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2007 Supreme(UK) 277

2008 N.C.C. 327
UTTARAKHAND HIGH COURT
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dharam Veer
Criminal Appeal No. 1814 of 2001
GHANSHYAM BHATT – Appellant
Versus
STATE OF UTTARANCHAL – Opposite Party
Decided on : 17.05.2007

Advocates:
For the Appellant : Mr.S.K. Agarwal, Sr. Adv. asstd. by Mr. S.S. Bhandari, Adv.
For the Opposite Party : Mr. Amit Bhatt, Learned A.G.A.

Headnote:(A) I.P.C., 1860, Sec. 304-B — Dowry death — Deceased having died by burning in the house of her husband — Such death having occurred within 7 years of her marriage — Before her death she having been subjected to cruelty, mentally and physically for demand of dowry — Offence thus committed by the accused came under the purview of dowry death punishable under section 304-B, I.P.C. (Paras 20, 22)

       (B) I.P.C., 1860, Sec. 498-A — Expressions, "Cruelty", used under — Ingredients of — Any wilful conduct which is of such nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman comes under definitions of cruelty. (Para 23)

       (C) I.P.C., 1860, Sec. 498-A, Explanation (b) — Harassment of the woman being with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or on account of failure by her on any person related to her to meet such demand shall also come in the definition of cruelty. (Para 23)

       ¼v½ Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk] 1860] /kkjk&304-B & ngst gR;k & e`rdk dk vius ifr ds ?kj] ty dj ejuk & ,slh e`R;q dk fookg ds lkr lky ds Hkhrj ?kfVr gksuk & mldh e`R;q ls igys mls ngst ds fy;s ekufld o 'kkjhfjd :i ls izrkfM+r fd;k tkuk & bl izdkj vfHk;qDr }kjk dkfjr fd;s x;s vijk/k ngst gR;lk dh lhek esa vk;s ftlds fy;s /kkjk&304-B] Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk esa n.M dk fo/kku gSA

        ¼izLrj 20] 22½

       ¼c½ Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk] 1860] /kkjk&498-A & dwjrk 'kCn dk iz;ksx & ds rRo & dksbZ tku cw>dj fd;k x;k ,slk O;ogkj] ftldh izdfr ,slh gS fd og efgyk dks vkRegR;k djus gsrq izsfjr djrk gS ;k mlds izk.k 'kjhj ;k LokLF; dks ¼ekufld vFkok 'kkjhfjd½ xaHkhj pksV vFkok [krjk igqapkrs gSa] dwjrk dh ifjHkk"kk ds vUrxZr vkrs gSaA ¼izLrj 23½

       ¼l½ Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk] 1860] /kkjk&498-A & O;k[;k ¼c½ & efgyk dks bl vk'k; ls izrkfM+r fd;k tkuk fd mlls vFkok mlls lacaf/kr fdlh O;fDr ls fdlh laifRr vFkok ewY;oku izfrHkwfr ds izfr voS/k ekax dks iw.kZ djk;k tk lds ;k mlds ;k mlls lacaf/kr fdlh O;fDr }kjk ,slh ekax iw.kZ u fd;s tkus ij ,slk djuk Hkh dwjrk dh ifjHkk"kk ds vUrxZr vk;sxkA ¼izLrj 23½

JUDGMENT

Hon. Dharam Veer, J.

This appeal, has been preferred under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, (hereinafter referred Cr.P.C.) against the judgment and order dated 6.10.2001 passed by District and Sessions Judge Nainital, in Session Trial No. 67/2001, State Vs. Ghan Shyam Bhatt and others, whereby the learned Sessions Judge has convicted the appellant under Section 304-B I.P.C. and 498-A of Indian Penal Code 1860 (hereinafter referred I.P.C.) and sentenced 10 years R.I. under Section 304-B I.P.C. and one year R.I. under Section 498-A I.P.C. and a fine of Rs. 1,000/- and in default of fine to further undergo imprisonment for three months. Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently. By this order the learned Sessions Judge has acquitted the accused Govind Ballabh, and Harish Bhatt under Section 304-B I.P.C. and 498-A I.P.C.

2. In brief the prosecution story is this that the deceased Vidhya Devi was married with Ghan Shyam Bhatt in the year 1997. Govind Bhallabh was her father in law and Harish Bhatt was her brother in law. On 31.05.2000 the PW.2 Narayan Dutt has lodged the F.I.R. Ex.Ka-2 to the Patwari Patti Nai, with the information that daughter-in-law of the Govind Ballabh has committed suicide by burning. After that the Patwari has prepared a Panchyatnama on the same day i.e. 31.05.2000 that Panchayatnama is Ex.Ka-3 and the body was sent for the Post Mortem. The Post Mortem was conducted by Dr. A.K. Pant on 1.06.2000 at 2.15 P.M. The Post Mortem report is Ex.Ka-13. Post-Mortem was conducted in the presence of Dr. Rakesh Kumar and Dr. L.M.S. Rawat and Post-Mortem report Ex.Ka-13 was prepared by Dr. A.K. Pant. After that the Patwari has prepared a site plan that is Ex.Ka.9.

3. On 3rd June, 2000 the father of the deceased Ramesh Chand Gunwant has lodged the F.I.R. to the Patwari Patti Nai, Tehsil (Dhari) with the allegations that the deceased Vidhya Devi was married with the appellant Ghan Shyam Bhatt in 1997 and after the marriage the in-laws of the deceased were harassing her mentally and physically and they were demanding dowry time to time. The deceased Vidya Devi told this fact, to the complainant time to time. But the complainant was confident that in-laws of his daughter will take precaution. On 31.05.2000 the complainant had got the information that his daughter Vidya Devi, had died then the complainant had reached to the house of his daughter where he saw the dead body of his daughter and he was confident that his daughter was murdered by his husband Ghan Shyam Bhatt, father-in-law Govind Bhatt, mother-in-law, sister-in-law Kamla, and brother-in-law Tara Bhatt, Harish Bhatt for the demand of dowry.

4. On the basis of the F.I.R. that is Ex.Ka.1 the Patwari PW.4 Harish Chand Joshi has prepared a chick report Ex.Ka.7. At the same time the entry was made in the G.D. the copy of G.D. is Ex.Ka-8, F.I.R. was lodged on 3.06.2000 at 3.15 P.M. After this the investigation was transferred to regular police, and Deputy S.P. Darshan Lal Chitran, PW.5 had started the investigation.

5. Investigation Officer inspected all the documents, inquest report, Post Mortem report, the chick F.I.R. and he has also inspected the spot and prepared the site plan Ex.Ka.10. After recording the statement of the witness and completing the investigation he has submitted the charge sheet Ex.Ka.11 against the appellant Ghan Shyam Bhatt, Govind Ballabh and Harish Bhatt in the Court of Judicial Magistrate Nainital.

6. The learned Judicial Magistrate has committed the case to the Court of Session for the trial on 3.05.2001. The Sessions Judge Nainital has framed charge against the appellant under Section 304-B I.P.C. and Section 498-A I.P.C. along with the other accused Govind Ballabh Bhatt and Harish Bhatt on 26.06.2001. The charge was explained to the appellant who pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.

7. The prosecution has examined PW.1 Ramesh Chand Gunwant the father of the deceased. Narayan Dutt PW.2 who has


































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