It must be mentioned right at the outset that the Supreme Court most recently on October 22, 2019, in State of Madhya Pradesh vs Udham and others in Criminal Appeal No. 690 of 2014 has briefly explained the three tests to be applied while sentencing in a criminal case. It has laid down in no uncertain terms without mincing any words that,  The aspect of sentencing should not be taken for granted, as this part of Criminal Justice System has determinative impact on the society.  Very rightly so!

To start with, this latest, landmark and extremely laudable judgment authored by Justice NV Ramana for himself, Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar and Justice Ajay Rastogi sets the dice rolling by first and foremost stating in para 1 that,  The present appeal is directed by the appellant-State against the final order dated 06.11.2012, passed by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior Bench) in Criminal Appeal No. 659 of 2011, whereby the High Court partly allowed the appeal filed by the respondents-accused herein and reduced the sentence awarded by the Trial Court to the period already undergone for the offences under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code [hereinafter referred to as 'IPC'] read with Section 34 of IPC, and Section 452 of the IPC.

While presenting the prosecution version, it is then stated in para 2 that,  The prosecution case is that the complaint lodged a report on 15.04.2008 that at around 9 p.m., while he was sitting inside his house with three other people, the respondents-accused barged in, carrying weapons. More specifically, respondent nos. 1 and 3 were carrying axes, while respondent nos. 2 and 4 were carrying sticks. The respondents-accused asked the complainant why he had not kept his cow tied, and subsequently, on respondent no. 4's exhortation, the respondents-accused attacked the complainant and the others present at that time resulting in various injuries to them. Respondents-accused then allegedly threatened the complainant that if he did not keep his cow confined, he would be killed.

To put things in perspective, it is then elaborated upon in para 3 while putting across what the Trial Court ruled upon that,  The Trial Court tried the respondents-accused and ultimately convicted them for the offences under Section 326 read with Section 34 of IPC as well as the offence under Section 452 of IPC. The respondents-accused were sentenced to undergo 3 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 250/- (Rupees Two Hundred and Fifty Only) each for the offence under Section 326 read with Section 34 of IPC. They were further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 1 year with a further fine of Rs. 250/- (Rupees Two Hundred and Fifty Only) each for the offence under Section 452 of IPC. In case of default of payment of fine, they were to undergo further rigorous imprisonment for 6 months. All sentences were made to run concurrently by the Trial Court.

As a corollary, what follows next is illustrated in para 4 that,  Being aggrieved, the respondents-accused filed an appeal before the High Court, challenging only the quantum of sentence imposed on them by the Trial Court. Vide impugned order, the High Court partly allowed the appeal and reduced the sentence to the period of imprisonment already undergone by them, which was a period of 4 days, while enhancing the fine amount imposed upon them by Rs. 1500/- (Rupees One Thousand Five Hundred Only) each. The respondents-accused were directed to deposit the enhanced fine within a period of 30 days, failing which they were to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of 30 days.

As it turned out, para 5 then states that,  Aggrieved by the impugned order, the State has filed the present appeal challenging the order of the High Court reducing the sentence awarded to the respondents-accused. The learned counsel for the appellant-State submitted that the High Court erred in not considering the gravity of the offence and the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that the respondents-accused had undergone imprisonment of only 4 days.

Simply put, para 6 then enumerates that,  On the other hand, the learned counsel for the respondents-accused submitted that the High Court has correctly appreciated the facts and circumstances of the case in passing the impugned order, and therefore, the same does not merit any interference from this Court.

After hearing the learned counsel for the parties as mentioned in para 7, it is then envisaged in para 8 that,  At the outset, it is pertinent to note that the reasoning of the High Court, for passing the impugned order and partly allowing the appeals of the respondents-accused herein, is limited to one sentence. The High Court states in its order that looking to the nature of the offence, the fact that this is the first offence of the respondents and the period of sentence already undergone by them, it is passing the impugned order.

It would be of immense significance to note what is then stated so eloquently, elegantly and effectively in para 9 that,  At this stage the observations of this Court in Accused 'X' v. State of Maharashtra, (2019) 7 SCC 1, in which two of us were part of the Bench, with respect to sentencing in India are relevant here-

49. Sentencing is appropriate allocation of criminal sanctions, which is mostly given by the judicial branch. [Nicola Padfield, Rod Morgan and Mike Maguire,  Out of Court, Out of Sight? Criminal Sanctions and No Judicial Decision-making , The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (5th Edn.).] This process occurring at the end of a trial still has a large impact on the efficacy of a criminal justice system. It is established that sentencing is a socio-legal process, wherein a Judge finds an appropriate punishment for the accused considering factual circumstances and equities. In light of the fact that the legislature provided for discretion to the Judges to give punishment, it becomes important to exercise the same in a principled manner. We need to appreciate that a strict fixed punishment approach in sentencing cannot be acceptable, as the Judge needs to have sufficient discretion as well.

50. Before analysing this case, we need to address the issue of the impact of reasoning in the sentencing process. The reasoning of the trial court acts as a link between the general level of sentence for the offence committed and to the facts and circumstances. The trial court is obligated to give reasons for the imposition of sentence, as firstly, it is a fundamental principle of natural justice that the adjudicators must provide reasons for reaching the decision and secondly, the reasons assume more importance as the liberty of the accused is subject to the aforesaid reasoning. Further, the appellate court is better enabled to assess the correctness of the quantum of punishment challenged, if the trial court has justified the same with reasons...
(emphasis supplied) 

While pooh-poohing the manner followed by the High Court in sentencing the accused, it is then pointed out in para 10 that,  In the present case, it is clear that there is no detailed analysis of the facts of the case, the nature of the injuries caused, the weapons used, the number of victims, etc. given by the High Court in the impugned order. The High Court while sentencing the accused, has not taken into consideration the second charge proved against the respondents-accused herein, under Section 452 of IPC. Even the fact that the respondents-accused had only undergone sentence of 4 days at the time of passing of the impugned order, brings into question the High Court pointing to the same as a reason for reducing their sentence. As such, the order of the High Court merits interference by this Court.

While underscoring the invaluable importance of the sentencing policy, para 11 then postulates that,  We are of the opinion that a large number of cases are being filed before this Court, due to insufficient or wrong sentencing undertaken by the Courts below. We have time and again cautioned against the cavalier manner in which sentencing is dealt in certain cases. There is no gainsaying that the aspect of sentencing should not be taken for granted, as this part of Criminal Justice System has determinative impact on the society. In light of the same, we are of the opinion that we need to provide further clarity on the same. 

While continuing in the same vein, it is then very rightly articulated on sentencing policy in para 12 that,  Sentencing for crimes has to be analyzed on the touch stone of three tests viz., crime test, criminal test and comparative proportionality test. Crime test involves factors like extent of planning, choice of weapon, modus of crime, disposal modus (if any), role of the accused, anti-social or abhorrent character of the crime, state of victim. Criminal test involves assessment of factors such as age of the criminal, gender of the criminal, economic conditions or social background of the criminal, motivation for crime, availability of defense, state of mind, instigation by the deceased or any one from the deceased group, adequately represented in the trial, disagreement by a judge in the appeal process, repentance, possibility of reformation, prior criminal record (not to take pending cases) and any other relevant factor (not an exhaustive list).

Not stopping here, it is then stipulated in para 13 that,  Additionally, we may note that under the crime test, seriousness needs to be ascertained. The seriousness of the crime may be ascertained by:

1. bodily integrity of the victim;
2. loss of material support or amenity; and
3. privacy breach.

Of course, it is then rightly elaborated upon in para 14 that,  Coming to the appropriate sentence which is to be imposed on the respondents-accused in this case, the facts of this case need closer scrutiny. The respondents-accused entered the house of the complainant, attacked the others present with axes and with sticks. Four people, including the complainant, were injured. The injuries caused were incised wounds on the hands and backs of the victims, an incised wound next to the ear of one of the victims and bruising, etc. The respondents-accused were convicted for the offence under Section 326 read with Section 34 of IPC, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, or of imprisonment of a term which may extend to ten years, and fine. They were also convicted under Section 452 of IPC, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years along with fine.

It cannot be lost on us that it is then also rightly pointed out in para 15 that,  The respondents-accused herein were males of age 33 years, 33 years, 28 years and 70 years respectively at the time of the incident. The main allegation as against the respondent nos. 1 and 3 is that they had used an axe to attack the victim. In this scuffle there is no dispute that some of the respondent-accused herein were also injured profusely. Further the motivation seems to be that the cow belonging to the victims had entered the household of the accused and the respondent no. 1 with his co-accused are proved to be the aggressor herein. From the perusal of the record, the injuries on some of the victims are not specifically attributed. The respondent group was numerically matched with that of the victims and there were two respondents-accused within the group carrying lathis. The bodily integrity was compromised as a result of the injury caused, but there was no evidence led to indicate any permanent establishments of any part. The scope of intrusion of privacy due to the assault is also minimal. There was no material destruction involved in the crime. 

To put it succinctly, it is then observed in para 16 that,  In this context, we need to note that the facts of the case highlighted above, however, need to be balanced with the fact that this was the first offence committed by the respondents-accused and that the motive, which is stated to be trivial. There is a requirement to treat the crime committed herein differently than other objectionable situations such as police atrocities etc. [refer to Yashwant v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 2008 SC 4067]. Having regard to the fact that the occurrence of the crime is of the year 2008 and the respondents-accused have been, in a way, only ordered to undergo four days of jail term with a fine of Rs 1,500/-, we need to enhance the same to commensurate with the guilt of the respondents-accused.

Going ahead, it is then observed in para 17 that,  Comparatively, having perused certain precedents of this Court, we are of the considered opinion and accordingly direct that for the commission of the offence under Section 326 of IPC read with Section 34 of IPC, the respondent nos. 1, 2 and 3 are sentenced to serve rigorous imprisonment for 3 months and to pay a fine of Rs. 75,000/- (Rupees Seventy-Five Thousand Only) each within a period of 1 month, on default of payment of which they are to suffer simple imprisonment for 3 months. For the offence under Section 452 of IPC, the respondent nos. 1, 2 and 3 are sentenced to serve rigorous imprisonment for 3 months and to pay a fine of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand Only) each within a period of 1 month, on default of payment of which they are to suffer simple imprisonment for 3 months.

Furthermore, it is then held in para 18 that,  For the offence under Section 326 of IPC read with Section 34 of IPC, the respondent no. 4, who is presently aged around 80 years, is sentenced to serve rigorous imprisonment for 2 months and to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) within a period of 1 month, on default of payment of which he is to suffer simple imprisonment for 1 month. For the offence under Section 452 of IPC, respondent no. 4 is sentenced to serve rigorous imprisonment for 2 months and to pay a fine of Rs. 15,000/- (Rupees Fifteen Thousand Only) within a period of 1 month, on default of payment of which he is to suffer simple imprisonment for 1 month.

Coming to the last two paras, para 19 holds that,  The above sentences are to run concurrently. Further, the respondents are directed to be taken into custody forthwith, to serve out their remaining sentence, as imposed hereinabove.  Lastly, the last para 20 concludes by holding that,  Accordingly, the appeal is partly allowed and the impugned order of the High Court is modified in the afore-stated terms.

On a concluding note, it may well be said that it is a very key judgment from the sentencing perspective in criminal cases as it lays down the tests to be applied in such cases which we have already discussed quite elaborately in various paras stated above of this noteworthy judgment! The three-Judge Bench of Apex Court very rightly cautions the High Courts and all the other lower courts that the aspect of sentencing should not be taken for granted, as this part of Criminal Justice System has determinative impact on the society! So the Judges should weigh carefully all the various factors which can tilt the sentencing before arriving at any decision!

Sanjeev Sirohi, Advocate,
s/o Col BPS Sirohi, A 82, Defence Enclave,
Sardhana Road, Kankerkhera, Meerut – 250001, Uttar Pradesh.