Dying declarations must be consistent and reliable, as they can form the sole basis for conviction only if they inspire full confidence and are free from inconsistencies.

1. In S. C. No. 3/96 on the file of First Additional Sessions Judge, Trichy, the appellants were convicted for the offence under S.302 and S.302 read with 109 Indian Penal Code and were sentenced to death. The present appeal has been resorted to by the appellants. Besides this reference also has been made under S.366 Code of Criminal Procedure before this Court for confirmation of death sentence imposed by the Trial Court.

2. The indictment against the appellants is that on 21-9-1995 at about 1.30 p.m., in the house door No. 52, Kaja Thoppu Tennur, Trichy, the first appellant at the instigation of the appellants 2 and 3 poured Koresene over the body of the victim and set fire, with the result the victim died at 12.00 p.m., on 26-9-1995.

3. The short facts leading to the conviction were as follows : -
(a) The unfortunate victim in this case Sherfunnisa alias Rajathi was the wife of the first appellant Dasth. The appellants 2 and 3 are the parents of the first appellant. P.W.4 Hussain and P.W. 5 Aiyasha Beevi are the parents of the victim deceased P.W.6 Jaffer Sathick is her brother.
(b) About two years before the incident, the victim Sherfunnisa was married to first appellant. The parents of the victim belonged to Pudupet, Madras. The appellants are the residents of Trichy, Kosa Thoppu residing in door No. 52, Tennur, Trichy. Their house is situated in a closely and thickly populated area. There are several houses situated surrounding the house of the appellants. P.W.1 Sherfunnisa, P.W.2 Alima Beevi P.W.3 Jarina are the residents of nearby houses.
(c) One year prior to the occurrence a female child was born to those spouses. The appellants were living in the said rented house along with the deceased as a joint family. Since the appellants wanted to purchase a new house, they asked the victim deceased to give her jewels to raise funds for the purpose of purchasing a house. The victim agreed to part with her jewel on the condition that the house must be purchased in her name. But this plea had been turned down by the appellants. From then onwards, they became hostile in their attitude towards the victim and day in and day out they used to beat her. Appellants 2 and 3 used to instigate first appellant to beat and drive her out. So the torture and ill treatment at the hands of the first appellant / husband continued every day.
(d) About two days prior to the occurrence P.W.6 Jaffer Sathick the brother of the victim came to Trichy in order to meet some persons for his business purpose. Whenever he came to Trichy he used to stay in the house of P.W.12 Aiya Begam. She is the sister's daughter of P.W.4. Her house also situated in Tonnur at Quaid - e - Millath Nagar at Trichy. This area is very near to the house of the deceased. While he came to Trichy, the victim complained to him about the ill - treatment meted out to her by the appellants since she was not amenable for the demand of parting with her jewels. P.W.6 pacified her by saying that he would make immediate ar