HEM RAJ vs STATE OF PUNJAB

The Supreme Court, under Section 379 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Section 2(a) of the Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 1970, upheld the High Court's conviction of Hem Raj under Section 302 IPC and Gian Chand and Baldev Raj under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Court found sufficient evidence of premeditated murder, rejecting the acquittal of the trial court. The Court also confirmed the sentences for lesser charges under Sections 323/34 and 324/34 IPC, while acquitting one accused under Section 120B IPC.