JUDGMENT :

Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal arises from a judgment dated 27 March 2018 of the High Court of Judicature at Madras at its Madurai Bench.

3. The appellant was tried for the murder of his wife. Besides the offence under Section 302, he was also tried for the commission of an offence under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, [“IPC”]. On 24 June 2016, the appellant was convicted by the Sessions Judge, Fast Track Mahila Court, Virudhunagar District at Srivilliputtur for offences under Section 302 and Section 498A. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence punishable under Section 302 and to imprisonment for three years for the offence under Section 498A.

4. During the course of the trial, the prosecution sought to adduce the evidence of PW-3 ‘S’ and PW-4 ‘H’, the children of the appellant and the deceased, [The identity of the children, who are minors is withheld in this judgment.]. On 19 May 2015 when their evidence was to be recorded, PW-3 was eight-years-old while PW-4 was six-years-old. The trial judge posed certain ini