The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has convicted two men in a murder case dating back to 1984, overturning their earlier acquittal after more than four decades. A division bench comprising Justices Rajneesh Kumar and Babita Rani allowed the state government's appeal on Monday, finding the accused guilty under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Court Orders Custody and Sentencing Hearing
The court directed that the two surviving accused be taken into custody and presented before it on May 11 to determine the quantum of sentence. The case originally involved four accused, all of whom were acquitted by a trial court in 1986 on grounds of self-defence. However, two of the accused died during the pendency of the appeal, leaving the remaining two to face the High Court's judgment.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on June 15, 1984, in the Maakhi police station area of Unnao district. According to the prosecution, the victim, Jamuna Prasad, was constructing a drain on the roof of his house when the accused—Tulsi Ram, Laxmi Narayan, Jagat Pal, and Harnam—objected, leading to a dispute. The argument escalated into violence, with the accused allegedly assaulting Jamuna Prasad and his brother Amrit Lal using sticks and spears. Jamuna Prasad succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital.
Trial Court's Decision Rejected
The trial court had earlier acquitted the accused, ruling that they acted in self-defence as they had also suffered injuries that the prosecution could not explain. The High Court rejected this argument, stating that taking a person's life over a minor issue like water drainage cannot be justified as self-defence. The bench described the trial court's findings as "completely flawed" in its order.
The case highlights the prolonged legal process and the eventual delivery of justice after decades. The High Court's decision underscores the principle that minor disputes do not warrant fatal violence, and self-defence claims must be scrutinized rigorously.
