STATE OF ORISSA vs BHAGABAN BARIK

The Supreme Court held that the High Court's acquittal was erroneous, causing a manifest miscarriage of justice. It clarified that under Section 79 IPC, a mistake of fact must be assessed in good faith, but in this case, the respondent acted with complete absence of good faith, as he intentionally struck the deceased with a lathi, resulting in death. The Court convicted the respondent under Section 304 Part II IPC, sentencing him to three years of rigorous imprisonment.