State Of Punjab vs Rajwinder Singh @ Raja & Ors

We have closely examined the judgment. The prosecution case was that Rajwinder Singh, respondent No.1 herein, was married to the deceased Paramjit Kaur alias Jeeta alias Sarabjit Kuar and she was illtreated by all the three respondents on account of dowry demands. The First Information Report was lodged by one Jagtar Singh, son of Amar Singh, resident of village Chhiniwal Khurd who was the brother of the decease Paramjit Kaur in which he alleged that his sister who was having a male child out of the wedlock was maltreated by accused No.1 - Rajwinder Singh. He further alleged that his sister was being ill-treated by the accused persons, the respondents herein. He further alleged that he had gone to his sister's house on 11.12.2000 and on 12.12.2000, he received a telephonic call that Paramjit Kaur was beaten by Rajwinder Singh, Nirmal Singh and Jasmail Kaur and, therefore, the deceased Paramjit Kaur left the house along with her child at 6.00 A.M. and was not reported anywhere and, therefore, he was searching his sister but he could not get any clue and then he came to know that she along with her child had jumped in the canal and committed suicide. On this basis, further investigation started and the accused were charge sheeted for the offence under Section 304-B and Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code.

On appraisal of the evidence, Ld.Addl.Sessions Judge came to the conclusion that the 3 prosecution had not proved that Paramjit Kaur alias Jeeta alias Sarabjit Kaur was treated with cruelty or was harassed on account of demand of dowry as a result of which she had died unnatural death by jumping into the canal. The evidence of Jagtar Singh as also his father was not believed by the Ld.Addl.Sessions Judge. It was further found by the Ld.Addl.Sessions Judge that there was no ante mortem injury on the body of Paramjit Kaur on the basis of which Ld.Addl.Sessions Judge came to the conclusion that immediately before her death she was not subjected to the cruelty. The Addl.Sessions Judge also disbelieved the other witnesses and has given valid reasons for the same. The ingredients of Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code have also been appreciated and considered by the Addl.Sessions Judge and he came to the conclusion that the deceased was not treated cruelly nor was she subjected to any violence prior to her death. Insofar as, the offence under Section 306 I.P.C. is concerned, the Addl.Sessions Judge came to the conclusion that there could not have been any abetment on the part of the accused for committing suicide by the deceased. The learned Addl.Sessions Judge also found that P.W.1 - Dr.Arun Kumar Gupta also admitted in his cross-examination that there was neither poison nor any injury found on the body of the deceased Paramjit Kaur. From all these circumstances, the learned Addl.Sessions Judge came to the conclusion that all that it was proved was that the accused and particularly accused No.1 alone had committed the offence under Section 498-A. He, therefore, acquitted the other two accused persons under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code and convicted accused No.1 (Rajwinder Singh) under Section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code.

The High Court had not given reasons and had chosen to dismiss the said appeal in limine refusing the leave to file appeal against the acquittal. We are not happy with the course adopted by the High Court. Ordinarily, the High Court should have given good reasons even before refusing the leave to file an appeal against the acquittal. That is the established law now. However, sending back the matter again to the High Court would be hazardous as about ten years have elapsed since the death of the deceased. We have chosen to examine the records ourselves and we have, for that purpose, examined the correctness of the judgment of the Addl.Sessions Judge in the light of evidence. After overall consideration, we are of the view that the Addl.Sessions Judge was correct in acquitting the respondents -accused under Section 306 IPC and the High Court was also correct to refuse the State to file an appeal against the acquittal although the High Court should have given reasons. The appeal is accordingly dismissed.

MAY 26, 2009.