IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
RAM KRISHNA GAUTAM, J.
Mahesh - Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. - Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 3789, 4273 of 2013
Decided On : 15-11-2019
CRIMINAL APPEAL - DOWRY DEATH - SECTION 304-B IPC - PRESUMPTION UNDER SECTION 113-B OF EVIDENCE ACT - ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS - BURDEN OF PROOF - APPRECIATION OF EVIDENCE - SENTENCING.
Fact of the Case:
The appellants were convicted and sentenced for offences punishable under Sections 498-A, 304-B IPC read with Section 3/4 of D.P. Act, for causing the dowry death of the deceased Rooma Devi, wife of appellant Mahesh. The prosecution alleged that the appellants, being the husband and blood relatives of the deceased, demanded additional dowry in the form of a scooter, chain, and ring, and subjected her to cruelty and harassment. The deceased's father, Babu Ram, lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that the appellants were responsible for her death. The trial court convicted and sentenced the appellants based on the testimonies of the deceased's father, brother, and other witnesses, as well as the autopsy report.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court upheld the trial court's conviction and sentence. The court held that the prosecution had successfully proved all the essential ingredients of the offence of dowry death under Section 304-B IPC, including the demand for dowry, cruelty and harassment, and the death of the deceased within seven years of marriage. The court also held that the presumption under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act, which places the burden of proof on the accused to rebut the presumption of dowry death, was successfully rebutted by the prosecution. The court further held that the trial court had properly appreciated the evidence on record and that the sentence imposed on the appellants was appropriate.
Issues: 1. Whether the prosecution had successfully proved the essential ingredients of the offence of dowry death under Section 304-B IPC? 2. Whether the presumption under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act was successfully rebutted by the prosecution? 3. Whether the trial court had properly appreciated the evidence on record? 4. Whether the sentence imposed on the appellants was appropriate?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the essential ingredients of the offence of dowry death under Section 304-B IPC, including the demand for dowry, cruelty and harassment, and the death of the deceased within seven years of marriage. The court relied on the testimonies of the deceased's father, brother, and other witnesses, as well as the autopsy report, to conclude that the prosecution had established a strong case against the appellants. 2. The court held that the presumption under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act, which places the burden of proof on the accused to rebut the presumption of dowry death, was successfully rebutted by the prosecution. The court noted that the appellants had failed to provide any evidence to rebut the presumption, and that their defense of alibi was not supported by the evidence on record. 3. The court held that the trial court had properly appreciated the evidence on record. The court noted that the trial court had carefully considered the testimonies of the witnesses, the documentary evidence, and the autopsy report, and had reached a reasonable and well-reasoned conclusion. 4. The court held that the sentence imposed on the appellants was appropriate. The court noted that the appellants had committed a heinous crime, and that the sentence imposed was proportionate to the gravity of the offence.
Final Decision: The High Court dismissed both criminal appeals and upheld the trial court's conviction and sentence.
JUDGMENT :
1. Criminal Appeal No. 4273 of 2013 (Mahesh Vs. State of U.P.) as well as Criminal Appeal No. 3789 of 2013 (Ramesh Chandra and Another Vs. State of U.P.), have been filed under Section 374(2) of Cr.P.C. against judgment of conviction and sentence made therein, by Court of Special Judge SC/ST Act, Farrukhabad, in Sessions Trial No. 50 of 1993 (State vs. Mahesh and others) arising out of Case Crime No. 71 of 1992, under Sections 498-A, 304-B I.P.C. read with Section 3/4 of D.P. Act, Police Station Merapur, District Farrukhabad, dated 1.8.2013, wherein trial Judge has convicted appellants and sentenced with three years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs. 1,000/-, in default one month simple imprisonment under Section 3 of D.P. Act, with further imprisonment of one year rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs. 500/-, in default 15 days additional simple imprisonment under Section 4 of D.P. Act, with further imprisonment of three years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs. 1,000/-each, in default one month additional simple imprisonment under Section 498-A I.P.C., with ten years rigorous imprisonment under Section 304-B I.P.C., with a direction for concurrent running of sentences and adjustment of previous imprisonment, if any. Both of the criminal appeals have been filed against one and common judgment of conviction and order of sentence as above, arising out of one and common case crime number in one and common session trial. Hence, these appeals were consolidated together and are being decided together.
2. Memo of appeal briefly contends that impugned judgment is against the evidence placed on record. Sentence was deterrent and excessive. Trial Judge failed to appreciate evidence of PW-1, PW-2, PW-3 and PW-7. It was only PW-1, who in his cross-examination, has said about cruelty, whereas in testimony of PW-2, no evidence of demand or cruelty with regard to it, was there. PW-3, in his cross-examination, has admitted marriage to be performed in cordial atmosphere. It was without any demand of dowry, though he had heard fire shot, but his testimony is not against the appellants. PW-7, Shiv Ram Singh, is real brother of deceased Rooma Devi and has said about his information with regard to demand of dowry. The single testimony of PW-1, was against the appellants. But owing to his death, after a part of cross-examination, he could not be cross-examined by defence counsel. Hence, his evidence is not admissible. Appellants were having their separate living. There was proof of “Rashan card” of them. But it was not taken into consideration, because of being photocopy of same. Appellants as well as informant were members of poor family, no question of demand of dowry ever arisen. Appellants were not present at their home at the time of occurrence. Deceased was murdered by some anti-social elements. She was all alone inside the house. Someone did this offence. But appellants were falsely implicated, whereas they were at field at their work, where they got information of this happening, they rushed on spot, they informed informant side, even then they were falsely implicated in this case crime number. Deceased was given love and affection. No cruelty was ever caused to her. Even, she was educated with the help of her husband and she had appeared in High School Examination, before this occurrence. On the basis of same set of evidence, accused Kishan Lal was acquitted, rest were convicted and sentenced as above. Convict Smt. Shanti Devi, died and her appeal stood abated. No specific allegation, as against any of convict-appellants, is there. Rather a general allegation of demand of dowry was leveled against each, whereas appellant Ramesh Chandra and Om Pal were having separate living. Case could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt, even then, judgment of conviction was passed and after hearing over quantum of sentence, highly excessive and deterrent sentence was awarded. Hence, this appeal with prayer to set aside impugned judgment o
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