IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
KAUSHAL JAYENDRA THAKER, MOHD. AZHAR HUSAIN IDRISI, JJ.
Amit Kumar Dubey – Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. – Respondent
Criminal Appeal No.3592 of 2010
Decided on : 02-01-2023
Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 498-A, Section 304-B - Dowry Prohibition Act - Section 4 – Cruelty to wife – Dowry death - Appeal challenges the judgment and order convicting and sentencing the appellant – Whether appeal is maintainable – Held, It appears from perusal of impugned judgment that sentence awarded by learned trial court for life term is very harsh keeping in view the entirety of facts and circumstances of the case and gravity of offence - Undue harshness should be avoided taking into account the reformative approach underlying in criminal justice system - Appeal partly allowed.
JUDGMENT :
Mohd. Azhar Husain Idrisi, J.
1. Heard Sri Sudeep Dwivedi, learned counsel for the appellant and learned A.G.A. for the State.
2. The present appeal challenges the judgment and order dated 28.04.2010 passed by Additional Sessions Judge/Fast Track Court No. 1, Mirzapur in Sessions Trial No. 148 of 2009 (State Vs. Amit Kumar Dubey) convicting and sentencing the appellant alone under Section 498-A of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as 'IPC') for three years simple imprisonment with fine of Rs.5,000/-, further sentenced him under Section 304-B IPC for life imprisonment and also sentenced him under Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act with fine of Rs. 10,000/-. In case of default of payment of fine, further to undergo imprisonment for 6-6 months additional imprisonment.
3. Factual data as culled out from the record is that a First Information Report being Case Crime No. 45 of 2009 was lodged on 13.03.2009 at Police Station Padari, District Mirzapur on the complaint made by one Uma Shanker, resident of Village Mahdauri, Police Station Padari, District Mirzapur, who stated that his daughter namely Sunita Kumari was married to Amit Kumar s/o Hajara, resident of Ratnabo Chhitam Patti, Police Station Padari, Mirzapur six years ago according to Hindu Rites and Ritual. In the F.I.R. it was mentioned that after three years of the marriage, the husband of the deceased was demanding a sum of Rs.50,000/-and golden chain time and again and when his demands were not fulfilled, his daughter was being harassed and after beating her, she was sent to parental home. His daughter told regarding demand of Rs. 50,000/-by her husband. Thereafter on the assurance of informant, her daughter was taken away to his house by son-in-law. It is further mentioned that the deceased was harassed by his son-in-law. On being called by her daughter, informant went to her house and his daughter stated that in case she will not take away to her home, they will kill her. The informant taken away her daughter to his home. In the year 2008 on the occasion of Dhanteras, when the informant went to the shop of his son-in-law, he demanded the aforesaid money from the informant and when the informant asked some time, he was assaulted by knife and he was injured. This incident was registered at the police station. His daughter was residing at his house. It is further stated that on 13.12.2008, on the pressure and assurance made by the Station Officer, Police Station Padari that his daughter shall be secured, his daughter was sent with his son-in-law. On 10.03.2009, his son Kamlesh went to meet his sister on the occasion of Holi where Amit Kumar and his grandmother met him but he was refused to meet his sister and after saying that she went to take medicine at Ganga, his son Kamlesh was returned. On 12.03.2009 again his son Kamlesh went to the house of his sister to meet her where he was informed by Amit Kumar and his grandmother that his sister did not return to home. On 13.03.2009 at about 11.00 A.M., informant and his sons namely Kamlesh and Suresh went to the house of Amit Kumar and asked about his daughter, the same fact was told. Then the informant asked from neighbourer about his daughter and he came to know that they heard shrieks on being beaten by Amit and after some time, she became mum. Thereafter he alongwith his sons went to the room of deceased where door was locked and some smelling was coming out. On the request of telephonic message, two constables came on the spot and lock was broken then it was found that his daughter was kept dead in nagged condition. Thereafter F.I.R. was lodged against Amit Kumar and his grandmother.
4. On the aforesaid F.I.R., the investigation was moved into motion. The dead body was sent for postmortem and wherein it was opined that the cause of death was shock and hemorrhage due to Ante mortem injuries and throttling.
Deo Narain Mandal Vs. State of UP [(2004) 7 SCC 257]
Guru Basavraj vs State of Karnataka
Jameel vs State of UP [(2010) 12 SCC 532]
Mohd. Giasuddin Vs. State of AP
Ravada Sasikala vs. State of A.P. AIR 2017 SC 1166
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The main legal point established in the judgment is the application of the reformative theory of punishment and the doctrine of proportionality in sentencing, emphasizing the need to avoid undue hars....
'Reformative theory of punishment' is to be adopted and for that reason, it is necessary to impose punishment keeping in view the 'doctrine of proportionality'.
Dowry Death - Conviction upheld - Criminal jurisprudence in our country which is reformative and corrective and not retributive, this Court considers that no accused person is incapable of being refo....
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