206 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA HARJIT SINGH @ TONA STATE OF HARYANA CORAM: HON’BLE MR. Present: Mr. for the petitioner. Mr. Vikas Bhardwaj, AAG, Haryana. HARPREET SINGH BRAR 1. This revision dated 05.10.2010 which, judgment of conviction sentence dated Ambala, have been upheld, in case stemming from FIR No. 04.03.2000 registered under Sections Mullana and the petitioner was sentenced as under : Offence under Section(s) 323/34 IPC 326/34 IPC It was ordered that both sentences shall run concurrently. 2. Learned counsel for the assailing the impugned judgment of conviction IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH HARJIT SINGH @ TONA V/S HARYANA HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Mr. Manvinder Singh Sidhu, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Vikas Bhardwaj, AAG, Haryana. **** HARPREET SINGH BRAR, J. (ORAL) This revision petition has been preferred against the judgment 05.10.2010 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, judgment of conviction dated 03.08.2010 06.08.2010 passed by learned have been upheld, in case stemming from FIR No. registered under Sections 323/324/326/34 and the petitioner was sentenced as under : Offence under Section(s) Sentence RI for three months RI for one year with a fine of Rs.200/ in default of payment of fine, to further undergo RI for 10 days. was ordered that both sentences shall run concurrently. Learned counsel for the petitioner assailing the impugned judgment of conviction IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRR-2910-2010 Date of decision: 22.04.2025 ...PETITIONER ...RESPONDENT HARPREET SINGH BRAR Advocate Mr. Vikas Bhardwaj, AAG, Haryana. has been preferred against the judgment learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ambala, vide 03.08.2010 and order on quantum of learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, have been upheld, in case stemming from FIR No.38 dated 323/324/326/34 of IPC at Police Station and the petitioner was sentenced as under : Sentence I for three months RI for one year with a fine of Rs.200/- in default of payment of fine, to further undergo RI for 10 days. was ordered that both sentences shall run concurrently. petitioner contends that he is not assailing the impugned judgment of conviction dated 05.10.2010 on merits MANISHA 2025.04.23 14:20 I attest to the accuracy and authenticiy of this order/judgment CRR-2910-2010 and restricts his that of the sentence already undergone by the certificate, the petitioner has undergone of total sentence of involved in any other case. 3. Per contra petitioner as learned trial Court has passed a well correct appreciation of evidence available on record upheld by the learned lower Appellat any leniency. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record with their able assistance. 5. In Deo Narain Mandal v. State of UP (2004) 7 SCC 257 Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court has opined that awarding of sentence is not a mere formality in criminal cases. When a minimum and maximum term is prescribed by the statute with reg sentence, a discretionary element is vested in the Court. Background of each case, which includes factors like gravity of the offence, manner in which the offence is committed, age of the accused, should be considered while determining the quantum of sentence and this discretion is not to be used arbitrarily or whimsically. After assessing all relevant factors, proper sentence should be awarded bearing in mind the principle of proportionality to ensure the sentence is neither excessivel 6. Further, a two Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Ravada Sasikala v. State of AP AIR 2017 SC 1166 2010 2 prayer to modification of the order that of the sentence already undergone by the certificate, the petitioner has undergone a period of of total sentence of one year, awarded by learned trial Court and involved in any other case. Per contra, learned State counsel as learned trial Court has passed a well preciation of evidence available on record upheld by the learned lower Appellate Court and as such, I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record with their able assistance. Deo Narain Mandal v. State of UP (2004) 7 SCC 257 ench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court has opined that awarding of sentence is not a mere formality in criminal cases. When a minimum and maximum term is prescribed by the statute with reg sentence, a discretionary element is vested in the Court. Background of each case, which includes factors like gravity of the offence, manner in which the offence is committed, age of the accused, should be considered while the quantum of sentence and this discretion is not to be used arbitrarily or whimsically. After assessing all relevant factors, proper sentence should be awarded bearing in mind the principle of proportionality to ensure the sentence is neither excessively harsh nor does it come across as lenient. Further, a two Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Ravada Sasikala v. State of AP AIR 2017 SC 1166 prayer to modification of the order on quantum of sentence to that of the sentence already undergone by the petitioner. As per his custody period of 01 month and 03 days, out awarded by learned trial Court and is not State counsel opposes the prayer of the as learned trial Court has passed a well-reasoned judgment based on preciation of evidence available on record, which has also been Court and as such, he does not deserve I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the Deo Narain Mandal v. State of UP (2004) 7 SCC 257, a Three ench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court has opined that awarding of sentence is not a mere formality in criminal cases. When a minimum and maximum term is prescribed by the statute with regard to the period of sentence, a discretionary element is vested in the Court. Background of each case, which includes factors like gravity of the offence, manner in which the offence is committed, age of the accused, should be considered while the quantum of sentence and this discretion is not to be used arbitrarily or whimsically. After assessing all relevant factors, proper sentence should be awarded bearing in mind the principle of proportionality to ensure y harsh nor does it come across as lenient. Further, a two Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Ravada Sasikala v. State of AP AIR 2017 SC 1166, has reiterated that the MANISHA 2025.04.23 14:20 I attest to the accuracy and authenticiy of this order/judgment CRR-2910-2010 imposition of sentence also serves a social purpose as it acts as a deterre making the accused realise the damage caused not only to the victim but also to the society at large. The law in this regard is well settled that opportunities of reformation must be granted and such discretion is to be exercised by evaluating all at the crime, the manner in which the crime was committed and the conduct of the accused to strike a balance between the efficacy of law and the chances of reformation of the accused. 7. A perusal trial Court indicates no perversity in its findings and the same is based on correct appreciation of evidence available on record. petitioner was convicted under Sections minimum punishment has been prescribed. petitioner has not assailed the judgment of conviction on merits, rather he has restricted his prayer only qua 8. The FIR petitioner has been suffering the agony of Since his conviction, the desires to live a peaceful life. undergone a period of awarded by learned trial Court and 9. Since there is no minimum punishment prescribed u 323/326/34 of IPC, this Court is of the opinion that it would be in the interest of justice, if the sentence awarded to the petitioner is reduced to the period already undergone by him. 2010 3 imposition of sentence also serves a social purpose as it acts as a deterre making the accused realise the damage caused not only to the victim but also to the society at large. The law in this regard is well settled that opportunities of reformation must be granted and such discretion is to be exercised by evaluating all attending circumstances of each case by noticing the nature of the crime, the manner in which the crime was committed and the conduct of the accused to strike a balance between the efficacy of law and the chances of reformation of the accused. A perusal of the judgment of conviction passed by the learned trial Court indicates no perversity in its findings and the same is based on correct appreciation of evidence available on record. petitioner was convicted under Sections 323/326/34 minimum punishment has been prescribed. Moreover, has not assailed the judgment of conviction on merits, rather he has prayer only qua modification of quantum of sentence. The FIR in the present case was lodged on been suffering the agony of trial for the last conviction, the petitioner has grown into law to live a peaceful life. As per his custody certificate, the petitioner has undergone a period of 01 month and 03 days, out of total sentence of awarded by learned trial Court and he is not involved in any other case. Since there is no minimum punishment prescribed u of IPC, this Court is of the opinion that it would be in the interest of justice, if the sentence awarded to the petitioner is reduced to the period already undergone by him. imposition of sentence also serves a social purpose as it acts as a deterrent by making the accused realise the damage caused not only to the victim but also to the society at large. The law in this regard is well settled that opportunities of reformation must be granted and such discretion is to be exercised by tending circumstances of each case by noticing the nature of the crime, the manner in which the crime was committed and the conduct of the accused to strike a balance between the efficacy of law and the chances of of the judgment of conviction passed by the learned trial Court indicates no perversity in its findings and the same is based on correct appreciation of evidence available on record. It transpires that the 323/326/34 of IPC, for which no Moreover, learned counsel for the has not assailed the judgment of conviction on merits, rather he has quantum of sentence. in the present case was lodged on 04.03.2000 and the for the last more than 25 years. grown into law-abiding citizen and As per his custody certificate, the petitioner has days, out of total sentence of one year, he is not involved in any other case. Since there is no minimum punishment prescribed under Sections of IPC, this Court is of the opinion that it would be in the interest of justice, if the sentence awarded to the petitioner is reduced to the period MANISHA 2025.04.23 14:20 I attest to the accuracy and authenticiy of this order/judgment CRR-2910-2010 10. Consequently, the present judgment dated Ambala affirming the judgment of conviction is upheld, however, the order of sentence dated rigorous imprisonment for mechanism awarded to the already undergone by April 22, 2025 manisha (i) (ii) 2010 4 Consequently, the present petition judgment dated 05.10.2010 passed by the learned affirming the judgment of conviction is upheld, however, the order of 06.08.2010 is modified to the extent that the sentence of imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs. awarded to the petitioner is reduced to the period of sentence already undergone by him. (HARPREET SINGH BRAR Whether speaking/reasoned Whether reportable petition is disposed of and the passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, affirming the judgment of conviction is upheld, however, the order of is modified to the extent that the sentence of and a fine of Rs.200/- along with default petitioner is reduced to the period of sentence HARPREET SINGH BRAR) JUDGE Yes/No Yes/No MANISHA 2025.04.23 14:20 I attest to the accuracy and authenticiy of this order/judgment