In Brief
On 2 July 1990, a dispute over illegal electricity tapping erupted into violence when Mangal Singh questioned Girdhari Lal. Sita Ram and others attacked Mangal Singh with hockey sticks and batons, causing fatal injuries. Sita Ram was convicted of murder under Section 302 IPC. The Supreme Court found the incident arose suddenly in heat of passion without premeditation, and the accused neither took undue advantage nor acted cruelly. The Court modified the conviction to culpable homicide (Section 304 Part II IPC) and reduced the sentence to eight years imprisonment.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.