RAM BILAS SINGH & ORS. vs THE STATE OF BIHAR

The Supreme Court ruled that under Section 149 IPC, an accused cannot be held liable for the acts of an acquitted person, emphasizing that the existence of an unlawful assembly must be established with evidence. The Court clarified that it is permissible to convict fewer than five individuals for unlawful assembly if the charge indicates the presence of unidentified members with a common unlawful objective. The High Court's failure to adequately assess evidence led to the conclusion that the appellants could not be convicted under Section 149 IPC for the actions of others, resulting in their acquittal.