In Brief
Eight accused persons were convicted of rioting (Section 147 IPC) and voluntarily causing hurt (Section 323 IPC) for assaulting a BJP worker on election day in 1989 to prevent him from distributing voter slips. The trial court and High Court affirmed the convictions. The Supreme Court upheld the convictions, holding that: evidence of injured eyewitnesses is highly reliable; an injury report is not essential to prove hurt if the witness testifies to bodily pain and hospital treatment; and every member of an unlawful assembly is liable for rioting even without personally using force. The Court emphasized that safeguarding free and fair elections and voting secrecy is fundamental to democracy and the Constitution's basic structure.
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