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[Cites 17, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

State vs . Amit on 4 July, 2018

  IN THE COURT OF MM­08 (CENTRAL)/ TIS HAZARI
            COURTS COMPLEX, DELHI.

Presiding Officer: Dinesh Kumar, DJS.

IN THE MATTER OF : 
State Vs. Amit
FIR No. 60/2006
PS  : Hauz Qazi
U/s 279/304­A IPC & 115/194, 66/192 A MV Act. 
CNR No. DLCT02­000523­2006
Date of Institution           : 14.08.2006
Date of reserving of order    : 04.06.2018
Date of Judgment              : 04.07.2018

J U D G M E N T
    1. Serial No. of the case          : 294833/16
    2. Name of the Complainant         : Md. Laiq 
    3. Date of incident                : 13.02.2006
    4. Name of accused person          :
                Amit @ Amit Kumar S/o Atvir Singh
                 R/o Village Ajnara, PS Sikarpur,  
                   District Bulandshahar, U. P.
    5.   Offence complained of          : U/s 279/304­A IPC 
                                         & 115/194, 66/192 A 
                                          MV Act. 
    6. Offence for which charge
        has been framed                :  As above
    7. Plea of accused                 :  Not guilty
    8. Final Order                     :  Convicted
FIR No. 60/06          State Vs Amit            Page 1 of 25
PS Hauz Qazi
      Present:  Sh. Santosh Kumar, Ld. APP for the State.
                 Sh.D.K. Ahlawat, Ld. Counsel for the 
                 accused.
     BRIEF REASONS FOR ORDER:

1.

Mr. Amit, the accused herein, has been charged for   committing   offences   punishable   under   Section 279/304­A, Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) (hereinafter referred   to   as   "IPC")   and   Sections   3/181,   115/194   and Section 66/192 A, the Motor Vehicles Act . 

2. The   case   of   the   prosecution   is   that   on 13.02.2006,   at   about   7:45   p.m.,   complainant   Md.   Laiq, alongwith his son Md. Danish, was present near Nukkar Faras Khana. At the said date and time, the accused had been   driving   a   milk   tanker   bearing   registration   number UP­13D­5372 and he was coming from the side of Hauz Qazi in fast speed in "no entry" zone. All of a sudden, he had  turned  the   vehicle   and hit  the  complainant   and his son.   His   son   was   taken   to   the   hospital,   where   he   was declared brought dead. On the basis of complaint made by the complainant, the above­mentioned FIR was registered. The accused was also found not having  a valid permit of the vehicle. He was also found driving the vehicle in "no entry" zone.

FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 2 of 25

PS Hauz Qazi

3.   After completion of investigation 'final report' was filed by the Investigation Officer (IO) in the Court and the   accused   was   charge­sheeted   for   the   offences punishable under Section 279/304­A, Indian Penal Code & 115/194, 66/192 A MV Act.  

4. After   perusing   the   record,   cognizance   was taken by the Ld. Predecessor and summons were issued to the accused.   Accused appeared in the Court. Compliance of   Section   207,   Criminal   Procedure   Code,   1973 (hereinafter   referred   to   as   'Cr.P.C.)   was   done.   After hearing   the   parties,   notice   for   the   offences   punishable under   Section   279/304­A   IPC   and   Section  3/181, 115/194,   66/192­A,  the   Motor   Vehicles   Act,  was  served upon   the     accused   to   which   he   pleaded   not   guilty   and claimed trial.

5. The prosecution has examined as many as 15 witnesses to prove its case against the accused.

6. PW­1 Sh. Md. Laiq is the complainant. He  has deposed   that   on   13.02.2006,   he   alongwith   his   son   Md. Danish was going to his school Ludlow Castle. When they reached near nukkar Faras Khana, one milk tanker bearing no. UP­13D­5376 of Shazi Dairy, driven by the accused, came from the side of  Hauz Qazi at fast speed in "no entry zone". The accused negligently all of a sudden turned the FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 3 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi vehicle and hit them. Due to that his son fell down and sustained injury and become unconscious.   They stopped the   vehicle.   Many   public   persons   gathered   at   the   spot. Accused brought down from the vehicle.  He took his son to the Irwin hospital, where his son was declared brought dead.   Police   reached   in   the   hospital   and   recorded   his statement Ex.PW1/A. He has further deposed that he had shown the place of incident to the spot. Police prepared the site plan at his instance. Police seized the tanker vide seizure memo Ex.PW1/B. Police also arrested the accused in his presence vide memo Ex.PW1/C and conducted the personal search vide memo Ex.PW1/D. Police also seized DL of the accused vide memo Ex.PW1/E. Police also seized the RC of the offending vehicle vide  memo Ex.PW1/F. He had identified the dead body of his son in mortuary vide memo Ex.PW1/G and received the dead body of his son vide memo Ex.PW1/H.

7. PW­2   Smt.   Nuzahat   is  stated   to   be   an  eye witness.   She     has   deposed   that   on   13.02.2006   at   about 7:45 p.m. (sic), when she had gone to the local market to purchase vegetables, she saw that one truck had entered in no entry zone and hit one child. Father of the child took him to the hospital. Many public persons gathered at the FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 4 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi spot. They brought down the driver from the vehicle. She identified accused and offending truck in the Court. 

8. PW­3 Ms. Mumtaz Inayat is the owner of the offending   vehicle.   She   has   deposed   that   she   is   the registered owner of the vehicle bearing no. UP­13D­5376, which   is   Ex.P1.   She   had   got   the   same   released   on superdari from the court vide superdarinama Ex.PW3/A.

9. PW­4 Sh. Aftab Alam is also an eye witness. He has deposed that on 13.02.2006 at about 7:45 p.m,(sic) when he was going to take milk and when he reached near nukkad Faras Khana, he saw that one milk tanker bearing no. UP­13D­5376 coming from the side of Hauz Qazi Lal Kuan  had entered into  no entry zone and was coming at fast speed  and in rash and negligent manner and it hit the child, who was going alongwith one person. The said child fell unconscious. In the meantime, 15­20 persons gathered there and stopped the vehicle and pulled  accused from the tanker. He identified accused in the Court as driver of the offending vehicle Ex.P­1.  Somebody had called the police. One   SI  and  one   Constable   came  at   the   spot.  SI handed over   the   custody   of   accused   to   constable   and   went   to hospital.

FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 5 of 25

PS Hauz Qazi

10. PW­5 Md. Irfan had identified the dead body of deceased   Md.   Danish   in   JPN   mortuary   vide   memo   Ex. PW5/A. 

11. PW­6 Tahir Hussain is also an eye witness. He has also deposed similar to PW­2 and PW­4. 

12.   PW­7 Ct. Sudesh Kumar has deposed that on 13.02.2006, after receiving the PCR call regarding accident at Farashkhana, he alongwith SI Virsa Oren reached at the spot and he found that many public persons had gathered and   one   tanker   bearing   no.   UP13D­5376   was   also standing. Public persons had apprehended the accused as the driver of the offending vehicle. He was handed over to them.   They   came   to   know   that   injured   was   shifted   to hospital   by   his   father.     IO   handed   over   accused   in   the custody of him and went to hospital. At about 10:00 a.m, SI returned at the spot and gave him rukka for registration of case.   He went to PS and got registered the FIR and returned   at   the   spot   with   copy   of   FIR   and   rukka.   The tanker was seized vide memo Ex.PW1/B.

13. PW­8 HC Marie Rose is the Duty Officer. She has deposed that on 13.06.06, she received rukka brought by Ct.Sudesh sent by SI Birsa and on the basis of rukka, she registered FIR Ex. PW8/A. She also made endorsement on the rukka at point X to X1, Ex.PW8/B (OSR). 

FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 6 of 25

PS Hauz Qazi

14.  PW­9 Ct. Ajit Kumar is the police official.  He has   deposed   that   on   13.02.2006,   he   had   joined   the investigation  with  the  IO. IO seized the tanker. Accused was   arrested   and   personally   searched   vide   memo Ex.PW1/C and Ex.PW1/D respectively.  IO also seized the RC   of   the   vehicle   and   DL   vide   memos   Ex.PW1/E   and Ex.PW1/F. 

15.   PW­10   Dr.   Sunil   has   deposed   that   had   had conducted the postmortem of the dead body of deceased on   13.02.2006   and   given   his   detailed   reasons   of   death vide memo Ex. PW10/A.

16.  PW­11 Sh. Rakesh Kumar Jaon, Record Clerk, RTO   District   Bulandsahar,   UP   has   produced   the   record regarding the offending vehicle no. UP­13D­5376, which are Ex.PW11/A and PW11/B.

17.   PW­12   Sh.   Anil   Kumar,   LDC,   RTO   Office, Ghaziabad,   UP     has   produced   the   record   regarding   the permit  of offending vehicle  no. UP­13D­5376, which are Ex.PW12/A   and   PW12/C.   He   has   stated   as   per   record w.e.f.,   07.01.2006   to   14.02.2006   the   vehicle   was   not having any valid permit to run in Delhi. 

18.   PW­13   Sh.   Ram   Pravesh   Prasad, Superintendent,   Department   of   Publication,   Ministry   of Urban   Development   has   proved   the   gazette   notification FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 7 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi Ex.PW13/A.  

19.   PW­14   HC   Hempal   has   deposed   that   on 13.02.2006, he was working as DD writer. He has proved DD No.6A, which is Ex.14/A. 

20. PW­15   Mr.   Anil   Kr.   Harit,   Sr.   Clerk,   RTO Office,   Ghaziabad,   UP   has   brought   the   original   record related to National Permit of vehicle bearing registration no. UP­13D­5376, which was got renewed on 14.02.2006 and it was valid till 07.07.2006. The earlier permit of the vehicle had expired on 07.01.2006. 

21. The IO of the case had expired during the trial and therefore he was dropped from the list of witnesses. 

22. The   witnesses   were   cross   examined.   The accused   admitted   the  Mechanical   Inspection   report   of vehicle bearing no. UP­13D­5376, which is Ex. C­1, MLC No.14951 dated 13.02.2006 of Md. Danish is Ex. C­2, his postmortem report no. 129/06 dated 13.02.2006 is Ex. C­ 3, the death summery report is Ex. C­4.

23. The prosecution evidence was closed. Accused was examined under Section 313 Cr. P.C. r/w Section 281 Cr.   P.C.   The   accused   denied   the   incriminating   evidence against him. He would state that he was falsely implicated and that he had not committed any such crime.   He had not seen any boy on that day. He was caught by the public FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 8 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi persons. There was heavy traffic on the road and there was turn   of   Faras   Khana,   where   he   was   driving   the   vehicle. There was no occasion for him to drive the vehicle at high speed in such condition. No accident had happened with his vehicle. He was only caught by the public persons.  He was present at the dairy and the milk from the tanker was transferred in the dairy booth tank when he was caught by some   persons   who   had   stated   that     he   had   caused   the accident. However, he was falsely implicated. 

24. The accused did not lead any defence evidence. Therefore, matter was fixed for final arguments. 

25. Ld.   APP   for   the   State   would   argue   that   the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubts. The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses are sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubts that the accused had been  driving  the   offending vehicle  on  the  relevant  date, time and place. The testimonies of the witnesses have also proved   beyond   reasonable   doubts   that   the   accused   had been driving the offending vehicle at very high speed in rash or negligent manner and that he had hit the son of the complainant and   due to this he had sustained injury and finally died. It has also been proved that the accused had been driving the offending vehicle without having any valid driving license and that he was driving the vehicle in FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 9 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi no entry zone. Further, the vehicle did not have a valid permit at the relevant time.   Hence, the prosecution has proved all the ingredients of the offences punishable under Section 279 & 304­A, IPC and Section 3/181115/194 and 66/192­A MV Act, and the guilt of the accused  has been proved beyond reasonable doubts. Hence, it is prayed, the accused may be convicted.  

26. Ld. Defence counsel, on the other hand, would argue   that   the   prosecution   has   failed   to   prove   its   case against the accused beyond reasonable doubts. There are various contradictions in the testimonies of the witnesses of  the   prosecution.   None  of the  prosecution  witness has been   able   to   prove   that   the   accused   was   driving   the offending vehicle in rash or negligent manner. PW­1 is an interested   witness.   He   has   deposed   falsely   against   the accused   to   claim   monetary   compensation.   Other   public witnesses   have   also   deposed   in   his   favour   being   his neighbors.  The accused had been falsely  implicated. The site plan had not been proved. Mere driving at high speed can   not   be   considered   as   driving   rashly   or   negligently. Thus, reasonable doubts have been created on the story of the prosecution.  Hence, it is prayed, the benefit of doubts may be given to the accused and he may be acquitted.  

FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 10 of 25

PS Hauz Qazi

27. I   have   heard   the   rival   submissions   and carefully perused the material available on record.  

28. In   a   criminal   case   the   burden   is   on   the prosecution   to   prove   its   case   beyond   reasonable   doubts before the accused is asked to put his defence. It is for the prosecution to travel the entire distance from 'may have' to 'must   have'.   If   the   prosecution   case   appears   to   be improbable   or   lacks   credibility   the   benefit   of   doubt necessarily has to go to the accused

29. In   the   present   case,   the   accused   has   been charged   for   the   offences   punishable   under   Sections 279/304­A, IPC and Sections 3/18166/192­A and Section 115/194 MV Act. 

30.   Section   279,   IPC   prescribes   punishment   for rash   or   negligent   driving   or   riding   on   a   public  way.   To constitute   an   offence   under   Section   279,   IPC,   the prosecution has to establish that the accused was driving the vehicle on a public way and that he was driving it in rash or negligent manner so as to endanger human life or to be likely to be caused injury or hurt to any other person. The offence punishable under Section 304A,  IPC includes within its ambit the offence punishable under Section 279, IPC.  Section 304A, IPC reads as under:

FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 11 of 25
PS Hauz Qazi "whoever causes the death of any person by doing any   rash   or   negligent   act   not   amounting   to   the culpable   homicide,   shall   be   punished   with   the imprisonment   of   either   description   for   a   term which may extend to 2 years or with fine or with both".

31. In order to prove the guilt of the accused in the present   case   for   an   offence   punishable   under   Section 304A,  IPC,   the   prosecution is required to prove, beyond reasonable doubts, the following facts :­

1. the identity of the accused being the driver of the offending vehicle,

2. the accused was driving the offending vehicle at a public place;

3. the accused was driving the vehicle in such a manner so as to create an obvious and serious risk   of   causing  physical  injury   to  some  other person who might happen to be using the road or   of   doing   substantial   damages   to   the property;

4. in   driving   the   vehicle   in   that   manner   the accused   did   so   without   having   given   any thought to the possibility of there being such risk or, having recognized that there was some FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 12 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi risk involved, had nonetheless gone on to take it,

5. the rash and negligent driving resulted into the death of the deceased which is not amounting to the culpable homicide, and

6. the   rash   or   negligent   act   must   be   the proximate cause of injury of the injured.

32.  It is no more res integra that the mere fact that an accident had taken place and some person/s had been injured can not lead to a conclusion of rash or negligent driving. 

33. Before proceeding further, it would be relevant to   discuss   the   meaning   of   the   expressions   "rash"   and "negligent".   These   words  i.e   "rash"  and "negligent",  have not been defined in the Indian Penal Code. However as per Black's Law Dictionary, Eighth Edition the word 'Negligent' is characterized by a person's failure to exercise the degree of   care   that   someone   of   ordinary   prudence   would   have exercised in the same circumstances. The terminology of criminal   negligence   has   been   discussed   by   Hon'ble Supreme Court in the judgment entitled "S.N. Hussain v. State of Andhra Pradesh", AIR 1972 SC 685 as under :

34. "Criminal negligence on the other hand, is the gross and culpable neglect or failure to exercise that FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 13 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi reasonable and proper care and precaution to guard against injury either to the public generally or to an individual in particular, which, having regard to all the circumstance out of which the charge has arisen it was the imperative duty of the accused person to have adopted...   Culpable   negligence   lies   in   the   failure   to exercise reasonable and proper care and the extent of its   reasonableness   will   always   depend   upon   the circumstances of each case."

35. In the matter entitled Niranjan Singh Vs State (Delhi   Administration),   1997   Cri   LJ   336,   it   has   been observed that the main criteria for deciding whether the driving which lead to the accident was rash and negligent is not only speed of the offending vehicle but deliberate disregard to the obligations of its driver to drive with due care and attention and taking a risk indifferent to harmful consequences  resulting from it. In  Mahammed Aynudin V. state of A. P., AIR 2000 SC 2511, it has been held:

"Criminal negligence is the failure to exercise duty with reasonable and proper care and precaution for guarding against injury to the public generally or to any   individual   in   particular.   It   is   the   imperative duty   of   the   driver   of   the   vehicle   to   adopt   such reasonable and proper care and precaution".

36. Negligence is a tort as well as a crime and can be used for the purpose of fastening the defendant with the   liability   under   a   civil   law   and   at   times   under   the criminal law. To fasten the liability in a criminal law, the FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 14 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi degree   of   the   negligence   has   to   be   higher   than   that   of negligence to fasten the liability for damages in civil law.

37. In the present case, the case of the prosecution is that accused Amit had been driving the vehicle bearing no.   UP­13D­5376 on a public way at high Speed and in rash or negligent manner. Entry of the transport vehicles on the said road was restricted during those hours. While driving the said vehicle in such manner, the accused had hit the complainant PW­1 Md. Laiq and his son Danish and due to this his son had fallen   down on the road and he sustained injuries. He was admitted in the hospital where he was declared brought dead. 

38. Complainant   PW­1,   in   his   evidence,   has narrated the entire incident. The witness has categorically stated   that   the   accused   had   been   driving   the   abovesaid vehicle at fast speed in no entry zone. He has also stated that the vehicle all of a sudden  had taken a turn and hit him and his son. 

39. The   witness   has   been   cross­examined   by   the learned   counsel   for   accused.   However,   nothing contradictory has come in his cross­examination so as to doubt his testimony.

FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 15 of 25

PS Hauz Qazi

40. Similarly, PW­2  Smt. Nuzahat, who is a public person,  has also stated in  her examination  that  she had seen that one truck had entered into no entry zone and hit one   child.   Father   of   the   child   had   taken   the   child   to hospital.  She also identified the accused in the Court as driver   of   the   offending   vehicle.   She   also   identified     the offending vehicle in the Court. Nothing contradictory has come   in   her   cross­examination   also   so   as   to   doubt   her testimony. 

41. PW­4 Aftab Alam is also   an eye witness who has corroborated the testimonies of PWs 1 & 2. Similarly, PW­6   Tahir   Hussain   is   also   an   eye   witness.   These   two witnesses have also deposed that the offending vehicle had come at very high speed in no entry zone and the truck had hit the boy who was taken to the hospital. These two witnesses have also stated that the accused was driving the offending vehicle and he had entered into No entry zone at fast speed and hit the said child. Nothing contradictory has come in the cross­examination of these two witnesses also.

42. During   cross­examination,   the   suggestion   has been given to the witnesses, interalia,  that at the time of accident the vehicle was not at high speed and rickshaw and  public  persons were coming and going. It has been further  suggested  to  the  witnesses  that  the   accused  was FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 16 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi not driving the vehicle at the time of accident. However, the   testimonies   of   the   complainant   and   other   public persons   have   proved   beyond  reasonable   doubts   that   the accused was driving the offending vehicle at the relevant date,   time   and   place.   Thus   the   identity   of   the   accused being   the   driver   of   the   offending   vehicle   has   been established   beyond   reasonable   doubts.   It   has   also   been established   beyond   reasonable   doubts   that   the   accused was driving the offending vehicle at a public place. There is nothing on Court record to show that the public persons examined   by   the   prosecution   were   neighbors   of   the complainant   and   they   were   associated   with   the complainant in any manner. Therefore, no doubt could be raised on their testimonies. 

43. The   testimony   of   the   complainant   and   other public   witnesses   have   also   proved   that   the   accused   was driving the offending vehicle at high speed on a public way at 7 :45 a.m., on 13.02.2006. The month of February in Delhi   has   shorter   days   and   longer   nights.   During   that month in Delhi, the time of sun rise is after 7 : 00 a.m. Thus time of 7 :45 a.m, is early time immediately after the sun rise. Further, it is not a time of rush hour of traffic. Markets   in   Delhi   are   not   opened   during   that   time.   The office going traffic is also not present on the road during FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 17 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi that time period.  Therefore, it is hard to believe that there was   heavy   traffic   on  the  road   at  the  relevant  time.  The burden was on the accused to prove the facts asserted by him that there was heavy traffic on the road. However, the accused has not led any evidence to prove that there was heavy traffic on the road due to which it was not possible to drive the offending vehicle at high speed. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary and in the circumstance mentioned herein above, I hold that the prosecution has proved   beyond   reasonable   doubts   that   the   accused   had been driving the offending vehicle at high speed. 

44. The   prosecution   has   relied   upon   the   Gazette notification   Ex.PW13/A   to   show   that   it   was   a   no   entry restriction on the said road during 24 hours of day. As per notification dated 11.02.2000, the road on Hauz Qazi area is having no entry restriction during 24 hours a day for heavy   goods   vehicle   and   medium   goods   vehicles.     The offending vehicle is a tanker having gross weight of 12000 Kgs. Section 2 (16) of the Motor Vehicles Act provides the definition   of   heavy   goods   vehicle.   It   provides   that   any goods   carriage   the   gross   vehicle   weight   of   which,   or   a tractor   or   a   road   roller   the   unladen   weight   of   which, exceeds 12000 Kgs is a heavy goods vehicle. Section 2 (21) of the Act defines light motor vehicle as a transport vehicle FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 18 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi or Omnibus the gross vehicle weight of either of which or a motor car or a tractor or road roller the unladen weight of any of which does not exceeds 7500 Kgs. Section 2 (23) of the Act provides the definition of Medium goods vehicle as any goods carriage other than a light motor vehicle or a heavy   goods   vehicle.   Thus,   in   the   present   case     the offending   vehicle   was,   without   any   doubts,     was   a medium  goods   vehicle.  Hence,  entry  of  this  vehicle   was restricted on the road in question for 24 hours on every day. The accused has not produced any permission from the concerned authority to drive the offending vehicle in no entry zone. Hence, the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubts that the accused had been driving the offending vehicle in no entry zone. 

45. It   has   come   in   the   testimony   of   PW­1   that while driving the offending vehicle the accused had taken a turn all of a sudden and hit the vehicle against him and his son. Thus, it has been established beyond reasonable doubts   that   the   accused   had   been   driving  the  offending vehicle on a public way at a high speed in no entry zone and   at   such   speed   he   had   taken   a   turn   and   hit   the complainant and his son. No doubt driving of a vehicle at high speed in itself does not amount to driving the vehicle in rash or negligent manner. However, as the evidence in FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 19 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi the  present  case  would show, the  accused was not only driving the vehicle at high speed, he had also taken a turn at   high   speed.   This   act   of   the   accused   proves   beyond reasonable doubts that he was rash or negligent. There is duty   of   a   driver   to   slow   down   the   speed   of   his   vehicle during taking turn as there are chances that there might be some obstacles after the turn and there might be persons also who could not see the vehicle as it was on another road.   It   is   not   possible   to   any   human   being   to   see   the presence of a vehicle on a road which is not visible to him. However, the driver of the vehicle can always insure that no accident is taken place if he follows the rule of common sense  that  he  has  to take  a turn at  slow speed. In  such circumstances, it is the duty of the driver of a vehicle to slow the speed of his vehicle, to give an indicator and only thereafter to take a turn so as to avoid any collusion. In the present case, however, the accused did not slow down his vehicle while taking turn due to which the accident had happened. 

46. One of the argument of learned counsel for the accused   is   that   the   site   plan   has   not   been   proved   and therefore there are reasonable doubts on the case of the prosecution.

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PS Hauz Qazi

47. I have considered the submissions. Perusal of record   would   show   that   the   site   plan   is   shown   to   be prepared by the IO. However, the IO had expired before he could have been examined as a witness in the present case. I am of the considered opinion that non exhibition of the site plan can not be a ground of acquittal of the accused. Even though site plan has not been proved by any witness, however,   the   testimonies   of   the   eye   witnesses   are sufficient to prove that the accused had taken a turn   at high speed and hit the victim. Site plan is not a substantive piece of evidence. A site plan is prepared only to explain the   circumstances   of   the   spot   in   question.   Once   the testimonies   of   the   eye   witnesses   have   proved   the circumstances of the spot without any reasonable doubts, the fact that site plan could not be proved can not come to the   rescue   of   the   accused.   I   get   strength   from   the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Prithvi Vs. Mamraj (2004) 13 SCC 279. Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in said case has held that site plan is not a ground to   disbelieve   the   otherwise   credible   testimony   of   eye witnesses. 

48. It   has   also   come   on   record   that   the   accused had   been   driving   the   offending   vehicle   without   having valid   driving   license   required   to   drive   a   medium   goods FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 21 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi vehicle. The driving license seized by the IO is on record, which  was  seized  vide memo Ex. PW1/E. Perusal of DL would   show  that   it   is valid  to  drive  motorcycle  and  car only. Thus, it has been proved beyond reasonable doubts that the accused did not have any valid driving license to drive a transport/goods vehicle. Even though there is no presumption   in   law   that   a   person   who   does   not   have driving license necessarily does not know driving vehicles. However, in the present case the offending vehicle was a medium goods vehicle. The drivers of such vehicles require special training and skills to drive safely such vehicles. In the present case the accused had not brought on record any   material   to   show,   even   on   the   preponderance   of probabilities, that he had been driving such a vehicle for a long time and therefore he was having necessary skills to drive such a vehicle on a public way.

49. In   the   present   case   also   thus,   it   has   been proved   beyond   reasonable   doubt   that     the   accused   was driving the offending vehicle i.e., a medium goods vehicle on   a   public   way   without   having   necessary   training   and skills   required   to   drive   such   a   vehicle   and   that   he   had taken   a   turn   at   high   speed   without   having   given   any thought   to   the   possibility   of   their   being   any   risk   of presence of any person on the road after taking the turn.

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PS Hauz Qazi Thus, it has been proved beyond reasonable doubts that the accident had been caused by rash or negligent driving of the accused at a public place and his rash or negligent act had resulted into injuries to victim Danish. 

50. It has been proved on record that victim child was   declared   brought   dead   in   the   hospital.   The postmortem report is Ex. C­3. The cause of death is "due to hemorrhage   and   shock   consequent   upon   blunt   force surface impact to abdomen and pelvis. All the injuries are shown   to   be   ante­mortem   and   recent   which   could   be possible   in   a  road   side   vehicular   accident".   The   MLC  of Md.   Danish   is   Ex.   C­2.    The   identification   memo  of  the dead body is Ex. PW5/A. All the abovementioned material on Court record has proved beyond reasonable doubts that the   child   had   died   due   to   injuries   caused   to   him   in accident as abovementioned and that the rash or negligent act of the accused was the proximate cause of injury of the child (since deceased). 

51. The   prosecution   has   also   proved   beyond reasonable doubts that the permit of the offending vehicle was   not   valid   on   the   date   of   the   accident.   PW­12     had brought the record relating to the permit of the offending vehicle.   As   per   the   record,   it   has   been   shown   that   the during   the   period   w.e.f.,   07.01.2006   to   14.02.2006   the FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 23 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi offending vehicle did not have any valid permit to run in Delhi.   Thus,   on   the  date  of incident   i.e., on   13.02.2006 there was no valid permit of the offending vehicle. Hence, it   has   been   proved   beyond   reasonable   doubt   that   the accused  had  been   driving the  offending  vehicle  in  Delhi without having a valid permit as required under Section 66 of the MV Act.   Section 192­A of the Act provides the punishment for using a vehicle without having any permit. Similarly, it has been proved that the accused was driving the   offending   vehicle   without   valid   driving   license   as provided   under   Section   3   of   the   Act.   Driving   a   vehicle without   having   a   valid   driving   license   is   an   offence punishment for which is provided under Section 181 of the Act.  Further,  it  has also been proved beyond reasonable doubts   that   the   accused   had   been   driving  the  offending vehicle   in   violation   of   notification   issued   by   State Government under Section 115 of the Act, which is offence punishable under Section 194 of the Act. 

52. In   the   light   of   the   discussions   hereinabove,  I hold that the prosecution has proved all the ingredients of offences punishable under Section 279/304­A, IPC, beyond reasonable   doubts.    The   prosecution   has  also  proved  all the ingredients of the offences punishable under Section 3/18166/192­A and 115/194, the MV Act. The guilt of FIR No. 60/06 State Vs Amit Page 24 of 25 PS Hauz Qazi the  accused has  been proved beyond reasonable  doubts. Therefore,  accused   Amit   @   Amit   Kumar   is   found   guilty and he is accordingly convicted for commission of offences punishable   under   Sections   279/304­A,  IPC   and  under Section 3/18166/192­A and 115/194, the MV Act.

53. The   Convict   be   heard   separately   on   the quantum of sentence.

54. Copy   of   the   judgment   be   supplied   to   the convict free of cost. Digitally signed by DINESH DINESH KUMAR KUMAR Date:

2018.07.04 16:21:28 +0530 Pronounced in the open Court on       Dinesh Kumar this 4th day of July, 2018.            MM­08 (Central)           Tis Hazari Courts,      Delhi.
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PS Hauz Qazi