H.S. Bhalla, J.:- The demand for dowry of money from the parents of the bride, has increased in the last few years and in the instant case, the husband has gone to the extent of killing his wife inside the privacy of a house and it is the duty of the Court while presiding over a criminal trial to see that no innocent man is punished, but at the same time, the Court is to see that a guilty man does not escape.

2. The appellant has knocked the door of this court against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 01.09.1997 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Amritsar by virtue of which, the appellant was convicted under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/-, and in default thereof, he was directed to undergo further imprisonment for a period of six months. However, accused was acquitted of the charge under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code.

A synoptical resume of the prosecution case is as under:-

Narinder Kaur deceased daughter of Ajit Singh was married to Kewal Singh about five years before the occurrence. Out of this wedlock, they were blessed with one male issue. Kew