2. Hem Raj & Ors. vs. State of Haryana 2005 (2) LRC 36 SC that
when the evidence of alleged eyewitnesses raise serious doubts on
S.C. No. 50/2007 Page 26 of 42
State vs. Joginder @ Sushe & Ors. FIR No. 176/2006
the point of their presence at time of actual occurrence, unexplained
omission to examine independent witness would be assume
significance. Further it was held that being like time it was difficult for
the eye witnesses to see the assailants from a distance of 30 ft. or
more.
In the case of "Hem Raj Vs State of Haryana" AIR 2005 SC 2010, it has been
observed that :
"The fact that no independent witness though
available, was examined and not even an explanation was
sought to be given for not examining such witness is a
FIR No.73/11 State vs. Ram Vilas etc. 28/35
-: 29 :-
serious infirmity in the prosecution case. Amongst the
independent witnesses one who was very much in the know
of things from the beginning was not examined by the
prosecution. Nonexamination of independent witness by
itself may not given rise to adverse inference against the
prosecution. However, when the evidence of the alleged eye
witnesses raise serious doubts on the point of their presence
at the time of actual occurrence, the unexplained omission
to examine the independent witness would assume
significance."
12. We may first examine the contention of Mr. Hansaria that the trial
court and the High Court should not have relied on the evidence of
PW-1 and PW-2 who were interested witnesses and that the prosecution
should have examined the independent witnesses cited in the FIR,
namely, Sunder Lal Singh, Lakhpat Sonar and Shisuvir Narain, who as
per the FIR shouted at the appellants when they were firing at the
deceased. We have perused the decision of this Court in Hem Raj and
Others v. State of Haryana (supra) cited by Mr. Hansaria and we find
that in the aforesaid decision this Court has held that non-
examination of independent witnesses by itself may not give rise to
adverse inference against the prosecution, but when the evidence of
the alleged eyewitnesses raises serious doubts on the point of their
presence at the time of actual occurrence, the unexplained omission
to examine the independent witnesses would assume significance.
Hence, we will have to first consider whether the evidence of the
two eyewitnesses PW-1 and PW-2 raises serious doubts on the point of
their presence at the time of actual occurrence.
(80)In the case of "Hem Raj Vs State of Haryana" AIR 2005 SC 2010, it has
been observed that :
"The fact that no independent witness though
available, was examined and not even an
explanation was sought to be given for not
examining such witness is a serious infirmity in the
prosecution case.
23. The aforesaid observation of the Court is fortified by
following observations by the Hon'ble apex court in the case of
Hem Raj v. State of Haryana AIR 2005 SC 2110, it has been
observed that:
In light of the above-discussed discrep-
ancies in the testimony of PW-1, the same is a serious infirmity in the case of the
prosecution, Reliance in this regard is placed on Hem Raj & Ors. Vs. State of
Haryana 2005 AIR (SC) 2110:
20. Further, in the case of Hem Raj Vs. State of Haryana AIR 2005
FIR No. 355/2012 State Vs. Laxmi Page No. 7 of 10
SC 2110, it has been observed that:-