S. 300 IPC | Lacking Intention To Commit Murder Irrelevant If Bodily Injury Is Caused With Lethal Weapon, Likely To Cause Death : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of an individual for committing murder who, out of a scuffle, inflicted serious injury on vital parts of the deceased body with lethal weapons. Referring to clause of Section 300 IPC, the Court said lacking intention to commit murder is irrelevant, and the accused would still be held guilty for committing murder if he causes a bodily injury to the deceased as is likely to result in death in the ordinary course of nature. That the injury inflicted is sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of the nature.” The Court said once all the four ingredients are fulfilled then the offence would be deemed as murder. In Virsa Singh's case, it was held that the intention to cause death or the knowledge that the injury inflicted is sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature would not be relevant if it is proven that the accused intended to cause the specific bodily injury and injury was inflicted on the deceased. Thus, the Court held that the accused's argument that the incident was not premeditated was not supported with the fact that the accused had inflicted the injuries on the vital parts of the deceased body with a lethal weapon, sufficient to cause death in an ordinary course of nature.