Category: Dowry Death

Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, S. 4–Penal Code, 1860, S. 498-A and 304-B–Evidence Act, 1872, S. 113-B–Dowry Death–Cruelty–Demand of Dowry–Essential ingredients :- (i) Death is caused in unnatural circumstances. (ii) Death must have occurred within seven years of the marriage of the deceased. (iii) It needs to be shown that soon before her death, the deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry.

2010(1) LAW HERALD (SC)  681 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam The Hon’ble Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu Criminal Appeal No. 160 Of 2006…

Indian Penal Code, 1860, S.304-B~Dowry Death-Soon before Death- What must be borne in mind is that the word “soon” does not mean “immediate”–A fair and pragmatic construction keeping in mind the great social evil that has led to the enactment of Section 304-B IPC would make it clear that the expression is a relative expression—Time-lags may differ from case to case—All that is necessary is that the demand for dowry should not be stale but should be the continuing cause for the death of the married woman under Section 304-B. 

2018(4) Law Herald (SC) 2735 : 2018 LawHerald.Org 1607 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi Hon’ble Mr. Justice Navin Sinha Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.M.…

Burden of proof–Murder committed in secrecy inside a house–The inmates of the house cannot get away by simply keeping quiet and offering no explanation on the supposed premise that the burden to establish its case lies entirely upon the prosecution and there is no duty at all on an accused to offer any explanation. Burden of proof–Where the prosecution has succeeded in proving facts from which a reasonable inference can be drawn regarding death. The accused by virtue of their special knowledge must offer an explanation which might lead the court to draw a different inference.

2008(1) Law herald (sc) 234 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.P. Mathur The Hon’ble Mr. Justice G.S. Singhvi Criminal Appeal No. 1133 of 2000…

Dowry Death–A pregnant woman ordinarily would not commit suicide unless relationship with her husband comes to such a pass that she would be compelled to do so. Proof of document–A document in terms of Section 65 of Act is to be proved by a person who is acquainted with handwriting of author thereof. Dowry Death–Offence under Section 304B is not compoundable and only because marriage of accused had taken place, same by itself cannot be a ground for rejecting the prosecution story.

 2008(1) LAW HERALD (SC) 117 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Harjit Singh Bedi Criminal Appeal No. 1021 of…

Dowry Death—Dowry demand—Defence version that since the accused possessed scooter as well as motorcycle, there was no necessity to make demand of scooter ; is totally irrelevant. Remarks by Judge—If that part of the evidence is not consistent with the facts on record, the Court may not accept it. But only for that reason, the Court should not make disparaging remarks.

  2007(4) LAW HERALD (SC) 3380 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Before The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce C.K. Thakker The Hon’ble Mr. Jusitce P. Sathasivam Criminal Appeal No. 1612 of…

Prosecution proved by cogent evidence adduced – Appellants by series of act and conduct created a difficult and hostile environment for deceased that she was compelled to commit suicide – There is direct and reasonable nexus with commission of suicide by deceased with acts of cruelty to which deceased was subjected to by appellant – High Court rightly upheld conviction of appellants under Section 306 and Section 498A IPC.

  AIR 2006 SC 2002 : (2006) CriLJ 2881 : (2006) 1 DMC 853 : (2006) 11 JT 260 : (2006) 5 SCALE 172 : (2006) 9 SCC 794 :…