In Brief
A bus driver's conviction for causing a motor vehicle accident (under IPC Sections 279, 337, 338) remained undisturbed after 26 years, but the Supreme Court modified his sentence. While the underlying conviction was sound, the Court substituted the six-month imprisonment imposed under Sections 279 and 338 with fines of Rs. 1,000 each, citing the substantial delay in implementation and hardship to the appellant as sole family breadwinner. The fine under Section 337 was maintained. This reflects the principle that justice delayed warrants proportionate remedies where custody becomes inequitable after prolonged interim freedom."
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