In Brief
On 27 June 1996, a blast in a pharmaceutical factory at Gurgaon caused smoke to spread; 45 workers present panicked, resulting in a stampede that killed seven workers. The company directors were charged under Section 302 IPC (murder). The High Court altered the charge to Section 304A IPC (death by negligence) while quashing part of the FIR. The State appealed. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's charge alteration, holding it was justified at that stage. The Court noted the Sessions Judge retains full power under Section 216 Cr.P.C. to further amend charges based on trial evidence, and directed the trial be completed within one year."
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