[2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 1266/2002 State of Rajasthan ----Appellant Versus 1. Jabbar Singh Son of Laxman Singh, R/o Lachipura, District Ajmer. (since died) 2. Shankar Singh Son of Prem Singh, R/o Rajorsi, District Ajmer. ----Accused/Respondents For Appellant(s) : Mr. Naresh Gupta, PP For Respondent(s) : Ms. Aradhna Swami, Adv. for Mr. K.A. Khan, Adv. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BHUWAN GOYAL Judgment 16/03/2026 (PER HON'BLE BHUWAN GOYAL, J.) 1. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd }kjk Fkkukf/kdkjh iqfyl Fkkuk vkn'kZ uxj] ftyk vtesj }kjk izsf"kr fjiksVZ e; e`R;q izek.k i= tCcj flag iq= y{e.k flag U;k;ky; esa izLrqr gksus ij mls vfHkys[k ij fy;k tkdj izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr la[;k&1 tCcj flag iq= y{e.k flag dh fnukad 10-09-2007 dks e`R;q gksus ls] mlds fo:) dk;Zokgh vcsV dh xbZ ,oa vc izLrqr vihy dk fu.kZ; izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr la[;k&2 'kadj flag dh gn rd fd;k tk jgk gSA 2. vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk gLrxr vihy varxZr /kkjk 378 ¼i½ & ¼iii½ n-iaz-la- ds rgr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky;& vij ftyk ,oa lS’ku U;k;k/kh’k] ¼QkLV Vªsd½] vtesj }kjk lS'ku izdj.k laaaaaaa[;k 35@2001 ¼65@2000½] muokuh izdj.k ljdkj cuke tCcj flag oxSjkg esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 01-02-2002] ftlds }kjk [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (2 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr tCcj flag dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 302] 201 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 201] 201@34 Hkk-na-la- ds vijk/kksa ls funksZ"k djkj fn;k tkdj nks"keqDr fd;k x;k gS] ds fo:) izLrqr dh xbZ gSA 3. çdj.k ds la{ksi esa rF; bl izdkj gSa fd ifjoknh eksgu flag ¼ih-M-&4½ us iqfyl Fkkuk vkn'kZ uxj] vtesj ij mifLFkr gksdj rgjhjh fjiksVZ ¼izn'kZ ih&33½ bl vk'k; dh is'k dh fd og xzke yPNhiqjk Msjk dk jgus okyk gSA fnukad 10-04-2000 dks mldk cMk HkkbZ ckcwflag tks VsyhQksu foHkkx esa ykbZueSu dk dke djrk gS] lqcg jkstkuk dh rjg viuh M~;wVh ij x;k Fkk] tks jkf= dks okil ugha vk;kA fnukad 11-04-2000 dks dkyw iq= yknw us le; lqcg 7-00 cts ?kj vkdj crk;k fd og vHkh vius dq,a ij ges'kk dh rjg x;k FkkA dq,a dh pkS[kV ds ikl ,d LdwVj dk Vk;j rFkk nks iSfdV ftuesa diMs gSa rFkk ,d isVªksy dh ihih rFkk nks&rhu rkys oxSjkg iMs fn[kk;h fn;sA mlus utnhd tkdj ns[kk rks Vk;j ij dkQh [kwu yxk gqvk Fkk rFkk dq,a esa ns[kk rks ckcwflag dh yk'k iMh fn[kk;h nh rFkk dq,a ls vkrs le; jkLrs esa [kwu ds NhaVs rFkk mnk iq= gkyw jkor ds [ksr dh lhao ds ikl ccwy ds dkaVs tyk;s gksuk rFkk ikl esa [kwu ds NhaVs nwj&nwj rd QSys gq, gSaA mlus ?kj ls jokuk gksdj ekSds ij vkdj ns[kk rks dkyw iq= yknw }kjk crk;h xbZ ckr lgh ikbZ xbZ] rc og o y{e.k flag nksuksa jokuk gksdj Fkkus vk;s rks gVwUMh esa ekyqekr djus ij irk pyk fd mlds HkkbZ ckcwflag dks muds iMkSlh tCcj flag us Bsds ij gehn mQZ pdyk ls 'kjkc fiykbZ rFkk nksuksa uklhj ds lkFk lhVh cl esa cSBdj ?kj ds fy, x;s FksA tCcj flag ls mudk 10 lky ls tehu dk >xMk py jgk gS] ftlus jkf= dks mlds HkkbZ ckcwflag dks 'kjkc fiykdj jkLrs esa ekj dj lcwr Nqikus ds fy, [kwu iMs LFkku ij dkaVs tyk dj yk'k dks dq,a esa Mky fn;k-------------bR;kfnA 4. mDr fjiksVZ ds vk/kkj ij iqfyl Fkkuk vkn'kZ uxj] vtesj esa izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k&59@2000] vUrxZr /kkjk 302] 201 Hkk-na-la- esa [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (3 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] ntZ dj vuqla/kku izkjEHk fd;k x;kA ckn vuqla/kku izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr tCcj flag ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 302] 201 Hkk-na-la- esa ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag ds fo:) vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 201 lifBr /kkjk 34 Hkk-na-l- esa vkjksi i= v/khuLFk U;k;ky; ds le{k izLrqr fd;k x;k] ftl ij fo}ku U;k;ky; }kjk izlaKku fy;k tkdj ekeyk ls'ku U;k;ky; }kjk fopkj.kh; gksus ls mls ls'ku U;k;ky; dks dfeV fd;k x;k] tgka ls gLrxr izdj.k fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; vij ftyk ,oa lS'ku U;k;k/kh'k] ¼QkLV Vªsd½ vtesj dks varfjr gksdj izkIr gqvkA 5. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us cgl pktZ lqudj izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr tCcj flag dks vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk 302] 201 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 201] 201@34 Hkk-na-la- esa n.Muh; vijk/kksa dk vkjksi fojfpr dj lquk;k o le>k;k rks vfHk;qDrx.k us vkjksi ls vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkgh] ftl ij vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls ekSf[kd lk{; esa xokgku ih-MCY;w-&1 yxk;r ih-MCY;w-&23 ds c;ku ys[kc) djok;s ,oa ekSf[kd lk{; ds leFkZu esa nLrkostkr izn'kZ ih&1 yxk;r izn'kZ ih&58 is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;s x;sA 6. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr~ vfHk;qDrx.k dks /kkjk 313 na-iz-la- ds rgr ijhf{kr fd;k x;k] ftlesa vfHk;qDrx.k us xokgku ds dFkuksa dks xyr gksuk dFku fd;k ,oa izfrj{kk lk{; is'k djuk pkgk rFkk ckn esa izfrj{kk lk{; ys[kc) ugha djok;h xbZ] fdUrq nLrkosth lk{; esa nLrkost izn'kZ Mh-&1 dks is'k dj iznf'kZr djok;k x;kA 7. fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk rRi'pkr mHk;i{kksa dks lquk tkdj vkykSP; fu.kZ; fnukad 01-02-2002 }kjk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr tCcj flag dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 302] 201 Hkk-na-la- ,oa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag dks vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 201] 201@34 Hkk-na-la- ds vkjksiksa ls nks"keqDr fd;k x;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj gLrxr vihy] vihykFkhZ&jktLFkku ljdkj }kjk mUgsa vkjksfir vijk/kkas esa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr djus gsrq izLrqr dh xbZ gSA [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (4 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] 8. fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd dk dFku gS fd i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; ls izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag }kjk e`rd ckcwflag dh yk'k dks lkekU; vk'k; ds vxzlj.k esa lgvfHk;qDr ds lkFk ys tkdj dq,a esa Mkyuk ,oa fQj ccwy ds dkaVs ?kVukLFky ij fc[kjs [kwu ij ,d= dj vkx yxkdj ckcwflag dh gR;k dh lk{; dk foyksiu djuk iw.kZr;k izekf.kr gqvk gS] fdUrq fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr lk{; dk lq{erk ,oa xgurk ls foospu fd, fcuk] mls vkjksfir vijk/kksa ls nks"keqDr djus esa xEHkhj ,oa fof/kd =qfV dkfjr dh gS] ftlls vkykSP; vkns'k fnukad 01-02-2002 fof/k lEer ugha gksus ls vikLr fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj Lohdkj djrs gq, izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr la[;k&2 'kadj flag dks vkjksfir vijk/k esaa nks"kfl) dj nf.Mr fd;k tkosA 9. fo}ku vf/koDrk izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr dk nkSjkus cgl ;g dFku gS fd izdj.k esa ?kVuk dk dksbZ p'enhn lk{kh ugha gS ,oa izLrqr fdlh Hkh xokg us izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr ds fo:) vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh iqf"V ugha dh gSA mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd izdj.k esa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr ls uk rks dksbZ cjkenxh gqbZ gS] uk gh mls ?kVuk ds fnu lgvfHk;qDr ds lkFk ns[kk x;k gSA mudk ;g Hkh dFku gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 01-02-2002 esa fdlh izdkj dh fof/kd ,oa rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa mDr vkns'k fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk i=koyh ij izLrqr lk{; dk xgurk o lw{erk ls fo'ys"k.k dj ikfjr fd;k x;k gS] tks iw.kZr;k fof/k lEer gSA vr% vihy] vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkosA 10. geus vihyh; i=koyh dk e; vfHkys[k lEekuiwoZd voyksdu fd;k rFkk mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij xaHkhjrkiwoZd euu fd;kA gLrxr izdj.k esa ?kVuk dk dksbZ p'enhn lk{kh ugha gksus ls izdj.k iw.kZr;k ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{; ij vk/kkfjr gSA 11. ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{; ds ekeyksa esa ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; us 'kjn fcjnhpUn lkjnk cuke egkjk"Vª jkT; AIR 1984 SC 1622 esa fdlh [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (5 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] vkjksih ds f[kykQ ekeys dks lkfcr djus gsrq fuEu ikap 'krksZa dk iwjk gksuk vko';d crk;k gS%& ¼1½ ftu ifjfLFkfr;ksa ls vijk/k dk fu"d"kZ fudkyk tkuk gS] mUgsa izdj.k esa iwjh rjg ls LFkkfir fd;k x;k gks( ¼2½ bl izdkj LFkkfir rF; dsoy vfHk;qDr ds vijk/k dh ifjdYiuk ds vuq:i gksus pkfg,( vFkkZr~ mUgsa fdlh vU; ifjdYiuk ij Li"Vhdj.k ugha fn;k tkuk pkfg,] flok; blds dh vfHk;qDr nks"kh gS( ¼3½ ifjfLFkfr;ka fu.kkZ;d i)fr ,oa izd`fr dh gksuh pkfg,( ¼4½ mUgsa fl) dh tkus okyh ifjdYiuk dks NksM+dj gj lEHkkfor ifjdYiuk dks ckgj dj nsuk pkfg,( ¼5½ lk{;ksa dh J`a[kyk bruh iw.kZ gksuh pkfg, fd vfHk;qDr dh csxqukgh ds vuq:i fu"d"kZ ds fy, dksbZ mfpr vk/kkj uk NwVs vkSj ;g n'kkZ;k tkos fd lHkh ekuoh; lEHkkoukvksa esa dk;Z vfHk;qDr }kjk fd;k x;k gksxk( 12. geus ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; ds mDr U;kf;d n`"Vkar esa izfrikfnr fl)kar ds ifjizs{; esa i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; dk lEekuiwoZd voyksdu fd;kA gLrxr izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k dk ;g dsl jgk gS fd fnukad 10@11-04-2000 dks fdlh le; lgvfHk;qDr tCcj flag us e`rd ckcwflag dks 'kjkc fiykdj mlds flj ij pksV igqapkdj mldh gR;k dh ,oa fQj mldh gR;k dks vkRegR;k dk :i nsus ds fy, izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag ds lg;ksx ls mlds 'ko dks dkyw ds dq,a esa Mky dj] ccwy ds dkaVs gR;k ds LFkku ij fc[kjs [kwu dks fNikus ds fy, ,d= dj] mUgsa tykdj gR;k ds lcwr u"V fd;sA 13. gLrxr izdj.k esa mDr vfHk;kstu dgkuh ds lanHkZ esa ;fn vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr lk{; dk voyksdu djsa rks izdj.k esa ?kVuk dk dksbZ p'enhn lk{kh ugha gS ,oa izdj.k iw.kZr;k ykLV lhu ds xokgku dh lk{; ij vk/kkfjr gSA e`rd ckcwflag ,oa lgvfHk;qDr [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (6 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] tCcj flag dks ?kVuk ds fnu lkFk ns[ks tkus ds lUnHkZ esa vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls xokg ih-M- 10 enu] ih-M-&11 dkyw ,oa ih-M-&12 gehn mQZ pdyk dks U;k;ky; esa izLrqr dj ijhf{kr djok;k x;k gS] fdUrq mDr rhuksa xokgku gh i{knzksgh ?kksf"kr gq, gSa ,oa mUgksaus vius&vius c;kuksa esa vfHk;kstu dgkuh dk leFkZu ugha fd;k gSA xokg ih-M-&10 enu us vius c;kuksa esa mlds }kjk e`rd ckcwflag o eqyfte tCcj flag dks flVh cl ls ,d lkFk mrjrs ,oa 'kjkc dk iOok ysdj okil cl esa cSBrs ugha ns[kuk] xokg ih-M-&11 dkyw us fnukad 10-04-2000 dks ckcwflag o tCcj flag dk mldh cl esa gVw.Mh ls ugha p<uk] xokg ih-M-&12 gehn mQZ pdyk us Hkh vius c;kuksa esa tCcj flag dk mlds Bsds ij ckcwflag dks ysdj ugha vkuk dFku fd;k x;k gS] ftlls ?kVuk ds fnu e`rd ckcwflag dk lgvfHk;qDr tCcj flag ds lkFk gehn mQZ pdyk ds Bsds ij tkuk ,oa ogka 'kjkc [kjhnuk] fQj iqu% enu dh nqdku ij 'kjkc [kjhnuk ,oa fQj lkFk&lkFk gVw.Mh ls cl esa tkus ckcr~ vfHk;kstu dgkuh dh iqf"V ugha gksus ls vfHk;kstu dgkuh izFken`"V;k gh lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikrh gSA 14. gLrxr izdj.k esa tgka rd izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag ds e`rd ckcwflag dh gR;k dh lk{; dk foyksiu djus esa lgvfHk;qDr tCcj flag dk lg;ksx djus dk iz'u gS rks bl lanHkZ esa Hkh i=koyh ij dksbZ p'enhn lk{kh izLrqr ugha gqvk gS] ;|fi vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls xokg ih-M-&9 lhek tks fd izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag dh iRuh gS] mls bl laca/k esa ijhf{kr djok;k x;k gS] fdUrq og i{knzksgh ?kksf"kr gqbZ gS ,oa mlus vius c;kuksa esa fnukad 10-04-2000 dks mlds HkkbZ tCcj flag dk mlds ?kj ugha vkuk ,oa mlds ifr 'kadj flag o mlds HkkbZ dh vkil esa ckrphr ugha gksuk dFku fd;k gSA izdj.k esa ;g Hkh mYys[kuh; gS fd izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag ls fdlh lkeku dh cjkenxh Hkh ugha gqbZ gSA 15. gLrxr izdj.k esa ;|fi izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag }kjk vuqla/kku ds nkSjku ?kVukLFky dh rLnhd tfj;s QnZ izn'kZ ih-&24 djuk [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (7 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] crk;k x;k gS] fdUrq mDr QnZ rLnhd dk;Zokgh Hkh fo'oluh; gksuk izdV ugha gksrk gS] D;ksafd uD'kk ekSdk izn'kZ ih-&6 ds voyksdu ls vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh dks mDr LFkku dh iwoZ esa tkudkjh gksuk izdV gksrk gSA bl lanHkZ esa vuqla/kku vf/kdkjh ih-M-&22 guqeku flag us viuh izfrijh{kk esa ;g Lohdkj Hkh fd;k gS fd mlus ekSds ls yk'k cjken dh Fkh] blfy, 'kadj flag ds fxj¶rkj gksus ls igys ?kVukLFky mlds /;ku esa Fkk] ftlls mDr QnZ rLnhd ?kVukLFky izn'kZ ih-&24 dh fo'oluh;rk ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikus ls gLrxr izdj.k esa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr ds fo:) iqu% vfHk;kstu dgkuh lansg ls ijs fl) ugha gks ikrh gSA 16. ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{; ds ekeyksa esa vfHk;kstu i{k dk ;g iqfur nkf;Ro gksrk gS fd og izdj.k esa vfHk;qDr dks vkjksfir vijk/k ls tksMus ds fy, mldh izR;sd dMh dks lansg ls ijs fl) djs ,oa mDr dfM+;ksa dh J`a[kyk bruh izcy] l?ku] iw.kZ o vfojke gks] ftlls ek= ;g fu"d"kZ fudys fd ekuo laHkkO;rkvksa dh lHkh n'kkvksa esa] vijk/k dsoy vkSj dsoy vfHk;qDr }kjk gh dkfjr fd;k x;k gS] ijUrq gLrxr izdj.k esa] i=koyh ij tks lk{; vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr dh xbZ gS] mlesa vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk izLrqr leLr dfM;ka VwVh gqbZ] fc[kjh gqbZ o vleku gS] tks gekjh fouez jk; esa izR;FkhZ&vfHk;qDr 'kadj flag dks vkjksfir vijk/k ls iw.kZ:i ls ugha tksMrh gSA 17. ekuuh; loksZPp U;k;ky; us Babu Sahebagouda Rudragoudar Vs. State of Karnataka reported in [(2024) 8 SCC 149] esa ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS fd:- “38. Further, in H.D. Sundara v. State of Karnataka, (2023) 9 SCC 581 this Court summarised the principles governing the exercise of appellate jurisdiction while dealing with an appeal against acquittal under Section 378 Cr.PC as follows: “8. xxx xxx xxx 8.1. The acquittal of the accused further strengthens the presumption of innocence; [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (8 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] 8.2. The appellate court, while hearing an appeal against acquittal, is entitled to re- appreciate the oral and documentary evidence; 8.3. The appellate court, while deciding an appeal against acquittal, after re-appreciating the evidence, is required to consider whether the view taken by the trial court is a possible view which could have been taken on the basis of the evidence on record; 8.4. If the view taken is a possible view, the appellate court cannot overturn the order of acquittal on the ground that another view was also possible; and 8.5. The appellate court can interfere with the order of acquittal only if it comes to a finding that the only conclusion which can be recorded on the basis of the evidence on record was that the guilt of the accused was proved beyond a reasonable doubt and no other conclusion was possible.” 39. Thus, it is beyond the pale of doubt that the scope of interference by an appellate court for reversing the judgment of acquittal recorded by the trial court in favour of the accused has to be exercised within the four corners of the following principles: (a) That the judgment of acquittal suffers from patent perversity; (b) That the same is based on a misreading/omission to consider material evidence on record; and (c) That no two reasonable views are possible and only the view consistent with the guilt of the accused is possible from the evidence available on record.” 18. ,sls esa i=koyh ij miyC/k lk{; rFkk mHk;i{kksa ds rdksZa ij euu ds i’pkr~ ge bl fu"d"kZ ij igqaps gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vk{ksfir vkns'k fnukad 01-02-2002 esa dksbZ fof/kd o rF;kRed =qfV ugha gS ,oa og iqf"V fd;s tkus ;ksX; gS ,oa vihy] vihykFkhZ&jktLFkku ljdkj [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA [2026:RJ-JP:10989-DB] (9 of 9) [CRLA-1266/2002] 19. ifj.kker% vihykFkhZ& jktLFkku ljdkj ds }kjk izLrqr ;g vihy ,rn~}kjk vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gS rFkk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; vij ftyk ,oa lS’ku U;k;k/kh’k] ¼QkLV Vªsd½] vtesj }kjk lS'ku izdj.k laaaaaaa[;k 35@2001 ¼65@2000½] muokuh izdj.k ljdkj cuke tCcj flag oxSjkg esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 01-02-2002 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA 20. bl fu.kZ; dh ,d izfr fopkj.k U;k;ky; dh i=koyh ds lkFk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks fHktokbZ tkosA (BHUWAN GOYAL),J (MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL),J AKSHAY KUMAR PAREEK /161