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2012 Supreme(Gau) 704

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI (AGARTALA BENCH)
Subhasis Talapatra, J.
Billal Miah – Appellants
Vs.
State of Tripura – Respondent
Crl. Appl. No. 10 of 2004
Decided On: 06.06.2012

Advocates appeared:
For Appellant/Plaintiff:Mr. A.K. Bhowmik, Senior Advocate and Mr. R. Datta, Advocate
For Respondents/Defendant: Mr. P. Bhattacharjee, Addl. Public Prosecutor

Headnote:

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 374(2) – Indian Penal Code,1860 - Sections 498A and 307 - Order of conviction - Judgment and order of conviction and sentence - Marriage was also solemnized after fixing After marriage complainant started conjugal life with appellant in her marital home - She was happy for months and after that appellant and other appellants started insulting complainant to bring as well as share of her properties from her father - On such demand appellant started physical and mental torture on her - In month of all appellants jointly assaulted complainant and ousted her from their residence - Finding no other way she left for her house and took shelter there - Her father intimated the matter to elderly people of village of said village arranged a village to find conciliation - Held, It appears that to wreak vengeance against appellant injury that has received by complainant has been leveled as an injury as inflicted by knife - Moreover such suspicion turns to a possibility when it is found that the complaint was lodged on after a month of alleged occurrence took place - Occurrence took place on as per allegation - It is also to be considered that defence also did not come forward to explain how the complainant received injury to discharge their burden of knowledge under Section 106 of Evidence Act - However to make a judicious balance absence of proving should always be preferred over failure of giving the explanation particularly in backdrop of belated filing - As such appellant is also entitled to get benefit of doubt - Accordingly he is acquitted from charge of Section 307 of Indian Penal Code on benefit of doubt - Appeal allowed.

JUDGMENT

Subhasis Talapatra, J.

1. By this appeal filed under Section 374(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, for short Cr. P.C. the judgment and order of conviction and sentence dated 07.01.2004 as passed by the learned Assistant Sessions Judge, South Tripura, Udaipur, in Sessions Trial No.107(ST/U)2002 whereby the appellants have been convicted under Section 498A of IPC and sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for two years and the appellant No.1 was sentenced to suffer further rigorous imprisonment for eight years under Section 307 of IPC has been put under challenge. It is also directed by the impugned order of sentence that so far the sentences of appellant No.1 is concerned, those would run concurrently. Essential facts, those are required to be appreciated, may be briefly noticed.

On 04.06.2002, one Rasana Bibi, wife of the appellant No.1 filed a written complaint in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, South Tripura, Udaipur, against all the appellants alleging that on 19.09.2001, corresponding to 2nd Aswin, 1408 B.S. she was married to the appellant No.1 according to the Shariat law. Her father gave a cash of Rs.10,000/- to satisfy the demand of the appellant No.1 and in addition thereto two bharis of golden ornaments, wooden cot, alna etc. were also given. The marriage was also solemnized after fixing the Mahr. After the marriage, the complainant started conjugal life with the appellant No.1 in her marital home. She was happy for 3/4 months and after that the appellant No.1 and other appellants started insulting the complainant to bring Rs.10,000/- as well as share of her properties from her father. On such demand, the appellant started physical and mental torture on her. In the month of Falguna, 1408 all the appellants jointly assaulted the complainant and ousted her from their residence. Finding no other way, she left for her father's house and took shelter there. Her father intimated the matter to the elderly people of Horijala village. Upa-pradhan of the said village namely, Sri Dipu Dey arranged a village baithak to find conciliation. In that meeting, decision was taken that her husband would take the complainant giving back due regard as wife. On 5th Baisakh, 1409 B.S. she was taken to her husband's house. A few days later, the appellants again started assaulting her to bring money from her father's house. On 08.05.2002 at about 11.30 pm, the appellants assaulted her severely. The appellant No.1 with intention to kill her inflicted a knife blow on her neck causing bleeding injury. At her shouting, neighbouring people came and she was taken to Kakraban Primary Health Centre. Then she was shifted to Udaipur hospital and thereafter to the GB Hospital, where she was treated. The learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, South Tripura, Udaipur, without taking cognizance under Section 190 of Cr. P.C., directed the police to investigate the allegations of complaint under Section 156(3) of Cr. P.C. and accordingly the Officer Incharge, R.K. Pur Police Station, on 06.06.2002, on receipt of the complaint, registered R.K. Pur P.S. Case No.141/2002 under Sections 498A/109 of IPC. After investigation was completed and finding a prima facie case had emerged, the Investigating Officer filed the charge sheet against the appellants under Sections 498A/ 324/307 of IPC.

2. Since the offence under Section 307 IPC is exclusively triable by the court of Sessions, the case, after taking cognizance, committed to the court of Sessions. The case thereafter was transferred to the file of the learned Assistant Sessions Judge, South Tripura, Udaipur, for trial. On examination of the materials as made available in the charge sheet, the following charges were framed against the appellants.

That you Billal Miah being the husband and others being the father, mother, brother and sister of the Billal Miah, subjected a woman Rasana Bibi to harassment and physical torture during the period from 19.9.01 to 8.5.02 in several dates and time at H



















































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