said voluntarily to cause grievous hurt except when he both causes grievous.
hurt and intends or knows himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt. But he is said voluntarily to cause
grievous hurt, if intending or knowing himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt of one kind, he actually
causes grievous hurt of another kind.

Essentials of Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt by Dangerous Weapons or Means: Section 32635

It is humbly submitted before this Hon'ble Court that to hold a person liable for punishment for committing
the offence under sec 326 Indian Penal Code, the following ingredients must be present. These are:

1. Accused must commit an act with the knowledge that he was likely to cause grievous hurt to the
victim.

2. He voluntarily caused it. No one forced him to do such an act.

3. He committed it by following means: by any instrument of stabbing, shooting or cutting: an


instrument, which if used as a weapon, can cause death of a person. by fire or any other heated
substance.by any poisonous or corrosive substance. by using any kind of explosive substances by
using substances which are hard to swallow or inhale by a human body.

It is humbly submitted before this Hon'ble Court that in order to prove a grievous injury it is necessary to
prove the intention to cause such injury, moreover the burden of proof lies on the prosecution to prove it
beyond reasonable doubt.

35
Whoever, except in the case provided for by section 335, voluntarily causes grievous hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or
cutting, or any instrument which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, or by means of fire or any heated substance, or by means
of any poison or any corrosive substance, or by means of any explosive substance, or by means of any substance which it is deleterious to the
human body to inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood, or by means of any animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life,....

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In the present case, the prosecution has failed to furnish any evidence indicative of the accused's intent to
inflict grievous injury upon the deceased. Despite the gravity of the charges levied against the accused, no
compelling evidence has been presented to establish a deliberate and premeditated intent to cause harm.
Given the absence of substantiated evidence demonstrating the accused's intent, it is incumbent upon this
Hon'ble Court to afford the accused the benefit of the doubt.

Intention or Knowledge

Intention to cause hurt, or knowledge that an act is likely to cause hurt, is the most decisive factor to decide
whether a person can be held guilty of voluntarily causing hurt.

The extent of injury that is actually caused is not relevant, but what is the intention with which the hurt was
caused is relevant. There may be cases where the act may even result in death. But, if the intention of the
accused as gathered from the surrounding background facts, was only to cause hurt, then the accused will be
punishable only under this section and not for murder

The following offences have been held to be one of causing only simple hurt, even though death occurred 36:

(i) Assault with hands and feet: deceased died. The cause of death was not known. It was held to be an
offence under section 323.

(ii) Stick blows on buttocks and thighs with the object of chastisement There was no intention or
apprehension of death.

iii) Several unarmed people beating a crop thief at night, resulting in his death. Conviction under section 323
was held proper.

36
Re Marana Goundan AIR 1941 mad 560

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(iv) A single blow with an open hand was given on the neck. This act was not followed by any other
violence. However, there was a fracture of the vertebrae and the victim died. It was held to be an offence
only under section 323.

(v) A victim was given a single kick in the abdomen. He died due to a fatty heart and enlarged liver. It was
held to be an offence of only causing simple hurt.

All the above-mentioned instances have been decided on the settled principle that a person must be punished
for the hurt he intended to cause or had knowledge that likely to be caused as a result of the act done by the
person. No one should be punished for the unfortunate and completely unforeseen result of the acts done.

The Act Cannot Be Considered as Voluntarily:

It is humbly submitted before this Hon'ble Court that the Explanation to Section 322 states that when a
person lacks intention while doing an act when he would not be considered to have voluntarily caused
grievous hurt. Moreover there is a well-established principle, "Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea,"
which, in the literal sense means, an act does not make an offender liable without a guilty mind. The
Intention or guilty mind (Mens Rea) of the offender is an integral part while committing a crime.

It is further submitted before this Hon'ble Court that the medico legal examination is silent about damage to
any vital part of the body.

In the present case, it is crucial to recognize that no grievous hurt was inflicted upon the deceased.
Furthermore, it is important to consider that the actions of the accused were not voluntary in nature but rather
provoked by the actions of the deceased.

Section 39 Indian Penal Code 1860 (IPC) defines “voluntarily”

A person is said to cause an effect “voluntarily” when he causes it by means whereby he intended to cause
it, or by means which, at the time of employing those means, he knew or had reason to believe to be likely to
cause it.

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In the case of State of U.P. v. Ram Sagar Yadav37, the Supreme Court held that the term “voluntarily”
implies the presence of a conscious and deliberate act on the part of the accused person. The court observed
that a person can be said to have acted voluntarily only when he had control over his actions and could have
chosen to act differently. The court further held that a person cannot be said to have acted voluntarily if he
had no control over his actions, or if his actions were caused by some external force or compulsion.

The courts have also held that the term “voluntarily” must be read in conjunction with other provisions of the
IPC to determine the mental state required for the commission of a particular offence.

The absence of grievous hurt coupled with the involuntary nature of the accused's actions, provoked by the
deceased, mitigates the severity of the offense. It is evident that the altercation between the accused and the
deceased was a result of the provocation by the latter, rather than a premeditated act of violence.

THE WORD ‘DANGEROUS WEAPON” DOES NOT INCLUDE FIST BLOW.

It is noteworthy to mention that the use of a dangerous weapon, which is often indicative of the intention,
was absent in this case. Moreover, the dangerous weapon does not include the fist blow. The absence of
such a weapon suggests that the accused's actions were not aimed at inflicting grievous injury, but rather
arose spontaneously in response to the provocation.

In Anwarul Haq v. State of U.P38. : The expression “any instrument, which used as a weapon of offence, is
likely to cause death” should be construed with reference to the nature of the instrument and not the manner
of its use. What has to be established by the prosecution is that the accused voluntarily caused hurt and that
such hurt was caused by means of an instrument referred to in this section.

13. The section prescribes a severer punishment where an offender voluntarily causes hurt by dangerous
weapon or other means stated in the section. The expression “any instrument which, used as a weapon of
offence, is likely to cause death” when read in the light of marginal note to Section 324 means dangerous
weapon which if used by the offender is likely to cause death.

37
State of U.P. v. Ram Sagar Yadav,1985 AIR 416
38
Anwarul Haq v. State of U.P, AIR 2005 SC 2382
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14. Authors of IPC observed, as noted below, the desirability for such severer punishment for the
following reasons:

“... Bodily hurt may be inflicted by means the use of which generally indicates great malignity. A blow with
the fist may cause as much pain, and produce as lasting an injury, as laceration with a knife, or branding
with a hot iron. But it will scarcely be disputed that, in the vast majority of cases, the offender who has used
a knife or a hot iron for the purpose of wreaking his hatred is a far worse and more dangerous member of a
society than who has only used his fist. It appears to us that many hurts which would not, according to our
classification, be designated as grievous ought yet, on account of the mode in which they are inflicted, to be
punished more severely than many grievous hurts.”

3. In State of U.P. v. Indrajeet Alias Sukhatha39, the Supreme Court of India held that "there is no such
thing as a regular or earmarked weapon for committing murder or for that matter a hurt.
Whether a particular article can per se cause any serious wound or grievous hurt or injury has to be
determined factually. At this juncture, it would be relevant to note that in some provisions e.g. Sections 324
and 326 expressions "dangerous weapon" is used. In some other more serious offences the expression used is
"deadly weapon" (e.g. Sections 397 and 398). The facts involved in a particular case, depending upon
various factors like size, sharpness, would throw light on the question whether the weapon was a dangerous
or deadly weapon or not. That would determine whether in the case Section 325 or Section 326 would be
applicable."

In the present case, it is pertinent to note that the altercation between the accused and the deceased involved
the use of a fist blow, which is commonly associated with spontaneous confrontations or sudden fights.
Unlike cases where weapons are employed, the use of a fist blow suggests a lack of premeditation or
deliberate intent to cause grievous harm.

In Mathai v. State of Kerala40, the Apex Court opined that the expression "any instrument which, used as a
weapon of offence, is likely to cause death" has to be gauged taking note of the heading of the section. What
would constitute a "dangerous weapon" would depend upon the facts of each case and no generalisation can
be made. In view of the judgments of Supreme Court in Anwarul Haq and Mathai (supra), it is clear that the

39
State of U.P. vs. Indrajeet Alias Sukhatha, 2000) (7) SCC 249
40
Mathai vs. State of Kerala, (2005) 3 SCC 260

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heading of Section 326 IPC is important. The heading talks about causing grievous hurt by dangerous
weapons or means. In view of the text and context, in which the words "any instrument" are employed in
Sec. 326, in my opinion, it cannot be treated as body part.

In Parahu v. State41, this Court opined that the instrument by virtue of its very nature should be such that
one could reasonably predicate that by its use as a weapon of offence, death would be probable. It was
something inherent in the instrument which rendered death probable.

The nature and gravity of injury alone is not sufficient to attract Sec. 326 unless it is shown that such
grievous hurt is by means of any instrument or weapon mentioned in the section. It is clear that as per
language employed in section 326 IPC, the body part cannot be treated as an instrument. An instrument has
to be an outside mean/weapon and cannot be a body part.

It is trite law that a penal provision must be construed strictly. Thus, as per the express language employed, It
is difficult to hold that the expression "any instrument" includes kick, fist or any other body part. Thus, no
fault can be found in the order of the court below, whereby the accused were exonerated from the offence
under section 326 IPC because, admittedly, in the incident no weapon/ instrument was used. 42

So, it is contented before this court that the word “fist” is not a deadly weapon, and the prosecution fails to
prove the guilt of the accused under this section as the ingredients are not fulfilled.

Furthermore, it is imperative to highlight that the erroneous judgment rendered by the court has resulted in a
gross miscarriage of justice. The misinterpretation of facts and failure to consider crucial evidence has led to
an unjust outcome that has far-reaching consequences. Such a miscarriage of justice not only undermines the
integrity of the legal system but also infringes upon the fundamental rights of the accused.

41
Parahu v. State, 1961 MPLJ SN 77
42
Kamla Bai v. Naresh, (2016) 160 AIC 50

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PRAYER

Wherefore in the radiance of the facts, issues raised, contentions progressed and authorities cited, the
counsel for the respondent modestly implores that the Hon’ble Court of may be pleased to:

1. Acquit Abhay Raichand of the offence punishable under Sections 326 of the Indian Penal Code,
1860.

AND/OR

Pass any such order, judgment, or direction that the Hon’ble Court deems fit in the best interests of
Justice, Equity and Good Conscience.

For this act of benevolence, the Counsels for the Respondent as in duty bound shall

forever pray.

ALL OF WHICH IS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED

COUNSEL FOR THE RESPONDENT

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