PAWAN KUMAR versus STATE OF H.P.
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 458, Supreme Court of India, 2017
Outcome: Dismissed (Dismissed)
Segment: Facts
A 
B 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 458 
PAWAN KUMAR 
v. 
STATE OF H.P. 
(Criminal Appeal No, 775of2017) 
APRIL 28, 2017 
[DIPAK MISRA, A.M. KHANWILKAR AND 
MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR, JJ.I 
Penal Code, 1860: 
C 
s. 306 - Abetment of suicide - Conviction and sentence under 
- Correctness of - On facts, accused after acquittal in a cc.se u/ss. 
363, 366 aand 376 IPC, used to threaten the informant's daughter 
that he would kidnap her and had be_en constantly teasing her -
Girl committed suicide by setting herself ablaze - Recording of 
victim's dying declaration by Head Constable and thereafte1; victim 
D succumbed to her i1y'uries - Acquittal by the trial court, however, 
the High Court convicted the accused uls. 306 and sentenced 
accordingly - Held: Certificate of jltness is not the requirement of 
law, thus, in absence of the same, there was no reason to disregard 
the dying declaration - Head Constable recorded dying declaration 
E as narrated by the deceased and the deceased wrote that accused 
alone was responsible for her death - Same was recorded in 
presence of the doctor who had appended his signature - Trial 
court was swayed away by the burn injuries, whereas there cannot 
be ar. absolute rule that a person who suffered 80% burn injuries 
cannot give a dying declaration - Further, the dying declaration 
F 
was corroborated by other witnesses - Testimony of the parents in 
entirety, was unimpeachable and deserve credence - Accused had 
by his active acts and by his continuous
course of conduct created 
such a situation which compelled the girl to commit suicide - No 
material found that the victim was hypersensitive - Accused played 
G active role in tarnishing the self-esteem and self-respect of the victim 
which drove her to commit suicide - Thus, the High Court was correct 
in reversing the acquittal and sentencing accordingly~- Evidence -
Dying declaration. 
s. 306 - Abetment of suicide - When attracted - Explained. 
H 
458
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
459 
Evidence - Dying Declaration - Certificate of fitness of A 
declarant by doctor - Requirement of - Held: Certificate of fitness 
by the doctor is not the requirement of law. 
Eve Teasing - Practice of eve teasing of women deprecated 
by the Court - Eve teasing causes harassment to women - It ajfects 
right of women under Art. 14, 15 and 2 l' - Constitution of India -
B 
· Arts. 14, 15 and 21. 
Words and phrases: 
Word 'abetment' - Meaning of. in the context of ss. 306, 107 
Penal Code, 1860. 
Word 'instigate' and 'urge forward' - Meaning of 
Dismissing the app,eal, the Court 
c 
HELD: 1.1 On a careful scrutiny of the original record-dying 
declaration Ex.PW-10/A, it is found that the Head Constable had 
written what the deceased had spoken and thereafter the D 
deceased had written that the accused alone was responsible for 
her death. The dying declaration, as has been recorded ,by the 
Head Constable, eloquently states about the constant teasing of 
the victim by the accused. The same has been recorded in 
presence of the doctor, PW-10, who had appended his signature. 
PW-10 has stood firm in his testimony that the victim was in a fit 
E 
condition to speak. Despite the roving cross-examination he has 
not paved the path of tergiversation. The trial court disregarded 
, the testimony of PW-10 on the ground that there is no certificate 
of fitness. There is no reason to disregard the dying declaration. 
A certificate of fitness is not the
requirement of law. The trial 
F 
court was swayed away by the burn injuries. There cannot be an 
absolute rule that a person who has suffered 80% burn injuries 
cannot give a dying declaration. Her dying declaration received 
support from the other witnesses. In view of the corroborative 
evidence, the High Court correctly relied upon this aspect an<l 
reversed the finding of the trial court. [Paras 24, 27, 281(474-E-
G 
F; 477-A-B, H; 478-A] 
Gulzari Lal v. State of Haryana (2016) 4 SCC 583; 
Laxman v. State of Maharashtra (2002) 6 SCC 710; 
Atbir v. Government of NCT of Delhi (2010) 9 SCR 
993: (2010) 9 SCC 1 - relied on. 
H
460 
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B 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
1.2 As far as reliability of evidence of PW-1 and PW-9, the 
parents of the victim are concerned, the reasons for not treating 
their version as reliable is based on the fact that they had not 
reported the incident in writing to the Gram Panchayat. On a 
perusal of the evidence in entirety, it is found that the High Court 
appropriately dislodged the analysis made by the trial court. The 
evidence has to be appreciated regard being had to various 
circumstances. It is to be noted that the accused had been 
acquitted in the earlier offence and he had become a constant 
nuisance for the victim. In such a situation, the poor parents had 
no other option but to make a complaint to the Gram Panchayat. 
C To hold that their evidence is reproachable as the complaint was 
not given in writing manifestation of perverse approach. On a 
perusal of the evidence in entirety, it is found that the testimonies 
of the parents are absolutely unimpeachable and deserve 
credence. [Para 29][478-B-DI 
D 
1.3 The word 'abetment' has not been explained in Section 
E 
F 
306 IPC. In this context, the definition of abetment as provided 
under Section 107 is pertinent. Section 306 seeks to punish those 
who abet the commission of suicide of other. Whether the person 
has abetted the commission of suicide of another or not is to be 
gathered from facts and circumstances of each case and to be 
found out by continuous conduct of the accused,
involvin·g his 
mental element. Such a requirement can be perceived from the 
reading of Section 107 IPC. "Abetment", thus, means certain 
amount of active suggestion or support to do the act. The word 
"instigate" literally means to goad, urge forward, provoke, incite 
or encourage to do an act. A person is said to instigate another 
person when he actively suggests or stimulates him to an act by 
any means or language, direct or indirect, whether it takes the 
form of express solicitation or of hints, insinuation or 
encouragement. Instigation may be in (express) words or may 
be by (implied) conduct. The word "urge forwards" mzans to 
G advise or try hard to persuade somebody to do something, to 
make a person to move more quickly in the particular direction, 
specially by pushing or forcing such person. Therefore, a person 
instigating another has to "goad" or "urge forward" the latter 
with the intention to provoke, incite or encourage the doing of 
H
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
461 
an act with a latter. In order to prove abetment, it must be shown 
A 
that the accused kept on urging or annoying the deceased by 
words, taunts until the deceased reacted. A casual remark or 
something said in routine or usual conversation should not be 
construed or misunderstood as "abetment". [Paras 32, 35)(478-
G-H; 480-D-E, F-G; 479-FI 
Chitresh Kumar Chopra v. State (Government of NCT 
of Delhi) [2009) 13 SCR 230 : (2009) 16 sec 605; 
Ramesh Kumar v. State of Chhattisgarh [20011 4 Suppl. 
SCR 247 : (2001) 9 SCC 618; Randhir Singh and 
another v. State of Punjab [2004) 5 Suppl. SCR 351 : 
(2004) 13 SCC 129; Praveen Pradhan v. State of 
Uttaranchal & another [20121 8 SCR 1129 : (2012) 9 
SCC 734; Amalendu Pal alias Jhantu v. State of West 
Bengal [2009) 15 SCR 836 : (2010) 1 SCC 707; 
Kishori Lal v. State of M.P. [2007] 7 SCR 1051 : (2007) 
10 SCC 797; Kishangiri Mangalgiri Goswami v. State 
of Gujarat [200911 SCR 672 : (2009) 4 SCC 52; Netai 
Dutta v. State of W.B. (2005) 2 SCC 659 - referred to. 
1.4 Mere allegation of harassment without any positive 
action in proximity to the time of occurrence on the part of the 
accused that led a person to commit suicide, a conviction in terms 
of Section 306 IPC is not sustainable. A casual remark that is 
likely to cause harassment in ordinary course of things will not 
come w!thin the purview of instigation. A mere reprimand or a 
word in a fit of anger will not earn the status of abetment.
There 
B 
c 
D 
E 
has to be positive action that creates a situation for the victim to 
put an end to life. [Para 411[484-C-DI 
F 
' 
1.5 In the instant case, the accused had by his acts and by 
his continuous course of conduct created such a situation as a 
consequence of which the deceased was left with no other option 
except to commit suicide. The active acts of the accused led the 
deceased to put an end to her life. That apart, no material is found 
G 
on record which compels the court to conclude that the victim 
committing suicide was hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, 
discord and difference in domestic life quite common to the 
society to which the victim belonged. On the other hand, Jhe 
accused played active role in tarnishing the self-esteem and self-
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462 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
_ A respect of the victim which drove the victim girl to commit 
suicide. The cruelty meted out to her in fact, induced her to 
extinguish her life-spark. [Para 42] [484-E-F] 
1.6 The High Court did not reverse the judgment of 
acquittal solely on the basis of dying declaration. It placed reliance 
B on the evidence of the parents and also other witnesses. It also 
treated the version of the Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat as 
credible. All these witnesses deposed that the accused after his 
acquittal engaged himself in threatening and teasing the girl. He 
did not allow her to live in peace. [Para 43]f 484-G] 
c 
1.7 The harassment caused to her had become intolerable 
and unbearable. The father had deposed that the girl had told 
him on number of occasions and he had complained to the Pradhan. 
All these amount to active part played by the accused. It is not a 
situation where someone feels humiliated on a singular act. It is 
a different situation altogether. The young girl living in a village 
D was threatened and teased constantly. She could not bear it any 
longer. There is evidence that the parents belong to tht poor 
strata of the society. As the materials on record would r,~flect, 
the father could not afford her treatment when case of his daughter 
was referred to other hospital. It is evident from the materials on 
E 
recor-0 that the conduct of the accused was absolutely proactive. 
[Para 44][484-H; 485-A-CI 
1.8 The
instant case eminently projects a case of 
psychological harassment. This Court is at pains to state that in a 
civilized sociefy eve-teasing is causing harassment to women in 
F 
educational instit1,1tions, public places, parks, railways stations 
and other public places which only go t1t show that requisite sense 
of respect for women has not been socially cultivated. A woman 
has her own space as a man has. She enjoys as much equality 
under Article 14 o( the Constitution as a man does. The right to 
live with dignity as guaranteed under Article 21 cannot be violated 
G by indulging in obnoxi.ous act of eve-teasing. It affects the 
fundamental concept of ·g~nder sensitivity and justice and the 
rights of a woman under Article 14. That apart it creates an 
incurable dent in the right of a woman which she has under Article 
15. One is compelled to think and constrained to deliberate why 
H the women in this country cannot be allowed to live in peace and
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
463 
lead a life that is empowered with a dignity and freedom. It has to A 
be kept in mind that she has a right to life and entitled to love 
according to her choice. She has the absolute right to reject. She . 
has an individual choice which has been legally recognized. It 
has to be socially respected. [Para 45)(485-E-H; 486-A] 
1.9 In a civilized society male chauvinism has no room. The B 
Constitution of India confers the affirmative rights on women and 
the said rights are perceptible from Article 15 of the Constitution. 
When the right is conferred under the Constitution, it has to be 
understood that there is no condescendation. A man should not 
put his ego or, for that matter, masculinity on a pedestal and 
abandon the concept of civility. Egoism must succumb to law. C 
Equality has to be regarded as the s11mm11m bon11m of the 
constitu~ional principle in this context. The instant case portrays 
the deplorable depravity of the accused that led to a heart breaking 
situation for a young girl who has been compelled to put an end 
to her life. Therefore, the High Court was correct in reversing 
D 
the judgment of acquittal and imposed the sentence. It appositely 
exercised the jurisdiction and the same is concurred with. [Para 
46)(486-B-CI 
Deputy Inspector General of Police and another v. S. 
Samuthiram [2012) 11 SCR 174 : (2013) 1 SCC 598; 
Jadunath Singh and others v. State of Uttar Pradesh 
(1971) 3 SCC 577; Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade
v. State 
of Maharashtra [19741 1 SCR 489 : (1973) 2 SCC 
793; State of Karnataka v. K. Gopalakrishna (2005) 9 
SCC 291; Girja Prasad (dead) by LRs. v. State of MP. 
[2007) 9 SCR 483 : (2007) 7 SCC 625; State of Uttar 
Pradesh v. Ajai Kumar [20081 2 SCR 552 : (2008) 3 
SCC 351; State of Rajasthan v. Sohan Lal [2004] 1 
Suppl. SCR 480 : (2004) 5 SCC 573; Chandrappa and 
others v. State of Kamataka [20071 2 SCR 630 : (2007) 
4 SCC 415; Vijay Pal v. State (Government of NCT of 
Delhi) [2015] 3 SCR 394 : (2015) 4 SCC 749 - referred 
to. 
Case Law Reference 
(1971) 3 sec 577 
[1974] 1 SCR 489 
referred to 
Para 9 
referred to 
Para 10 
E 
F 
G 
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
A 
(2005) 9 sec 291 
referred to 
Para 11 
(2007) 9 SCR 483 
referred to 
Para 12 
(2008) 2 SCR 552 
referred to 
Para 13 · 
(2004) l Suppl. SCR 480 
referred to 
Para 13 
·s 
[2007) 2 SCR 630 
referred to 
Para 14 
(2016) 4 sec 583 
relied on 
Para 21 
c2002) 6 sec 110 
relied on 
Para 24 
(20l0] 9 SCR 993 
relied on 
Para 25 
c. 
(2015) 3 SCR 394 
referred to 
Para 27 
' 
[2009) 13 SCR 230 
referred to 
Para 33 
[2001) 4 Suppl. SCR 247 
referred to 
Para 33 
[ 20041 5 Suppl. SCR 351 
referred to 
Para 36 
D 
[2012) 8 SCR 1129 
referred to 
Para 37 
[ 20091 15 SCR 836 
referred to 
Para 38 
[2007) 7 SCR 1051 
referred to 
Para 38 
E 
[2009) 1 SCR 672 
referred to 
Para 38 
(2005) 2 sec 659 
referred to 
Para 39 
[2012) 11 SCR 174 
referred to 
Para 45 
CRlMINALAPPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No. 
775of2017. 
F 
From the Judgment and Order dated 30.06.2016 and 07.07.2016 
of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla in Criminal Appeal No. 
568of2010. 
Sanchar Anand, Apoorv Singhal, Anant K. Vatsya, N;mingh N. 
G Rai, Dr. Sushi! Balwada, Advs. for the Appellant. 
D. K. Thakur, AAG,. Varinder Kumar Sh~rma, Adv. for the 
Respondent. 
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by 
H
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
465 
DIPAK MISRA, J. I. The present appeal, by special leave, A 
·depicts the sorrowful story of a young girl, in the middle of her teens, 
falling in love with the accused-appellant and driven by the highest degree 
of youthful fixation, elopes with him, definitely in complete trnst, and 
after the accused is booked for the offences punishable under Sections 
363, 366 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (lPC), she stands behind him 
B 
like a colossus determined to support which consequently leads to his 
acquittal. In all possibility, she might have realized that the accused 
should not be punished, for she was also equally at fault. Be that as it 
may, as per the prosecution version, he was extended the benefit of 
acquittal. 
2. The sad story gets into a new and different beginning. The 
C 
accused feels that he has been prosecuted due to the prosecutrix and 
, gets obsessed with idea of threatening the girl and that continues and 
eventually eve-teasing becomes a matter of routine. Here, as the 
exposition of the prosecution uncurtains, a situation is created by the 
accused which becomes insufferable, where the young girl feels 
D 
unassured and realizes that she could no more live in peace. The feeling 
gets embedded and the helpless situation compels her to think that the 
life is not worth living. Resultantly, she pours kerosene on her body and 
puts herself ablaze but death does not visit instantly and that is.how she 
was taken to a
nearby hospital, where in due course of investigation, her 
dying declaration is recorded, but she ultimately succumbs to her injuries 
E 
· and the "prana" leaves the body and she becomes a "body" - a dead 
one. 
3. The question that is required to be answered is whether the 
accused can be convicted under Section 306 IPC. The case of the 
prosecution as projected is that deceased was the daughter of the 
F 
informant, PW-1, Sukh Dev, and after acquittal in the case under Sections 
363, 366 and 376 IPC, the accused-appellant used to threaten the girl 
that he would kidnap her, and had been constantly teasing her. It is the 
case of the prosecution that on 18.07.2008 at 9.00 p.m., appellant came 
to the house of infomiant and threatened him that he would forcibly take 
G 
her. As the narration further unfolds on 19.07.2008 about 10.00 a.m. 
when the informant alongwith his wife was working outside in the field, 
the deceased poured kerosene oil on her and set herself ablaze which 
was extinguished by the father, and immediately Pradhan of Gram 
Panchayat was informed. The injured girl was taken to the private hospital 
at Daulatpur where she was referred to Chandigarh for further medical 
H
466 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
A treatment but the informant could not take her to Chandigarh due to 
paucity of money and in the evening Pradhan of the village visited the 
house of the informant and the deceased gave one written document to 
the Pradhan stating that the accused-appellant was responsible for her 
conditionwhereafter police was informed and statement of the informant 
B was recorded and the victim was medically examined. On 24.07.2008, 
the dying declaration of the girl was recorded by the Head Constable in 
the presence of Medical Officer and after the victim expired the post-
mortem was conducted and an FIR was registered. After the criminal 
law was set in motion, the investigating agency after completing the 
invesrigation laid the charge sheet before the competent court which, in 
C turn, committed the case to the Court of Session. 
D 
4. The accused abjured his guilt and pleaded false implication. 
The prosecution in order to establish the charge examined 14 witnesses. 
The defence chose not to examine any witness. The learned Sessions 
Judge, after hearing the arguments, posed the following question: 
"Whether the prosecution has successfully proved the liability of 
accused under Section 306 of IPC beyond the scope of all 
reasonable doubts?"; 
and answered the question in the negative and consequently 
acquitted the accused-appellant vide judgment and order dated J 6tl1 July, 
E 2010. 
5. Being aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment, the
State preferred 
the appeal before the High Court. The Division Bench of the High 
Court, after reappreciating the evidence, reversed the judgment of 
acquittal rendered by the trial court and convicted the accused-appellant 
F under Section 306 IPC and sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment 
for seven years and to pay fine of Rs. 10,000/-and in default of payment 
of fine, to further undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one 
year. 
6. We have heard Mr. Sanchar Anand, learned counsel for the 
G appellant and Mr. D.K. Thakur, learned Additional Advocate General 
for the respondent-State. 
H 
7. It is submitted by Mr. Anand, learned counsel for the appellant 
that the judgment rendered by the learned trial Judge is absolutely flawless 
since he has analysed the evidence in great detail and appreciated them
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
467 
in correct perspective. It is his further submission that the trial court A 
scrutinizing the medical evidence and the bum injuries sustained by the 
victim has appositely discarded the dying declaration, Ex.PW-10/A. It 
is further put forth that when cogent reasons have been ascribed by the 
trial court for not placing reliance upon the dying declaration and the 
testimony of the prosecution witnesses, the High Court, in such a fact 
B 
situation, should have been well advised not to interfere with the judgment 
of acquittal. It is also canvassed by him that when the appreciation of 
evidence by the trial court is not perverse and the view expressed by it 
is a plausible one, the High Court should not have interfered witl1 the 
judgment of acquittal. 
8. Mr. D.K. Thakur, learned Additional Advocate General C 
appearing for the respondent-State, in support of the impugned judgment, 
would contend that the High Court has reappreciated the evidence and 
on such reappraisal has found the conclusion pertaining to medical 
condition of the victim is wholly incorrect and accordingly opined that 
the acquittal recorded by the learned trial Judge is unsupportable and, 
D 
therefore, this Court should give the stamp of approval to the same. 
9. First we shall deal with the nature of jurisdiction the High Court 
exercises when it reverses a judgment of acquittal to that of conviction 
in exercise of appellate jurisdiction. It is
put forth by the learned Additional 
Advocate General that the prosecution has been able to establish the 
active role played by the accused by adducing cogent evidence and 
hence, the reversal of the judgment of acquittal by the High Court is 
absolutely flawless. In Jadunath Singh and others v. State of Uttar 
Pradesh 1, a three-Judge Bench of this Court has opined:-
"22. This Court has consistently taken the view that in an appeal 
against acquittal the High Court has full power to review at large 
all the evidence and to reach the conclusion that upon that evidence 
the order of acquittal should be reversed. This power of the 
appellate court in an appeal against acquittal was formulated by 
E 
F 
the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Shea Swarup v. 
King Emperor and Nur Mohammad v. Emperor3. These two 
G 
decisions have been consistently referred to in the judgments of 
this Court as laying down the true scope of the power of an 
appellate court in hearing criminal appeals (see Surajpal Singh 
1 (1971)3 sec 577 
2 AIR 1934 PC 227 
3 AIR 1945 PC 151 
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468 
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• 
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
v. State4 and Sanwat Singh v. State of Rajasthan5)." 
10. In Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra6, the 
Court has ruled that there are no fetters on the plenary power of the 
appellate Court to review the whole evidence on which the order of 
acquittal is founded and, indeed, it has a duty to scrutinise the probative 
material de novo, informed, however, by the weighty thought that the 
rebuttable innocence attributed to the accused having been converted 
into an acquittal, the homage the jurisprudence owes to individual liberty 
constrains the higher court not to upset the finding without very convincing 
reasons and comprehensive consideration. 
11. In State of Karnataka v. K. Gopalakrishna7, it has been 
held that where the findings of the court below are fully unreasonable or 
perverse and not based on the evidence on record or suffer from serious 
illegality and include ignorance and misreading of record, the appellate 
court will be justified in setting aside such an order of acquittal. 
12. In Girja Prasad (dead) by LRs. v. State of M.P. 8, it has been 
observed that in an appeal against acquittal the appellate court has every 
power to reappreciate, review and reconsider the evidence as a whole 
before it. The Court further stated that it is, no doubt, true that there is 
a presumption ofinnocence in favour of the accused and that presumption 
is reinforced by an order of acquittal
recorded by the trial court, but that 
is not the end of the matter, for it is for the appellate court to keep in 
view the relevant principles of law, to reappreciate and reweigh the 
evidence as a whole and to come to its own conclusion in accord with 
the principles of criminal jurisprudence .. 
13. In State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ajai Kumar9, the principles 
stated in State of Rajasthan v. Solian La/10 were reiterated. It is worth 
noting that in Sohan Lal (supra), it has been stated thus:-
;_AIR 1952 SC 52 
'AIR l 96I SC 715 
. • (I973) 2 sec 793 
'(200S) 9 sec 291 
• (2007) 1 sec 625 
• (ZOOS) 3 sec 351 
10 (2004) 5 sec 573
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DlPAK MISRA, J.] 
469 
"3 .... This Court has repeatedly laid down that as the first appellate A 
court the High Court, even while dealing with an appeal against acquittal, 
was also entitled, and obliged as well, to scan through and if need be 
reappreciate the entire evidence, though while choosing to interfere only 
the court should find an absolute assurance of the guilt on the basis of 
the evidence on record and not merely because the High Court could B 
take one more possible or a different view only. Except the above, where 
the matter of the extent and depth of consideration of the appeal is 
concerned, no distinctions or differences in approach are envisaged in 
dealing with an appeal as such merely because one was against 
conviction or the other against an acquittal." 
14. In Chandrappa and others v. State of Karnataka 11 , this 
C 
Court culled out the general principles regarding powers of the appellate 
court while dealing with an appeal against an order of acquittal. The 
said principles are enumerated below:-
"(1) An appellate court has full power to review, reappreciate and 
reconsider the evidence upon which the order of acquittal is 
D 
founded. 
(2) The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 puts no limitation, 
restriction or condition on exercise of such power and an appellate 
court on the evidence before it may reach its own conclusion, 
both on questions of fact and oflaw. 
E 
(3) Various expressions, such as, 'substantial
and compelling 
reasons', 'good and sufficient grounds', 'very strong 
circumstances', 'distorted conclusions', 'glaring mistakes', etc. 
are not intended to curtail extensive powers of an appellate court 
in an appeal against acquittal. Such phraseologies are more in the 
F 
nature of 'flourishes of language' to emphasise the reluctance of 
an appellate court to interfere with acquittal than to curtail the 
power of the court to review the evidence and to come to its own 
conclusion. 
( 4) An appellate court, however, must bear in mind that in case of G 
acquittal, there is double presumption in favour of the accused . 
. Firstly, the presumption of innocence is available to him under the 
fundamental principle of criminal jurisprudence that every person 
11 (2007) 4 sec 415 
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470 
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
shall be presumed to be innocent unless he is proved guilty by a 
competent court of law. Secondly, the accused having secured 
his acquittal, the presumption of his innocence is further reinforced, 
reaffirmed and strengthened by the trial court. 
(5) If two reasonable conclusions are possible on the basis of the 
evidence on record, the appellate court should not disturb the finding 
of acquittal recorded by the trial court." 
15. In Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade (supra), taking note of the 
contemporary context, the Court held:-
" .... The dangers of exaggerated devotion to the rule of benefit of 
doubt at the expense of social defence and to the soothing sentiment 
that all acquittals are always good regardless of justice to the 
victim and the community, demand especial emphasis in the 
contemporary context of escalating crime and escape. The judicial 
instrument has a public accountability. The cherished principles 
or golden thread of proof beyond reasonable doubt which runs 
through the web of our law should not be stretched morbidly to 
embrace every hunch, hesitancy and degree of doubt. The 
excessive solicitude reflected in the attitude that a thousand guilty 
men may go but one innocent martyr shall not suffer is a false 
dilemma. Only reasonable doubts belong to the accused. Otherwise 
any practical system of justice will then break down and lose 
credibility with the community. The evil of
acquitting a guilty person 
light heartedly as a leamedAuthor12 has sapiently observed, goes 
much beyond the simple fact that just one guilty person has gone 
unpunished. lfunmerited acquittals become general, they tend to 
lead to a cynical disregard of the law, and this in tum leads to a 
public demand for harsher legal presumptions against indicted 
"persons" and more severe punishment of those who are found 
guilty. Thus, too frequent acquittals of the guilty may lead to a 
ferocious penal law, eventually eroding the judicial protection of 
the guiltless. For all these reasons it is true to say, with Viscount 
Simon, that "a miscarriage of justice may arise from the acquittal 
of the guilty no less than from the conviction of the innocent .... " 
In short. our jurisprudential enthusiasm for presumed innocence 
12 Glanville Williams in 'Proof of Guilt'.
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
471 
must be moderated by the pragmatic need to make criminal jcstice A 
potent and realistic." 
[emphasis supplied] 
16. Keeping in view the principles laid down in the aforesaid 
authorities, we shall scan the approach of the learned trial Judge and 
scrutinize the correctness of deliberation of the High Court and adjudge 
B 
the ultimate reversal of the judgment of the trial court. 
17. On a careful examination and close study of the judgment of 
the trial court, it is perceivable that the learned trial Judge, after 
enumerating the facts, has analysed the evidence and come to the 
conclusion that the prosecution has failed to prove the culpability of the 
C 
accused under Section 306 lPC. He has disbelieved the evidence of 
PW-I, Sukh Dev, the father of the deceased, on the principal ground 
that though after acquittal of the accused in the criminal case instituted 
for offence under Sections 363/364/376 lPC, teased his daughter, yet he 
only made an oral complaint to the Gram Panchayat and did not file a D 
written complaint before it. That apart, the learned trial Judge has noted 
that though PW-I had stated in the FIR that the accused had threatened 
to forcibly take away his daughter, he had not so stated in his deposition. 
The dying declaration, that is, Ex. PW-101 A, has not been given credence 
to on the ground that the victim was not in a position to speak and had 
sustained 80% burn injuries and further as her
both hands were burnt, 
E 
she could not have written what has been alleged to have written by her 
in the said document.On that ground, the learned trial Judge arrived at 
the conclusion that it would not be safe to rely on the said dying declaration.· 
Be it noted, Ex. PW-10/A was written by the deceased on 24.07.2008. 
He has also disbelieved the testimony of the material witnesses on the 
F 
same ground. 
· 
18. As is evincible, the learned trial Judge has also not found Ex. 
PW-101 A, which had been recorded on 24.07 .2008 by the investigating 
officer, PW-13, as reliable as the victim was under treatment and the 
· medical officer PW-10, Dr. Sanjay, who had deposed that he had 
G 
appended his endorsement in PW-10/B, but not issued any certificate 
that the victim was mentally fit to give her statement. Leaned trial 
Judge has observed that barring the aforesaid evidence, there is no 0ther 
evidence on record to connect the accused with the crime. lt is worthy 
to note that he has referred to the post- mortem report which recorded 
H
472 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
A that the victim had suffered burn injuries and finally arrived at the 
conclusion that there is no specific evidence to record a conviction against 
the accused. 
·· 19. The High Court, as is noticeable, has taken note of the fact 
that PW-1 has testified that the accused had earlier faced trial for the 
B offences under Sections 363, 366 and 376 IPC and remained in jail for 
eleven months and, therefore, he threatened the victim that he, would 
again kidnap her. That apart, PW-1, Sukh Dev, father of the deceased, 
had also deposed that the accused used to tease her daughter by gestures 
and his daughter used to narrate these facts to him and his wife. He had 
also stated that that he had made an oral complaint to the Pre8ident of 
C the Gram Panchayat, Bathra who, in his turn, had admonished the accused 
and told him to mend his ways. The High Court further took note of the 
fact that PW-1 has vividly described the bum injuries sustained by his 
.. daughter and the reason for the same. 
20. PW-2, Jai Singh, as his evidence would show, which has also 
D been taken note of by the High Court, is the Pradhan of the village. He 
has testified about the conduct of the accused and how he had asked 
him to understand the situation. He has also deposed about the victim 
being taken to the hospital and the nature of treatment administered to 
him. The High Court has also dealt with the evidence of PW-3, Dr. 
E Kulbhushan Sood, who had
issued MLC, Ex. PW-3/B and admitted that 
the victim had suffered 80% bum injuries and opined that the same is 
sufficient to affect the mental capability of the patient. The High Court 
has also analysed the evidence of PW~9, Sawarna Devi, mother of the 
deceased, who has deposed about the whole incident. PW-10, Dr .. Sanjay, · 
on whom the High Court has placed heavy reliance, was posted as Senior 
F Resident in the Department of Surgery ir:i RPGMC, Tanda. The police 
had orally requested him to accompany them as the statement of the 
victim was to be recorded and 24.07.2008 and he went to the ward 
where the victim was and the statement of the injured was recorded by 
the police, Ex. PW-10/A, in his presence. The High Court has also 
G appreciated the fact that in the cross-examination, treating doctor-had 
admitted that he had not issued any certificate that the victim was mentally 
fit to make a statement. It is pertinent to mention that the said witness 
has denied the suggestion that the victim was not fit to make statement 
and Ex. PW-10/A was not her statement. 
· 
H
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] · 
473 
2 I. After analyzing the evidence, the High Court has found that A 
the trial court has acquitted the accused on the ground that the deceased 
was not fit to write Ex. PW-10/AandPW-10, Dr. Sanjay, had not issued 
the certificate that the deceased was in a fit mentaJcondition to givs: the 
statement on 24.07.2008. The High Court has observed that it had perused ,. 
Ex. PW-IO/A wherefrom it was reflectible that the victim had written 
that the accused would be responsible for her death. The analysis of the 
B 
High Court is as follows:-
"lt is evident from the hand\.vriting that Shalu was in tremendous 
pain and agony when she was writing that accuse_d would be 
responsible for her death. Thi_s was written on I9.7.2008. It is 
also written in Ext. PW-2/A by the Pradhan that Shalu had C 
received bum injuries and she told him that accused used to tease -
her. Thus she has taken this extreme step. It has come in the 
statement ofPW-I Sukh Dev and his wife (PW-9) Sawama Devi 
that the accused used to tease their daughter even after his acquittal 
in criminal case. They had informed this fact to the Pradhan of D 
Gram Panchayat, PW-2 Jai Singh. Jai Singh (PW-2) has also 
admitted that complaint was lodged with him and-he has told the 
accused to mend his way." 
Andagain:-
"PW-I3 SI Surjeet Singh has recorded the statement of deceased 
E 
vide Ext.PW-IO/Aon 24.7.2008. PW-W Dr. Sanjay has deposed · 
that the police had recorded
the statement ofShalu in his presence. 
He attested the same vi de endorsement Ext.PW-I O/B. Police has · 
·written the same version in Ext. PW-IO/A, which was told by -
Sahlu. Statement Ext. PW~IO/A would constitute a dying 
F 
declaration under Section 32 of the Evidence Act. Merely that 
the Doctor has not issued certificate that Shalu was fit to make 
statement would not in any way affect the dying declaration made 
by deceased on 24.07.2008, that too in the presence of PW-10 dr. 
San jay. It is duly proved by the prosecution that the accused alone 
was responsible for abetting suicide committed by the deceased. 
G 
She received 80-85% superficial ante-mortem bums. She might 
have received 80-85% burns but still she had sufficient strength 
to write Ext. PW-2/A." 
The High Court has relied on the decision in Gulzari Lal v. State 
H
474 
SUPREME COURT RFPn:us 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
A of Haryana 13 , and come to hold that a valid dying declaration may be 
made without obtaining a certificate fitness of the declarant by medical 
officer. 
22. It is demonstrable that the trial court has acquitted the accused 
by disregarding the version of parents of the deceased and other witnesses 
B and treating the dying declaration as invalid and the High Court, on the 
contrary, has placed reliance on the testimony of the parents of the 
deceased, and the evidence of the village Pradhan and also given 
credence to the dying declaration. 
23. As is seen, the non-reliance on the dying declaration by the 
c learned trial Judge is founded on the reason that the deceased was not in 
a position to speak and there was no medical certificate appended as 
regards her fitness. That apart, the learned trial Judge has regarded the 
dying declaration as unacceptable and unreliable on the base that the 
deceased had sustained 80% burn injuries. The High Court has found 
the said approach to be absolutely erroneous. 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
24. The hub of the matter is whether the dying declaration Ex. 
Pw-101 A is to be treated as realiable 
not. To appreciate the validity of 
the dying declaration, we have requisitioned the original record and had 
pernsed the same. On a careful scrntiny of the same, we find that the 
Head Constable had written what the deceased had spoken and thereafter 
the deceased had written that the accused alone was
responsible for her 
death. The dying declaration, as has been recorded by the Head 
Constable, eloquently states about the constant teasing of the victim by 
the accused. PW-10, Dr. Sanjay, has stood firm in his testimony that the 
victim was in a fit condition to speak. Despite the roving cross-examination 
he has not paved the path oftergiversation. The trial court, as mentioned 
earlier, has disregarded the testimony of PW-I 0 on the ground that there 
is no certificate of fitness. In this context, reference to the Constitution 
Bench decision in Laxman v. State of Maharashtra 14 would be 
absolutely seemly. In the said case, the larger Bench, while stating the 
law relating to the dying declaration, has succinctly held:-
"3 .... A dying declaration can be oral or in writing and any 
adequate method of communication whether by words or by signs 
or otherwise will suffice provided the indication is positive and 
" (20 J 6) 4 sec 583 
" (2002) 6 sec 11 o
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF KP. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
475 
definite. In most cases, however, such statements are made orally A 
before death ensues and is reduced to writing by someone like a 
Magistrate or a doctor or a police officer. When it is recorded, no 
oath is necessary nor is the presence of a Magistrate absolutely 
necessary, although to assure authenticity it is usual to call a 
Magistrate, if available for recording the statement of a man about 
B 
to die. There is no requirement of law that a dying declaration 
must necessarily be made to a Magistrate and when such 
statement is recorded by a Magistrate there is no specified 
statutory form for such recording. Consequently, what evidential 
value or weight has to be attached to such statement necessarily 
depends on the facts and circumstances of each particular case. 
C 
What is essentially required is that the person who records a dying 
declaration must be satisfied that the deceased was in a fit state 
of mind. Where it is proved by the testimony of the Magistrate 
that the declarant was fit to make the statement even without 
. examination by the doctor the declaration can be acted upon 
D 
provided the court ultimately holds the same to be voluntary and 
truthful. A certification by the doctor is essentially a rule of caution 
and therefore the voluntary and truthful nature of the declaration 
can be established otherwise." 
25. In Atbir v. Government of NCT of Dellti15, the Court, after 
noting earlier
judgments, has laid the following guidelines with regard to 
E 
admissibility of the dying declaration:-
"22. The analysis of the above decisions clearly shows that: 
(i) Dying declaration can be the sole basis of conviction if it inspires 
the full confidence of the court. 
F 
(ii) The court should be satisfied that the deceased was in a fit 
state of mind at the time of making the statement and that it was 
not the result of tutoring, prompting or imagination. 
(iii) Where the court is satisfied that the declaration. is true and 
voluntary, it can base its conviction. without any further G 
corroboration. 
(iv) It cannot be laid down as an absolute rule of law that the 
dying declaration cannot form the sole basis of conviction unless 
1' (2010) 9 sec 1
476 
A 
B 
SUPREME .COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
it is corroborated. The rnle requiring corroboration is merely a 
rule of prudence. 
(v) Where the dying declaration is suspicious, it should not be 
acted upon without c9rroborative evidence. 
(vi) A dying declaration which suffers from infirmity such as the 
deceased was unconscious and could never make any statement 
cannot form the basis of conviction. 
(vii) Merely because a dying declaration does not contain all the 
details as to the occurrence, it is not to be rejected. 
c 
(viii) Even ifit is a brief statement, it is not to be discarded. 
(ix) When the eyewitness affirms that the deceased was.not in a 
fit and conscious state to make the dying declaration, medical 
opinion cannot prevail. 
(x) Ifafter careful scrutiny, the court is satisfied that it is tme and 
D 
free from any effort to induce the deceased to make a false 
· statement and if it is coherent and consistent, there shall be no 
legal impediment to make it the ba~is of conviction, even .if th~re 
is no corroboration." 
26. Recently, in Gu/zari Lal (supra), the Court confirmed the 
E conviction by placing reliance on the statement made by the deceased 
and recorded by the Head Constable on the basis of the principles stated 
in Laxman (supra). The analysis in the said case is as follows:~ 
F 
G 
H 
"23. In reference to the position of law laid down by this Court, 
we find no reason to question the reliability of the dying declaration 
of the deceased
for the reason that at the time of recording his 
statement by the Head Constable Manphool Singh (PW 7), he 
was found to be mentally fit to give his statement regarding the 
occurrence. Further, evidence of Head Constable Manphhol Singh 
(PW 7) was shown to be trustworthy and has been accepted by 
the courts below. The view taken. by the High Court does not 
suffer from any infirmity and the same is in order. 
24. The conviction by the High Court was based not only on the 
statements made by Maha Singh (deceased) but also on the 
unshattered testimony of the eyewitness Dari ya Singh (PW 1) 
and the statement of the independent witness Rajinder Singh (PW 
11)."
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
477 
27. Tested on the anvil of the aforesaid authorities, we find that A 
there is no reason to disregard the dying declaration. The Head Constable 
·has recorded it as narrated by the deceased and the deceased has also 
written few words about the accused. The same has been recorded in 
presence of the doctor, PW-10, who had appended his signature. A 
certificate of fitness is not the requirement of law. The trial court has 
B 
been swayed away by the bum injuries. It is worthy to note that there 
cannot be an absolute rule that a person who has suffered 80% bum 
injuries cannot give a dying declaration. In Vijay Pal v. State 
(Government of NCT of Delhi)1 6, the Court repelled the submission , 
with regard to dying declaration made by the deceased who had sustained 
100% bum injuries stating that:-
C 
"22. Thus, the law is quite clear that if the dying declaration is 
absolutely credible and nothing is brought on record that the 
deceased was in such a condition, he or she could not have made 
a dying declaration to a witness, there is no justification io discard 
the same. In the instant case, PW l had immediately rushed to 
D 
the house of the deceased and she had told him that her husband 
had poured kerosene on her. The plea taken by the appellant that 
he has been falsely implicated because his money was deposited 
with the in-laws and they were not inclined to return; does not 
also really breathe the truth, for there
is even no suggestion to 
· that effect. 
23. It is contended by the learned counsel for the appellant that 
when the deceased sustained 100% bum injuries, she could.not 
have made any statement to her brother. In this regard, we may 
profitably refer to the decision in Mafabhai Nagarbhai Raval v. 
State of Gujarat17 wherein it has been held that a person suffering 
99% bum injuries could be deemed capable enough for the purpose, 
of making a dying declaration. The Comi in the said case opined 
E 
F 
that unless there existed some inherent and apparent defect, the 
trial court should not have substituted its opinion for that of the 
docfor. In the light of the facts of the case, the dying decfaration 
G 
was found to be worthy ofreliance." 
28. Quite apart from the above, her dying declaration has received 
"' (2015) 4 sec 749 
17 (1992)4SCC69 
H·
478 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
A support from the other witnesses. In view of the corroborative evidence, 
we are of the considered opinion that the High Court has correctly relied 
uponthis aspect and has reversed the finding of the trial court. 
29. As far as reliability of evidence of PW-I and PW-9, the parents 
of the victim are concerned, the reasons for not treating their version as 
B reliable is based on the fact that they had not reported the incident in 
writing to the Gram Panchayat. On a perusal of the evidence in entirety, 
we find that the High Court has appropriately dislodged the analysis 
made by the trial court. The evidence has to be appreciated regard being 
had to various circumstances. It is to be noted that the accused has been 
acquitted in the earlier offence and he has become a constant nuisance 
C for the victim. In such a situation, the poor parents had no other option 
but'to make a complaint to the Gram Panchayat. To hold that their 
evidence is reproachable as the complaint was not given in writing 
manifestation of perverse approach. On a perusal of the evidence in 
entirety, we find that the testimonies of the parents are absolutely 
D unimpeachable and deserve credence. 
30. The next aspect which is required to be addressed is ·.vhether 
Section 306 IPC gets attracted. Submission of the learned counsel for 
the appellant is that even assuming the allegation is accepted to have 
been proved, it would not come within the ambit
and scope of Section 
E 306 IPC as there is no abetment. 
31. Section 306 IPC reads as under:-
"Section 306. Abetinent of suicide.-If any person commits 
suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall be 
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which 
F 
may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine." 
32. The word 'abetment' has not been explained in Section 306 
IPC. In this context, the definition of abetment as provided under Section 
107 JPC is pertinent. Section 306 IPC seeks to punish those who abet 
the commission of suicide of other. Whether the person has abetted the 
G commission of suicide of another or not is to be gathered from facts and 
circumstances of each case and to be found out by continuous conduct 
of the accused, involving his mental element. Such a requirement can 
be perceived from the reading of Section I 07 IPC. Section I 07 IPC 
reads as under:-
H
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
479 
"Section 107. Abetment of a thing.-A person abets the doing A 
of a thing, who--
First. -
Instigates any person to do that thing; or 
Secondly. -Engages with one or more other person or persons 
in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal 
omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order B 
to the doing of that thing; or 
Thirdly. -
Intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the 
. doing of that thing. 
Explanation 1.-A person who, by wilful misrepresentation, or 
C 
by wilful concealment of a material fact which he is bound to 
dis-close, voluntarily causes or procures, or attempts to cause or 
procure, a thing to be done, is said to instigate the doing of that 
thing. 
illustration-A, a public officer, is authorized by a \Varrant from 
D 
a Court of Justice to apprehend Z. B, knowing that fact and also 
that C is not Z, wilfully represents to A that C is Z, and thereby 
intentionally causes A to apprehend C. Here B abets by instigation 
the apprehension of C. 
Explanation 2.-Whoever, either prior to or at the time of the 
commission of an act, does anything in order to facilitate the 
commission of that act, and thereby facilitate the commission 
thereof, is said to aid the doing of that act." 
"Abetment", thus, means certain amount of active suggestion or 
support to do the act. 
33. Analysing the concept of"abetment" as found in Section 107 
IPC, a two-Judge Bench in
Chitresll Kumar Chopra i•. State 
(Government ofNCT of Delhi)" has held:-
E 
F 
" 13. As per the section, a person can be said to have abetted in 
doing a thing, if he,.firstly, instigates any person to do that thing; 
G 
or secondly, engages with one or more other person or persons in 
any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission 
takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the 
doing of that thing; or thirdly, intentionally aids, by any act or 
"(2009) 16 sec 605 
H
480 
A 
B 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
illegal omission, the doing of that thing. Explanation to Section 107 
states that any wilful misrepresentation or wilful concealment of 
material fact which he is bound to disclose, may also come within 
the contours of"abetment". It is manifest that under all the three 
situations, direct involvement of the person or persons concerned 
in the commission of offence of suicide is essential to bring home 
the offence under Section 306 IPC. 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
15: As per clause Firstly in the said section, a person can be said 
to have abetted in doing of a thing, who "instigates" any person to 
c 
do that thing. The word "instigate" is not defined in IPC. The 
· meaning of the said word was considered by this Court in Ramesh 
Kumar v. State of Chhattisgarh 19." 
In the said authority, the learned Judges have referred to the 
pronouncement in Ramesh Kumar v. State of Chhattisgarh. 
D 
34. The word "instigate" literally means to goad, urge forward, 
provoke, incite or encourage to do an act. A person is said to i.:stigate 
another person when he actively suggests or stimulates him to ar. act by 
any means or language, direct or indirect, whether it takes the form of 
express solicitation or of hints, insinuation or encouragement. Instigation 
E may be in (express) words or may be by (implied) conduct. 
F 
G 
35. The word "urge forward" means to advise or try hard to 
persuade somebody to do ·something, to make a person to move more
quickly in the particular direction, specially by pushing or forcing such 
person. Therefore, a person instigating another has to "goad" or "urge 
forward" the latter with the intention to provoke, incite or encourage the 
doing of an act with a latter. In order to prove abetment, it must be 
shown that the accused kept on urging or annoyitrg ihe deceased by 
words, taunts until the deceased reacted. A casual remark or something 
said in routine or usual conversation should not be construed or 
misunderstood as "abetment". 
36. Analysing further, in Randhir Singh and another v. State of 
Punjab2°, the Court has observed thus:-
"12. Abetment involves a mental process of instigating a person 
"(2001)9SCC618 
H 
20 (2004J 13 sec 129
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
481 
or intentionally aiding that person in doing of a thing. ln cases of A 
conspiracy also it would involve that mental process of entering 
into conspiracy for the doing of that thing. More active role which 
can be described as instigating or aiding the doing of a thing is 
required before a person can be said to be abetting the commission 
of offence under Section 306 IPC." 
[emphasis supplied] 
37. In Praveen Pradhan v. State of Uttarancha/ & another2 1, it 
has been ruled:-
B 
" 18. In fact, from the above discussion it is apparent that instigation 
has to be gathered from the circumstances of a particular case. 
C 
No straitjacket formula can be laid down to find out as to whether 
in a particular case there has been instigation which forced the 
person to commit suicide. In a particular case, there may not be 
direct evidence in regard to instigation which may have direct 
nexus to suicide. Therefore, in such a case, an inference has to 
D 
be drawn from the circumstances and it is to be determined 
whether circumstances had been such which in fact had created 
the situation that a person felt totally frustrated and committed 
suicide .... " 
[emphasis is ours] 
E 
38. In Amalendu Pal alias Jhantu v. State of West BengafZ, 
the Court, after refeITing to the authorities in Randhir Singh (supra), 
Kishori Lal v. State of M.P. 23 and Kishangiri Mangalgiri Goswami v. 
State of Gujaraf-4, has held:-
"12. Thus, this Court
has consistently taken the view that before 
F 
holding an accused guilty of an offence under Section 306 IPC, 
the court must scrupulously examine the facts and circumstances 
of the case and also assess .. Jhe evidence adduced before it in 
order to find out whether the cruelty and harassment meted out to 
the victim had left the victim with no other alternative but to put 
G 
an end to her life. It is also to be borne in mind that in cases of 
21 (2012) 9 sec 734 
22 (2010) 1 sec 101 
" (2007) 1 o sec 191 
" (2009) 4 sec s2 
H 
,
482 
A 
B 
c 
D 
E 
F 
G 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017) 3 S.C.R. 
alleged abetment of suicide there must be proof of direct or indirect 
acts of incitement to the commission of suicide. Merely on the 
allegation of harassment without there being any positive action 
proximate to the time of occurrence on the part of the accused 
which led or compelled the person to commit suicide, conviction 
in terms o( Section 306 IPC is not sustainable." 
39. A two-Judge Bench in Netai Dutta v. State of W.B. 25, while 
dwelling the concept of abetment under Section l 07 IPC especially in 
the context of suicide note, observed:-
"6. In the suicide note, except referring to the name of the appellant 
at two places, there is no reference of any act or incidence whereby 
the appellant herein is alleged to have committed any wilful act or 
omission or intentionally aided or instigated the deceased Pranab 
Kumar Nag in committing the act of suicide. There is no case 
that the appellant has played any part or any role in any conspiracy, 
which ultimately instigated or resulted in the commission of suicide 
by deceased Pranab Kumar Nag. 
7. Apart from the suicide note, there is no allegation made by the 
complainant that the appellant herein in any way was harassing 
his brother, Pranab Kumar Nag. The case registered against the 
appellant is without any factual foundation. The contents of the 
alleged suicide note do not in anyway make out the offence against 
the appellant. The prosecution
initiated against the appellant would 
only result in sheer harassment to the appellant without any fruitful 
result. In our opinion, the learned Single Judge seriously erred in 
holding that the first information report against the appellant 
disclosed the elements of a cognizable offence. There was 
absolutely no ground to proceed against the appellant herein. We 
find that this is a fit case where the extraordinary power under 
Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is to be invoked. 
We quash the criminal proceedings initiated against the appellant 
and accordingly allow the appeal." 
40. At this juncture, we think it appropriate to reproduce two 
paragraphs from Chitresh Kumar Chopra (supra). They are:-
"16. Speaking for the three-Judge Bench in Ramesh Kumar case 
(supra), R.C. Lahoti, J. (as His Lordship then was) said that 
H 
" (2005) 2 sec 659
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
483 
instigation is to goad, urge forward, provoke, incite or encourage 
A 
to do "an act". To satisfy the requirement of"instigation'', though 
it is not necessary that actual words must be used to that effect or 
what constitutes "instigation" must necessarily and specifically 
be suggestive of the consequence. Yet a reasonable certainty to 
incite the consequence must be capable of being spelt out. Where 
8 
the accused had, by his acts or omission or by a continued 
course of conduct, created such circumstances that the 
deceased was /eji with no other option except to commit 
suicide, in whid1 case, an "instigation" may have to be 
inferred. A word uttered in a fit of anger or emotion without 
intending the consequences to actually follow, cannot be said to 
C 
be instigation. 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
19. As observed in Ramesh Kumar (supra), where the accused 
by his acts or by a continued course of conduct creates such 
circumstances that the deceased was left with no other option 
D 
except to commit suicide, an "instigation" may be inferred. In 
other words, in order to prove that the accused abetted commission 
of suicide by a person, it has to be established that: 
(i) the accused kept on irritating or annoying the deceased by 
words, deeds or wilful omission or conduct which may even 
be a wilful silence until the deceased reacted or pushed or 
forced the deceased by his .deeds, words or wilful omission or 
conduct to make
the deceased move forward more quickly in 
a forward direction; and 
E 
(ii) that the accused had the intention to provoke, urge or 
F 
encourage the deceased to commit suicide while acting in the 
manner noted above. Undoubtedly, presence of mens rea is 
the necessary concomitant of instigation." 
This Court again observed:-
G 
"20 .... The question as to what is the cause of a suicide has no 
easy answers because suicidal ideation and behaviours in human 
beings are complex and multifaceted. Different individuals in the 
same situation react and behave differently because of the personal 
meaning they add to each event, thus accounting for individual 
H
484 
A 
B 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
vulnerability to suicide. Each individual's suicidability pattern 
depends on his inner subjective experience of mental pain, fear 
and loss of self-respect. Each of these factors are cmcial and 
exacerbating contributor to an individual's vulnerability to end his 
own life, which may either be an attempt for self protection or 
an escapism from intolerable self." 
41. Keeping in view the aforesaid legal position, we are required 
to address whether there has been abetment in committing suicide. Be it 
clearly stated that mere allegation of harassment without any positive 
action in proximity to the time of occurrence on the part of the accused 
C that led a person to commit suicide, a conviction in terms of Section 306 
IPC is not sustainable. A casual remark that is likely to cause harassment 
in ordinary course of things will not come within the purview of instigation. 
A mere reprimand or a word in a fit of anger will not earn the status of 
abetment. There has to be positive action that creates a situation for the 
victim to put an end to life. 
D 
E 
F 
42. In the instant case, the accused had by his acts and by his 
continuous course of conduct created such a situation as a consequence 
of which the deceased was left with no other option except to commit 
suicide. The active acts of the accused have led the deceased to put an 
end to her life. That apart, we do not find any material on record which 
compels the Court
to conclude that the victim committing suicide was 
hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, discord and difference in domestic 
life quite common to the society to which the victim belonged. On the 
other hand, the accused has played active role in tarnishing the self-
esteem and self-respect of the victim which drove the victim girl to 
commit suicjde. The cmelty meted out to her has, in fact, induced her to 
extinguish her life-spark. 
43. As is demonstrable, the High Court has not reversed the 
·judgment of acquittal solely on the basis of dying declaration. It has 
placed reliance on the evidence of the parents and also other witnesses. 
G It has also treated the version. of the Pradhan of the Gram Panchayat 
· as credible. All these witnesses have deposed that the accused after his 
acquittal engaged himself in threatening and teasing the girl. He did not 
allow her to live in peace. 
44. The harassment caused to her had become intolerable and 
H
PAWAN KUMAR v. STATE OF H.P. 
[DIPAK MISRA, J.] 
485 
unbearable. The father had deposed that the girl had told him on number A 
of occasions and he had complained to the Pradhan. All these amount 
to active part played by the accused. It is not a situation where a person 
is insulted on being asked to pay back a loan. It is not a situation where 
someone (eels humiliated on a singular act. It is a different situation 
altogether. The young girl living in a village was threatened and teased 
B 
constantly. She could not bear it any longer. There is evidence that the 
parents belong to the poor strata of the society. As the materials on 
record would reflect, the father could not afford her treatment when 
case of his daughter was referred to the hospital at Chandigarh. The 
impecuniosity of the family is manifest. It is clearly evident from.the 
materials brought on record that the conduct of the accused was 
C 
absolutely proactive. 
45. Eve-teasing, as has been stated in Deputy Inspector General 
of Police and an.other v. S. Samuthiram26, has become a pernicious, 
horrid and disgusting practice. The Court therein has referred to the 
Indian Journal of Criminology and Criminalistics (January-June 1995 Edn.) 
D 
W:hich has categorized eve-teasing into five heads, viz. (1) verbal eve-
teasing; (2) physical eve-teasing; (3) psychological harassment; ( 4) sexual 
harassment; and (5) harassment through some objects. The present 
case eminently projects a case of psychological
harassment. We are at 
pains to state that in a civilized society eve-teasing is causing harassment . E 
to women in educational institutions, public places, parks, railways stations 
and other public places which only go to show th'at requisite sense of 
respect for women has not been socially cultivated. A woman has her 
own space as a man has. She enjoys as much equality under Article 14 
of the Constitution as a man does. The right to live with dignity as 
guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be violated by 
F 
indulging in obnoxious act of eve-teasing. It affects the fundamental 
concept of gender sensitivity and justice and the rights ofa woman under 
Article 14 of the Constitution. That apart it creates an incurable dent in 
the right of a woman which she has under Article 15 of the Constitution. 
One is compelled to think and constrained to deliberate why the women 
G 
in this country cannot be allowed to live in peace and lead a life that is 
empowered with a dignity and freedom. It has to be kept in mind· that 
she has a right to life and entitled to love according to her choice. She 
has an individual choice which has been legally recognized. It has to be 
" (2013 > 1 sec 598 
H
486 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2017] 3 S.C.R. 
A socially respected. No one can compel a woman to love. She has the 
absolute right to reject. 
46. In a civilized society male chauvinism has no room. The 
Constitution of India confers the affomative rights on women and the 
said rights are perceptible from Article 15 of the Constitution. When the 
B right is conferred under the Constitution, it has to be understood that 
there is no condescendation. A man should not put his ego or, for that 
matter, masculinity on a pedestal and abandon the concept of civility. 
Egoism must succumb to law. Equality has to be regarded as the summum 
bonum of the constitutional principle in this context. The instant case 
C portrays the deplorable depravity of the appellant that has led to a heart 
breaking situation for a young girl who has been compelled to put an end 
to her life. Therefore, the High Court has absolutely correctly reversed 
the judgment of acquittal and imposed the sentence. It has appositely 
exercised the jurisdiction and we concur with the same. 
47. Consequently, the appeal, being devoid ofliny merit, stands 
D dismissed. 
Nidhi Jain 
Appeal dismissed.