JUDGMENT

This appeal is preferred by all the three accused persons challenging the judgment convicting and sentencing them in S.C.No.15/2016 on the file of Mahila Court, Perambalur, for offences under Sec.306 IPC and sentencing all the accused persons 10 years rigorous imprisonment with penalty and default sentence if fine not paid.

2.1 A certain Nirmala was married to the first appellant. They both hailed from Peramabalur. While Nirmala was working as a Revenue Inspector at Perambalur, the first appellant was working as a Resident Teacher in one of the premier schools in Namakkal. For their separate residence, the couple had taken a property for lease at Perambalur. Appellants 2 and 3 are the mother-in-law and sister-in-law (first appellant's brother's wife) of Nirmala and they were leaving separately in another house close-by.

2.2 It is in this setting on 24.12.2014 at about 09.00 p.m., Nirmala self-

immolated her. Her father Raju (P.W.1) and her mother Jayalakshmi (P.W.6) was with her then. Immediately, P.W.1 removed her daughter with burn injuries to the Government Hospital, Perambalur. She was administered first-aid and was referred for better treatment to Government Hospital, Tr