BHAGIRATH vs STATE OF HARYANA

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellant Bhagirath under Section 302 IPC for the murder of Nihal Singh, reversing the Punjab and Haryana High Court's earlier acquittal. The Court emphasized the validity of the dying declaration made by the victim, which was recorded in the presence of a doctor and corroborated by eyewitnesses. The Court held that the prosecution had established the case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to a life sentence and a fine of Rs. 20,000, to be paid as compensation to the deceased's heirs.