In Brief
On 24 February 2001, the appellant drove a government passenger bus in a negligent and rash manner, causing an accident near Korampallam on the Tuticorin–Tirunelveli Road that killed four persons and injured three. The appellant's defence was that he was not the driver and that an oncoming lorry caused the accident. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction under Sections 279, 337, and 304-A IPC, finding that five prosecution witnesses consistently identified him as the driver. The Court held that identity need not depend on formal parade when witnesses present at the scene positively identify the accused in court. It rejected the plea for reduced sentence, emphasizing that rash driving causing death requires proportionate, deterrent punishment to discourage such offences.
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