In Brief
A dispute over irrigation rights escalated into violence in a court building when the appellant drew his Kirpan and inflicted fatal stab wounds on two men during a sudden, unprovoked quarrel with multiple parties. The High Court convicted him of murder under Section 302 IPC. The Supreme Court held that the incident lacked premeditation, occurred in the heat of passion with mutual provocation, involved no undue advantage, and did not demonstrate cruel conduct. The Court applied Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC and reduced the conviction from murder to culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II IPC, imposing 10 years rigorous imprisonment instead of life imprisonment.
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