[1] The present Appeal, under Section 378 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is filed by the appellant – State of Gujarat against the Judgment and order dated 16.09.1992 passed by learned Assistant Sessions Judge, Gondal, in Sessions Case No. 46 of 1989, whereby the learned Judge has acquitted the respondents – original accused from the charges alleged against them.
[2] The brief facts of the prosecution case are that the marriage of Leelaben, daughter of the complainant was solemnized with respondent No.1. It is alleged in the complaint that the husband and inlaws of Leelaben were giving mental as well as physical torture frequently to her. It is alleged that on 20.07.1988 at about 15.30 hours, due to the harassment by the husband and in-laws, the deceased Leelaben had poured kerosene on herself and committed suicide. Therefore, the complaint was lodged against the accused for the offence under Sections 498(A), 306, 114 of I.P. Code before the Lodhika Police Station.
[3] Necessary investigation was carried out, statements of the witnesses were recorded. Thereafter, after completion of investigation, the charge-sheet was filed against the respondents – accused in the Court of learned J.M.F.C. Thereafter, as the case was triable by the Court of Sessions, the learned Magistrate committed the case to the Court of Sessions. Thereafter, the charge was framed against the respondents – accused. The respondents – accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and claimed to be tried.
[4] To prove the case against the accused, the prosecution has examined the witnesses and relied upon certain documents. At the end of trial, after recording the statements of the respondents – accused, under Section 313 Cr. P.C., and after hearing the arguments on behalf of the prosecution and the defence, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, vide the impugned Judgment and order, has acquitted the respondents – accused from the charges levelled against them.
[5] Being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the aforesaid Judgment and order of acquittal, the appellant – State of Gujarat has preferred this Appeal.
[6] Heard learned A.P.P. Ms. Jhaveri, appearing on behalf of the appellant – State of Gujarat. I have gone through the Judgment and order passed by the trial Court and also considered the documents produced on the record of the case.
[7] Learned APP, appearing on behalf of the appellant, has contended that the Judgment and order passed by the learned Judge is without considering the facts and evidence on the record. She has contended that looking to the complaint and the deposition of the witnesses it clearly appears that due to the harassment by the husband and in-laws, the deceased Leelaben had poured kerosene on herself and committed suicide. She has contended that the learned Judge has observed that there are certain illegalities committed by the Investigating Officer and, therefore, in such a serious offence accused cannot be convicted, but learned Judge has not considered the fact that because certain things not done by the Investigating Officer at least complainant side should not suffer. She has also contended that the prosecution has examined sufficient evidence and also produced documentary evidence, but the learned Judge has observed that the prosecution has not examined the prosecution witnesses in support of its case. She has, therefore, contended that looking to the over all evidence, the prosecution has established its case beyond reasonable doubt and the learned Judge has wrongly acquitted the accused from the charges levelled against them. She, therefore, contended that the Judgment and order of the trial Court is bad in law and perverse and, therefore, the same requires to be quashed and set aside.
[8] Respondents are duly served, but, they have not remained present. I have gone through the papers produced before me as also the Judgment of the Court below. I have also considered the oral as well as documentary produced on record. From the deposition of witnesses it appears that the witnesses are relatives of the deceased and though they are related to the deceased, not a single witness has deposed anything about the conduct or mis-behaviour of the accused with the deceased. From their depositions the prosecution could not be able to prove that due to physical and mental cruelty the deceased committed suicide. I have also gone through the main ingredients of Section 498-A I.P.Code, which reads as under :
“498-A – Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty – whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine -
[Explanation – For the purpose of this section, “cruelty” means -
(a) any wilful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman, or
(b) harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand]
[9] Cruelty must be proved through direct evidence of witnesses. In the present case, from the oral evidence of witnesses, the prosecution could not prove that due to the conduct and harassment by the accused the deceased has committed suicide. The learned Judge, in his Judgment in Para – 12 has clearly observed that the prosecution has not produced any evidence to show that the deceased was harassed by the accused. There are material contradictions in the evidence of witnesses. No independent witnesses have been examined to support the case of the prosecution. Looking to the evidence of witnesses, who were examined by the prosecution, are the family members of the deceased. Looking to the place of the offence and contents of panchnama, it appears that the prosecution did not examine any independent witness during the trial. From the evidence, it is not established that the accused had instigated or provoked the deceased to commit suicide. Learned Judge has observed that no statement of the relatives of the deceased was recorded by Investigating Officer. Even no statement of neighbour was recorded. Learned Judge has observed that as per the evidence of Babu Jeram, before the date of incident, she had fallen from the terrace and on account of that, there were injuries on the whole body of the deceased. Learned Judge has also observed that as per the evidence of the Medical Officer, there were burnt injuries on the whole body of the deceased. Even the ingredients under Section 498(A) and 306 of the Indian Penal Code are not attracted to the case of the accused. Therefore, it appears that the accused have been falsely involved in the case. I am, therefore, of the opinion that the learned Judge has not committed any error in not believing the case of prosecution. In my opinion, therefore, the Judgment of the trial Court is proper and no interference is called for.
[10] It is settled legal position that in acquittal appeal, the Appellate Court is not required to re-write the Judgment or to give fresh reasonings when the Appellate Court is in agreement with the reasons assigned by the trial Court acquitting the accused. In the instant case, this Court is in full agreement with the reasons given and findings recorded by the trial Court while acquitting the respondents – accused and adopting the said reasons and for the reasons aforesaid, in my view, the impugned judgment is just, legal and proper and requires no interference by this Court at this stage. Hence, this Appeal requires to be dismissed.
[11] In view of above, the Appeal is dismissed. The Judgment and order dated 16.09.1992 passed by learned Assistant Sessions Judge, Gondal, in Sessions Case No. 46 of 1989 is hereby confirmed. Bail Bonds, if any, shall stand cancelled. Record & Proceeding to be sent back to the trial Court immediately.
[ Z. K. SAIYED, J. ] vijay