State of Himachal Pradesh vs Chaman Lal

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2026 Supreme(SC) 71

B. V. NAGARATHNA, R. MAHADEVAN
State of Himachal Pradesh – Appellant
Versus
Chaman Lal – Respondent

Advocates appeared:
For the Appellant(s) : Mr. Vivek Kumar, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Gautam, AOR
For the Respondent(s): Ms. Anvita Aprajita, Adv. Mr. Krishna Pal Singh, AOR Mr. Mohan Singh Bais, Adv. Mr. Seemab Qayyum, Adv.

Judgement Key Points

Time and Event	Reference
Incident of burning of the deceased by respondent	(!) (!)
Respondent poured kerosene and set deceased on fire	(!) (!)
Deceased sustained severe burn injuries	(!) (!)
Deceased was taken to hospital for treatment	(!) (!)
Deceased's condition did not improve; referred to higher medical facility	(!) (!)
Deceased returned home after treatment	(!) (!)
Deceased succumbed to injuries	(!) (!)
FIR registered based on brother’s information	(!) (!)
Recording of dying declaration by Tehsildar at hospital	(!) (!)
Dying declaration made by deceased in hospital	(!) (!) (!)
Medical opinion obtained before recording declaration	(!) (!) (!)
Deceased recognized relatives during declaration	(!) (!)
Respondent attempted to extinguish fire, sustained minor burns	(!) (!) (!)
Deceased died due to burn injuries	(!) (!)
Post-incident conduct of respondent (contact through others)	(!)
Court’s judgment of conviction by trial court	(!)
High Court’s judgment of acquittal and reversal	(!) (!)
Appeal filed by State challenging acquittal	(!)
Court’s analysis of evidence and legal principles	(!) (!) (!) (!) (!) (!)

This table summarizes the key times and events related to the incident, investigation, and judicial proceedings as per the provided document.

JUDGMENT :

R. MAHADEVAN, J.

1. The instant Criminal Appeal has been preferred by the State of Himachal Pradesh assailing the Final Judgment and Order dated 26.08.2014 passed by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla¹[Hereinafter referred to as “the High Court”] in Criminal Appeal No. 295 of 2010, whereby the High Court allowed the appeal preferred by the respondent and set aside the judgment of conviction dated 16.07.2010 and the consequential order of sentence dated 03.08.2010 passed by the Sessions Judge, Chamba Division, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh²[Hereinafter referred to as “the trial Court”] in Sessions Trial No. 19 of 2010, thereby acquitting the respondent of the charge under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860³[For short, “IPC”].

2. The case of the prosecution is that on 07.12.2009, the respondent-husband Chaman Lal allegedly poured kerosene on his wife Saro Devi (deceased) at their residence situated in Village Rampur, Pargana Dhundi, Tehsil and District Chamba, Himachal Pradesh and set her on fire by lighting a matchstick. On seeing her engulfed in flames, some villagers rushed to her rescue and the respondent also attempted to extinguish the fire. Despite these e