In other words, mere membership
of the unlawful assembly is sufficient and every
member of an unlawful assembly is vicariously
liable for the acts done by others either in the
prosecution of the common object of the unlawful
assembly or such which the members of the
unlawful assembly knew were likely to be
committed.”
Further, in Amerika Rai v. State of Bihar5 it was
observed as under: (SCC p. 682, para 13)
4 (2008) 16 SCC 73
5 (2011) 4 SCC 677
Crl. Appeal Nos. 1709-1710 of 2019 (@ SLP [Crl.
However, it is the settled law that an
overt act is not necessary on the part of a person who is a member of an
unlawful assembly to make him liable for the offences committed by others
(Yunis alias Kariya v. State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 2003 SC 539;
Amerika Rai v. State of Bihar AIR 2011 SC 1379).
In other words, mere membership of the unlawful
assembly is sufficient and every member of an unlawful
assembly is vicariously liable for the acts done by others either
in the prosecution of the common object of the unlawful
assembly or such which the members of the unlawful assembly
knew were likely to be committed.”
Further, in Amerika Rai v. State of Bihar14 it was observed as
under:
These conditions must be satisfied for making an accused vicariously liable for commission of offence under Section 149 IPC. Though for applicability of Section 149, there need not be a prior meeting of mind. Even mere presence in the unlawful assembly, with an active mind to achieve the common object, makes such a person vicariously liable for the act of the unlawful assembly. Reference Amerika Rai & others Vs. State of Bihar reported in 2011 (4) SCC 677, Dandu Jaggaraju Vs. State of A.P. reported in 2011 (9) SCC 3387, Ramchandran & others Vs. State of Kerala reported in 2011 (9) SCC 257.
Further, in Amerika Rai v. State of Bihar it was observed as
under: (SCC p. 682, para 13)
'13. The law of vicarious liability under Section 149
IPC is crystal clear that even the presence in the
unlawful assembly, but with an active mind, to achieve
the common object makes such a person vicariously
liable for the acts of the unlawful assembly.'
an active mind, to achieve the common object makes such a
person vicariously liable for the acts of the unlawful
assembly. [Amerika Rai vs State of Bihar, AIR 2011 SC
1379: (2011) 4 SCC 677: JT 2011 (5) SC 406: (2011) 2
SCALE 696].
11. In the context of the aforesaid contentions it has become necessary to
consider certain other allied questions. The first question in that regard is when
once the prosecution established the membership of an accused / convict in the
unlawful assembly whether the individual overt act also to be established by the
prosecution to bring culpability on him on the principle of constructive /
9
vicarious liability. According to us, no such burden can be fastened on the
prosecution in view of the phraseology under Section 149, I.P.C. Though there
are catena of decisions on that question we think it suffice to refer to the
decisions in Amerika Rai & Ors. Vs. State of Bihar (AIR 2011 SC 1379),
Surendra & Ors. Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (AIR 2012 SC 1743) and in
Yunis alias Kariya Vs. State of M.P. (AIR 2003 SC 539). In Amerika Rai’s
case (supra) this Court held that even the presence in an unlawful assembly,
with an active mind, to achieve the common object, would make a person
vicariously liable for the acts of the unlawful assembly. In Surendra’s case
(supra) this Court held that inference of common object has to be drawn from
the various factors such as the weapons with which the members were armed,
their movements, the acts of violence committed by them and the result.
In Amerika Rai's case (supra) this Court held that even
the presence in an unlawful assembly, with an active
mind, to achieve the common object, would make a
person vicariously liable for the acts of the unlawful
assembly.
Further, in Amerika Rai v. State of Bihar it was observed as under: (SCC p. 682, para 13) :-
"13. The law of vicarious liability under Section 149 IPC is crystal clear that even the presence in the unlawful assembly, but with an active mind, to achieve the common object makes such a person vicariously liable for the acts of the unlawful assembly."