In a poignant case from Jodhpur, the Rajasthan High Court has modified the conviction of Laxman Das, a 49-year-old cobbler, who was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his own son. The division bench of Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur and Justice Anuroop Singhi, in a judgment pronounced on October 3, 2025, held that the incident was not premeditated murder but a tragic act committed in a moment of instability.
Background
The case dates back to June 29, 2017, when Laxman Das allegedly struck his teenage son Nishant on the neck with a nawala a sharp tool used by cobblers while the boy was sleeping. The child was rushed to Goyal Hospital but succumbed to injuries after nearly 24 days of treatment.
The prosecution charged Laxman Das under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder. In 2019, the Jodhpur trial court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment “till the remainder of his natural life,” along with a fine of ₹50,000.
During the appeal, the defense, led by advocate Kaushal Sharma, argued that the act was a result of mental imbalance and extreme anger rather than an intention to kill. "No father, however disturbed, wishes to end his child’s life," Sharma told the bench, citing testimonies from family members that described the accused as short-tempered and mentally unstable.
Court's Observations
The bench carefully reviewed witness statements, including those of Laxman’s wife Jassi and daughter Mahima. Both had confirmed that the accused often quarreled with his family and sometimes beat them "for no reason at all." Still, there was no evidence of premeditation.
Justice Mathur, writing for the bench, noted,
"In ordinary circumstances, no parent would cause fatal injury to their children, howsoever frustrated or dejected he or she may be."
The judges also drew parallels with past Supreme Court rulings, particularly Gurmukh Singh vs. State of Haryana (2009), where a single fatal blow delivered in the heat of the moment was deemed culpable homicide, not murder.
"There was no repetition of the blow, no enmity, and no plan," the bench observed. It emphasized that while the act was undeniably violent, it lacked the deliberate intent necessary to sustain a murder conviction under Section 302 IPC.
Decision
Based on the evidence and precedents, the court decided to reduce the conviction from Section 302 (murder) to Section 304 Part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). Laxman Das will now serve seven years of rigorous imprisonment, with the ₹50,000 fine upheld.
The court also granted him the benefit under Section 428 of the Cr.P.C., meaning the time he has already spent in custody will count toward his total sentence.
The bench concluded succinctly,
"The accused-appellant, being of unstable mind and without premeditation, caused injury upon his son. His conviction is accordingly altered."
With that, the nearly eight-year-long legal battle over a father’s tragic lapse came to a quiet close inside Courtroom No. 2 of the Rajasthan High Court.
Case Title: Laxman Das vs. State of Rajasthan
Case Number: D.B. Criminal Appeal (DB) No. 274/2019
Date of Judgment: Pronounced on 03 October 2025
Advocates Appeared:
- For Appellant: Mr. Kaushal Sharma
- For Respondent (State): Mr. Rajesh Bhati, Public Prosecutor