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It may be that such lapse is committed designedly or
because of negligence. Hence the prosecution evidence is
required to be examined dehors such omissions to find out
whether the said evidence is reliable or not
Further, it is to be borne in mind that criminal trial
is meant for doing justice to the accused, victim and the
society so that law and order is maintained. Hence, as
observed by this court in State of UP v. Anil Singh, (AIR
1988 SC 1998) it is necessary to remember that a Judge does
not preside over a criminal trial merely to see that no
innocent man is punished. A Judge also presides to see that
a guilty man does not escape. One is as important as the
other. Both are public duties which the Judge has to
perform. Hence, we would only state that it is unfortunate
state of affair that police officers resiled from their own
statements and deposed something contrary before the court.
Equally, it is unfortunate that investigating officer has
not stepped into the witness box without any justifiable
ground. But this conduct of the investigating officer or
other hostile witnesses cannot be a ground for discarding
the evidence of PW5 and PW7 whose presence on the spot is
established beyond reasonable doubt. They have suffered
injuries and their evidence is corroborated by medical
evidence. It is also in-conformity with what has been
stated in the FIR. In any case, investigating officer is
not at all material witness for the purpose of establishing
whether accused or the complainant party was the aggressor.
Not only that, accused have examined the defence witnesses
for establishing their say. Hence, non-examination of the
investigating officer cannot be a ground for holding that
injured witnesses should not be believed.