MUHAMMAD JAVED vs ASGHAR ALI and another
This matter concerns a petition for leave to appeal against a judgment of the Lahore High Court, which had reduced the sentence of the respondent in a criminal case registered under Section 308 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The petitioner challenged the reduction of the sentence and the adequacy of the compensation awarded, citing the gravity of the injury inflicted by an iron bar. The High Court had exercised its discretion to reduce the sentence based on the respondent's tender age at the time of the occurrence and the specific circumstances of the case, despite the trial court's failure to formally record the respondent's age. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court's exercise of discretion was legally sound. The Supreme Court held that the High Court acted within its jurisdiction and that no principle of law had been violated. Consequently, the Court refused to grant leave to appeal, affirming that the sentencing decision was a matter of judicial discretion based on the facts and circumstances of the case.
- Does the High Court have the discretion to reduce a sentence based on the age of the accused when the trial court failed to record the age?
- Is the reduction of a sentence a matter of judicial discretion that warrants interference by the Supreme Court in the absence of a violation of law?
- Can the Supreme Court grant leave to appeal solely on the grounds of dissatisfaction with the quantum of sentence and compensation awarded by the High Court?
- Section 308, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
' SHAFIUR RAHMAN, J,--The petitioner, a complainant in a case registered under section 308, P.P.C.
Against the respondent on 12th of March, 1982 vide F.I.R. No,25 Police Station City Raiwind, Lahore, seeks leave to appeal against the judgment of the Lahore High Court, dated 25th of June, 1985 accepting a Criminal Revision Petition of the respondent and reducing his sentence on conviction under section 308, P.P.C. From three years to that already undergone by then and imposing a fine of Rs,500 which was to be paid as compensation to the petitioner.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner disputed only the reduction in the sentence and the award of compensation of Rs,500 which was in the circumstances considered by the petitioner to be paltry. In this context the learned counsel has drawn our attention to the gravity of the injury caused on the left parietal region by an iron bar.
3. The two reasons given by the learned Judge in the High Court while exercising the discretion in the matter of sentence were that the respondent was of a tender age, 16/17 years, at the time of the occurrence, and that the circumstances of the case justified it. The record does not give anywhere the approximate age of the respondent and the Court noted that there had been a failure on the part of the trial Court to have omitted to bring it on record. In the absence of anything to the contrary, the contention of the learned counsel for the respondent appearing in the High Court was taken to be correct and made the basis for the reduction in the sentence. The other reason relates to the facts of the case which need not be gone into.
4. We find that the High Court has exercised the jurisdiction possessed by it and no provision or principle of law has been violated. It was a matter of discretion relatable to the facts and circumstances of the case. It is not a fit case for grant of leave to appeal which is hereby refused.