IPC – Common Intention 34
IPC – Sec. 34 Common Intention with important case laws
Section – 34.
Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention
- W/e Criminal act is done by several persons, Such act is done in furtherence of the common intention of all, Then each of them is liable in the same manner as if it was done by him alone
- This section is only a rule of evidence and does not create a substantive offence.
- It recognises the principle of Constructive vicarious liability in criminal jurisprudence.
- It lays down a principle of joint liability in the doing of a criminal act.
- It is not necessary that all such persons should be named and identified before the liability can be involed under this section. Killer Thiayagu v. State, AIR 2017 SC 612
Case Law
(Participation)
Mehbub shah v King – Emperor, AIR 1945 PC 148
Barendra Kumar Ghosh v King Emperor
Pandurang v State of Hyderabad, AIR 1955 CrLJ 572.
It is held that Common intention within the meaning of the section implies a pre – arranged plan, and to convict the accused of offence applying the section it should be proved that the criminal act was done in concert pursuant to the pre- arranged plan. There is a difference b/w common intention & common object.
Vijendra Singh V state of UP, AIR 2017 SC 860
Participation of several persons in some action with the common intention of committing a crime is an essential ingredient, once such participation is established, section 34 is at once attracted.
Virendra singh v state of MP, (2010) 8 SCC 407
The dominant feature of section 34 is the element of intention and participation in action. This participation need not in all cases be by physical presence.
Suresh Sakharam Nangare v state of Maharashtra, 2012 (9) scale 245, (2012) 9 SCC 249
if participation is proved and common intention is absent section 34 cannot be invoked.
Raju v state of Chhattisgarh, 2014 CrLJ 4425
If there is no evidence of having played any part in the crime and there is no evidence of the formation or sharing of any common intention with other accused it was not safe to Convict the Co – accused of the offence of murder with the aid of section 34 and 120B.
Common intention and mens res
Shyam Lal Ghosh v state of WB (2012) 7 SCC 646
It needs to be clarified that the courts must keep in mind the fine distinction between “common intention” on the one hand and “mens rea” as understood in criminal jurisprudence on the other, common intention is not alike or identical to mens rea. The latter may be coincidental with or collateral to the former but they are distinct and different.
Physical presence not Sine qua non
Shreekantiah Ramayya V state of Bombay,AIR 1955 SC 287
Physical presence at the very spot is not always necessary ingredient to attract the action. He need not be present in the actual room, he can, for instance, stand guard by a gate outside ready to warn his companions about any approach of danger or wait in a car on a nearby road ready to facilitate their escape.
Raj Kishor Purohit V state of Madhya Pradesh, AIR 2017 SC 3588
The absence of a any overt act of a assault, exhortation or possession of weapon cannot be singularly determinative of absence of common intention.
In furtherance of common intention
Parasa Raja Manikyala Rao V state of AP, (2003) 12 SC 306
It indicates some kind of aid or assistance proceeding an effect in future and that any act may be regarded as done in furtherance of the ultimate felony if it is a step intentionally taken for the purpose of effecting the felony. The Supreme Court has also construed the word “furtherence” as “advancement or promotion.
Common intention
Hanuman Prasad V state of Rajasthan, (2009) 1 SCC 507
Common intention does not mean similar intention of several persons. To constitute common intention it is necessary that the intention of each one of them be known to the rest of them and shared by them.
State of AP v Sobhan Babu, 2011 (3) scale 451
The common intention can be inferred from the circumstances of the case and that the intention can be gathered from the circumstances as they arise even during an incident.
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd v Datar Switchgerar Limited, (2010)10 SCC 479
In order to attract Section 34 of the IPC 1860 the complaint must prima facie reflect a common prior concert or planning among all the accused
Dev Cyrus Colabawala V state of Maharashtra, 2010 CrLJ 758 (Bom.)
In gang rape it is not necessary that the intention should exists from the beginning. it can be developed at the last minute before the commission of the offence.
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