HANUMAN PRASAD AND ORS. versus STATE OF RAJASTHAN

In these appeals, is to the judgment ofa learned Single Judge High Court at Jodhpur. Though the appellantswere by the trial Court, the High Court in appeal filed Rajasthan directed their conviction for offence Section 376(2)(g) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 'IPC') and each was sentenced to undergo 10 imprisonment and fine with default stipulation. 8 accused persons. Three of them who were trial Court namely, Dhruvendra Singh, Shivmuni Sushi! Kumar did not prefer any appeal before questioning their conviction. However, the Trial the present appellants and in appeal filed by acquittal was set aside.

p. 260, margin B

Background facts, as projected by the a nutshell, are as follows: On 6.10.1997 at about 4.10 p.m. the prosecutrix daughter of Nemchand (PW-4) lodged a report Kan Singh, Dy. SP, Raisingh Nagar District (PW-5) against 8 accused persons and one stating inter-alia that her father Nemchand employment of Indian Agriculture Farm and brothers and one elder sister. It was further stated that in the month of April, 1996 when she was house, accused persons encircled her and took the house of accused Shivmuni who was Chowkidar · she tried to make hue and cry she was beaten by them and A she was offered water and after drinking water she felt giddy and thereafter, she was raped by accused Dhruvendra Singh and rest accused persons were flirting with her and when s_he came to her senses they told her that what had happened and in case she would tell this incident to anybody, her brothers B · would be killed. Thereafter, she came to her house. It was further stated in the report that whenever she went to school, all accused persons used to take her to the house of accused appellant Shivmuni and all accused persons Nos.1 to 8 used to commit rape on her and this process remained continued C for many times. It was further stated in the report that when she was perturbed she was asked by her mother Panadevi (PW-3). Then she unfolded the whole story lb her mother a·nd then her o mother narrated the whole story to her husband Nemchand (PW-4). It was further stated in the report that thereafter they met Vinod Sachdeva, who told them that accused persons hailed from high family and if they were enjoying with her, let them do so and he further told them that he would arrange the E · marriage of the prosecutrix with accused Dhruvendra Singh. It was further stated in the report that to rule out pregnancy she was given tablets for preventing pregnancy and she was given Mala-D tablets also. -+ This report was sent by Kan Singh (PW-5) to Police Station Sri Vijyanagar, District Sri Ganganagar, where the case was registered and regular FIR Ex.P-10 was chalked out and investigation was conducted by Tajaram (PW-7) The High Court by the impugned judgment found that the _ G acquittal so far as the present appellants are concerned was not sustainable. II held that because of broad language of/ • Section 376(2)(g), the appellants were also liable to be convicted.

pp. 260–261, margin E

Learned counsel for the appellants submitted that Section 376(2)(g) has no application so far as the present appellants are concerned.

p. 262, margin A

In order to bring in application of Section 376(2)(g). common intention to commit rape is necessary and the evidence of the proseputrix in court clearly shows that the appellants did not have any intention to commit rape. In the statements recorded in terms of Sections 161 and 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short the 'Code') also, that was the position.

p. 262, margin A

Learned counsel for the respondent on the other hand submitted that a complete act is not necessary. Mere presence would be sufficient to bring in application of Section 376 IPC.

p. 262, margin C

A bare reading of the entire evidence of the prosecutrix goes to show that the appellants were not involved in the act of rape. There is also nothing on evidence to show that they shared common intention.

p. 262, margin D

The important expression to attract Section 376(2)(g) is 'common intention'. The essence of the liability in terms of Section 376 (2) is the existence of common intention. In animating the accused to do the criminal act in furtherance of such intention, the principles of Section 34 IPC have clear application. In order to bring in the concept of common intention it is to be established that there was simultaneously consensus of the minds of the persons participating in the act to bring about a particular result. Common intention is not the same or similar intention. It presupposes a prior meeting and prearranged plan. In other words, there must be a prior meeting of minds. It is not necessary that pre-consert in the sense of a distinct previous plan is necessary to be proved. The common intention to bring about a particular result may well develop on the spot as between a number of persons which has to be gauzed on the facts and circumstances of each case. A

pp. 262–263, margin E

In the instant case no evidence was led to show that the appellants had a common intention of committing rape on the victim. This aspect unfortunately has been lost sight of by the High Court though the Trial Court has elaborately dealt with this B aspect

p. 263

Above being the position the conviction as recorded by the High Court cannot stand and is set asic;fe. Appeals are allowed. Appellants are on bail. Their bail bonds shall st<;ind dis~a~ed. C N.J. Appeals allowed.

p. 263