Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, J.

1. Anil Kumar is the husband of the deceased Rakhi, whereas Ram Bichari Devi and Ram Sundar are his parents i.e. father-in-law and mother-in-law of the deceased. Chanda Devi and Sunil Kumar are the sister and brother of Anil Kumar i.e. sister-in-law (Nanad) and brother-in-law (Devar) of the deceased. They were charged for committing the offence u/s. 304-B read with Sec. 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 6th Additional Sessions Judge, Patna by judgment and order dated 19.5.2003 and 24.5.2003 passed in Sessions Trial No. 86 of 1999 held them guilty under Section 304-B read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for ten years. Chandra Devi and Ram Bichari Devi as also Sunil Kumar and Ram Sundar have preferrerd separate appeals, which have been registered as Criminal Appeal No. 284 of 2003 and Criminal Appeal No. 285 of 2003 respectively. Appeal preferred by the husband Anil Kumar has been registered as Criminal Appeal No. 286 of 2003. During the pendency of the appeal, Ram Bichari Devi died and, as such, the appeal preferred by her has abated.

2. All the appeals have been heard together and are bei