In Brief
Rampratap was convicted by a trial court under Section 302 IPC (murder) for causing the death of Richhpal. The High Court reduced the conviction to Section 304 Part I IPC (culpable homicide) and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment. The Supreme Court examined the evidence and found that the incident arose from a stone-pelting confrontation where the deceased and witnesses initiated the stone throwing, injuring Rampratap's mother. Rampratap responded with lathi blows causing two injuries to the deceased's head. The Court held that while Rampratap had exceeded his right of self-defence, a 10-year sentence was too harsh given he had already served eight years. The sentence was reduced to the period already undergone.
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