JUDGMENT :

Sanjeev Kumar, J.-This criminal appeal is directed against the judgment and sentence order dated 16.05.2017 and 19.05.2017 respectively handed down by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Udhampur [“trial Court”] in file No.78/Sessions titled State v. Kamlesh Kumar by which the trial Court has convicted the appellant for commission of offences punishable under Sections 302 and 498-A RPC and has sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life with fine of Rs.5,000/- for offence under Section 302 RPC and rigorous imprisonment for two years and fine of Rs.1,000/- for offence under Section 498-A RPC. The substantive sentences awarded have been provided to run concurrently.

2. With a view to appreciate the grounds of challenge urged by the learned counsel appearing for the appellant to assail the judgment of conviction and order of sentence impugned in this appeal, it would be necessary to first briefly notice the case of prosecution, as was put up before the trial Court.

3. On 19th May, 2014, the Police Station, Pancheri received an information through reliable sources that a dead body of a lady, namely, Sushma Devi wife of the appellant resident of village Katti Teshil and