M. R. Verma, J.: Feeling aggrieved the appellants-accused (herein- after referred to as the accused) have preferred the present appeal against the judgment dated 24.11.1997 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Bilaspur whereby the accused persons have been convicted and sentenced under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay fine in the sum of Rs.5000/- each and in default of fine to suffer further rigorous imprisonment for one year.

2. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that on 18.4.1996 at 8.30 PM Dr. T.S. Chandel (PW-12), Medical Officer, CHC Bharari gave a telephonic information to police Station Bharari intimating that one Asha Devi (since deceased) resident of Dehra had been admitted in the Hospital in burnt condition, therefore, some Investigating Officer may be deputed in the matter. The information se received was entered in daily-diary of the Police Station vide Report Ex.PW-10/A and SI/SHQ Anant Ram (PW-17) proceeded to the Hospital where he made an application Ex.PW-17/B to the said Medical Officer to give opinion whether the injured was in a position to make a statement However, the Medical Officer opined that she was not fit to make a statement Another application Ex. PW-12/C was then made by PW-17 requesting for issue of the medical certificate in respect of Asha with his opinion as to the nature fete, of the injuries. On the said application PW-12 issued the MLR Ex.PW-12/A mentioning therein that the general condition of Asha was poor and she was semi-conscious and was not responding to queries. The clothing she is wearing was shrunken due to burning and was smelling of kerosene. She was having bum injuries over the face, neck, abdominal wall, both legs sustained due to burning with fire lit by sprinkling kerosene over the body and clothe and the percentage of bums was about 70 to 75 percent ,

3. In view of the poor condition of Asha she was referred to District Hospital, Bilaspur. There PW-17 moved another application Ex.PW-17/A to die Medical Officer to give his opinion whether Asha was capable of making a statement or not, who opined that she was hot fit to statement or not, who opined that she was not fit to make a statement The police then made inquires from the mother of Asha, namely, Savitrr Devi (PW-1) as to the circumstances in which Asha had sustained the burn injuries and her statement Ex.PW-1/A was recorded on the basis of which F.I.R. Ext PW-17/C under Section 307/34 I.P.C. was recorded at Police Station, Bharari.

4. The case as disclosed in the Statement Ex.PW-1/A is that Asha Devi was married to accused Pardeep Kumar in the year 1991. Till 1994 she was kept properly in her in-laws house. Accused Pardeep Kumar who was serving in the army came on leave to his house in March, 1995 and took his mother accused Amriti Devi alongwith him to Jammu for treatment In the absence of the other two accused from die house, accused Roop Lal harassed said Asha, therefore, she came to her parents house and did not agree to return to her matrimonial house unless her husband returned home. In the meanwhile accused Roop Lal brought his wife from Jammu to their house when accused Pardeep Kumar also come home in April, 1995. Thereafter accused Roop Lal and Amriti Devi started harassing and maltreating Asha, therefore, she left her matrimonial house on 21.4.1995 alongwith her children and intimated her parents that she has been advised by her husband to reside in her parents house and to return to the matrimonial house only when he would again come on leave. In the month of July when accused came home he took Asha Devi to his house. However, after 2 or 3 days Asha Devi returned back and informed that accused Pardeep was asking her to stay with his parents but she was not prepared to live with them. Thereafter she started living in her parents house. Thereafter she started living in her parents house. In September accused Pardeep Kumar alongw