Judgment

FAZAL ALI, J. - It is strange that supersititious beliefs should still persist in an age where science has made such progress and rationalism dominates over thinking. Yet we find a few stray cases where baseless and unfounded superstitions entertained by an educated person may lead to a family disaster. One such case forms the subject of this appeal filed in this Court after obtaining special leave.

2. The appellant Ashok Laxman Sohoni has been convicted under S.302. I.P.C. and sentenced to death, whereas another appellant Vijaya has been convicted under S.302/34, I.P.C. and sentenced to imprisonment for life. The facts of the present case lie within a narrow compass. Laxmans family was residing in House No.622. Ravivar Peth in the town of Nasik. Prabhakar Sohoni who was the grandfather of appellant No.1 had five sons, namely, Ram, Pandua, Laxman, Bharat and Raghunath. We are not concerned with the branches of Pandua, Bharat and Raghunath. The appellant Ashok was one of the sons of Laxman by his wife Prabhavati. Usha and Vijaya appellant No.2 were the daughters of Laxman and sisters of Ashok. Shyam was another son of Laxman. In the branch of Ram, we have P.W.1 Suresh who is