Bombay High Court
Abdul Riyaz Abdul Bashir vs State Of Maharashtra on 6 March, 2012
Author: Sadhana S. Jadhav
Bench: P.V. Hardas, Sadhana S. Jadhav
apeal456.06 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH : NAGPUR
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.456/2006
Abdul Riyaz Abdul Bashir,
aged about 28 years,
Resident of Ajankar Plot,
Brahmanwada Thadi,
tahsil Chandur Bazar,
District Amravati. .. APPELLANT
.. VERSUS ..
State of Maharashtra, through
P.S.O. Chandur Bazar,
Tahsil Chandur Bazar,
District Amravati. .. RESPONDENT
..........
Mr. Anil Mardikar, Advocate for Appellant,
Mr. M.K. Pathan, A.P.P. for Respondent.
..........
CORAM : P.V. HARDAS AND
SMT. SADHANA S. JADHAV, JJ.
DATED : MARCH 06, 2012.
ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : Smt. Sadhana S. Jadhav, J.)
1. The appellant herein was convicted by 2nd Adhoc Additional Sessions Judge, Achalpur in Sessions Case No. ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 2 57/2005 for an offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs.
500/- in default further simple imprisonment for three months by a judgment and order dated 9.8.2006. Five persons including the appellant were tried in Sessions Trial No.57/2005 for offence punishable under Section 302 read with 34 of IPC and Section 498-A read with 34 of IPC. However, original accused nos. 2 to 5 are acquitted by the Sessions Court of all the charges levelled against them. Being aggrieved by the said judgment and order, the appellant herein has preferred the present criminal appeal.
2. The prosecution case is that the appellant was married to Nargis on 21.5.2003. Initially for some period, the couple was residing in a joint family. However, Nargis had complained to her parents that she was being ill-treated by her family members and, therefore, the parents had requested the appellant to reside separately. The appellant had obliged and ever since then the couple was residing separately from the other family members. The prosecution has alleged that three days prior to 15.1.2005 Nargis had been to her maternal house to fetch Rs.1500/- for accused no.1. However, her parents could not arrange for more than Rs.1000/- and, therefore, she returned to her matrimonial abode with Rs.1000/-. The accused ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 3 were annoyed with her and, therefore, they picked up a quarrel with her on the said count. According to the prosecution, all the accused persons had asked Nargis to leave her matrimonial house. However, she declined and retorted. Thereafter original accused no.4 exhorted the present appellant to eliminate Nargis and, therefore, the accused/appellant gave a can of kerosene to Nargis. Nargis poured kerosene on her person. On second thoughts, when she was changing her clothes soaked with kerosene , the appellant struck a match-stick and set her ablaze as a result Nargis sustained burns. She was taken to Sub District Hospital, Achalpur by her husband i.e. the present appellant. The general condition of Nargis was serious and, therefore, she was referred to Civil Hospital at Amravati. The Medical Officer had given intimation to the Police about the admission of Nargis in burns. The Police then requisitioned the services of an Executive Magistrate to record the dying declaration of Nargis. The Executive Magistrate namely Ku.
Vaishali Pathare (PW8) recorded the dying declaration of Nargis which is at Exh.63. On the basis of the said dying declaration, Crime No.11/2005 was registered against the accused for offences punishable under Sections 307, 498-A read with 34 of IPC. Nargis succumbed to the burn injuries on 18.1.2005 in Civil Hospital at Amravati. The offence was then converted to ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 4 Section 302 of IPC. On 20.1.2005 the accused were arrested.
Investigation was set in motion. After completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed on 19.4.2005 against all accused for offence punishable under Sections 302, 498-A read with Section 34 of IPC. The case was committed to the Court of Sessions and registered as Sessions Trial No.57/2005. The prosecution examined nine witnesses to bring home the guilt to the accused. The accused examined defence witness Kazi Sayyed Fasihuddin who had performed marriage of the accused with the deceased. The defence witness has been examined to demonstrate before the Court that the signature on the dying declaration is different from the signature appearing on the Nikahnama which is at Exh.82.
3. PW1 Shamsad Bano is the neighbour of the appellant at village Bramhanwada Thadi. According to her Nargis was ill-
treated by the accused persons and intermittently she could hear the quarrels between the accused and the deceased. On 15.1.2005 at about 6 p.m., she had seen flames emanating from the house of the accused. She also heard the cries "Bachav
-Bachav" and therefore, she came out of her house and saw that Nargis had sustained burn injuries and the appellant was taking her to the hospital in an autorickshaw. In the cross-
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 5examination, PW1 has admitted that at the time of incident she was washing clothes in the courtyard of her own house. Her testimony to the effect that she had heard the cries of Nargis to save her is elicited as an omission. She had seen the appellant taking Nargis to the Hospital. The very fact that hearing of cries is elicited as an omission, it will have to be presumed that no such cries were heard by anybody.
4. PW2 Sk. Sharafat is the brother of deceased Nargis.
He resides at village Palaspur. PW2 has deposed before the Court that three days prior to 15.1.2005, Nargis had visited her matrimonial house and had informed the family members that she was sent by her husband to fetch Rs.1500/- for the purposes of cultivation. According to him, his mother had pledged golden ornaments and had given Rs.1000/- to Nargis. On 15.1.2005 at about 6 p.m., PW2 claims to have received a telephonic message that his sister was burnt and she was admitted in Civil Hospital, Amravati. The said message was given by the husband of his maternal aunt. PW2 claims to have inquired with Nargis in the hospital as to how the incident had occurred and she had informed him that since she had taken less amount, her husband set her ablaze. In the cross-
examination, PW2 has admitted that a week before the incident ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 6 his brother Sk. Yunus had brought his sister Nargis to village Palaspur, to the house of her matrimonial uncle. It is also admitted by him that when he went to Civil Hospital, Amravati, he was accompanied by his mother, brother, the husband of his maternal aunt and his maternal aunt. Head Constable Nabi is his brother and he had also reached Civil Hospital, Amravati on 16.1.2005 in the morning. It is further admitted in the cross-
examination that on 17.1.2005 the statement of PW2 was recorded but he admits that he had not given any report. It is elicited in the cross-examination that there is no reference in his statement to the effect that his sister had disclosed to him that she was set ablaze by her husband on account of bringing less amount. PW2 has admitted in the cross-examination that in his previous statement he had not disclosed to the Police that upon inquiry his sister Nargis had disclosed to him "Maine Gusseme Aakar Rockel Ki Dabki Ka Rockel Aangpar Liya" (I was angry and, therefore, poured kerosene from the can on my person). In the examination-in-chief, PW2 has stated that Nargis had disclosed to him that she was set ablaze. However, the tenor of the cross-examination would show that she had only disclosed to him that in a fit of rage she had poured kerosene on herself. However, this is an omission.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 75. PW3 Abdul Majid is the husband of the maternal aunt of Nargis. This witness resides at Bramhanwada Thadi.
According to him on 14.1.2005 he along with his wife had been to the house of Sk. Musa at Palsapur. Nargis was present at the house of Sk. Musa and she had disclosed to her relatives that she was sent by her husband to fetch Rs.1500/-. PW3 has further deposed that on 15.1.2005 they had returned to village Bramhanwada Thadi along with Nargis. Nargis was reached to her house at about 3.30 p.m. and on the same day the nephew of PW3 namely Abdul Rajjak had informed him at 6 p.m. that Nargis had sustained burn injuries. On receiving the said information, PW3 and his wife had rushed to the house of Nargis.
However, they saw her sitting in the autorickshaw. They inquired with her and she disclosed that since she could bring only Rs.1000/-, her husband picked up a quarrel with her and assaulted her. Thereupon she had retorted by threatening her husband that she would cause harm to herself by pouring kerosene. According to PW3, Nargis had further disclosed that at that juncture her husband had asked her to pour kerosene on herself and die and, therefore, she poured kerosene on herself.
She had further disclosed that when she was changing her clothes, her husband had ignited the match-stick and set her ablaze and thereafter he took her to Civil Hospital, Amravati.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 8PW3 went to Civil Hospital, Amravati on the next day. PW3 has stated in the cross-examination that from Bramhanwada Thadi she was directly taken to Civil Hospital, Amravati. However, there is evidence that she was first taken to Primary Health Centre at Bramhanwada Thadi and the said entry is at Exh.61 which is endorsed by the Casualty Medical Officer of Rural Hospital Bramhanwada Thadi. The conduct of PW3 appears to be rather strange. He had an indifferent attitude and, therefore, had not followed Nargis nor accompanied the couple to the Hospital. PW3 had not even reported to the Police till his statement was recorded on 17.1.2005. The alleged disclosure made by Nargis to PW3 to the effect that her husband had asked her to douse herself with kerosene and die is a material omission elicited in the cross-examination. PW3 has further admitted in the cross-examination that Sharafat had given a report to the Police on 16.1.2005. However, Sharafat has not stated that he had lodged the report on 16.1.2005 and on the other hand has stated that his statement for the first time was recorded on 17.1.2005.
6. PW5 Maimumbi is the mother of deceased Nargis.
According to her on 15.1.2005 soon after receiving the information that Nargis had sustained burn injuries, they had ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 9 been to Amravati Hospital and reached there at about 9 p.m. but they were not permitted to see Nargis and, therefore, they met her on the next day at about 12 noon. PW5 has deposed that she had inquired with Nargis and upon her inquiry, Nargis had disclosed that her husband had beaten her severely since she had failed to fetch Rs.1500/-. Nargis had also disclosed that the accused nos. 2 to 5 had instigated the accused no.1 to assault Nargis. Nargis had retorted that she would prefer to die rather than bear the agony. Her husband had then told her that she was free to die if she so wished and handed over the canister containing kerosene. Nargis had disclosed to her mother that she had poured kerosene on herself but when she was going to change the clothes, her husband suddenly set her ablaze. In the cross-examination, PW5 has admitted that her two sons, herself and Abdul Majid had met Nargis in the morning on 16.1.2005. The oral dying declaration alleged to have been made by Nargis to her mother is elicited as an omission and the said omission is proved. In view of the said omission, the oral dying declaration cannot be considered as an incriminating circumstance.
7. The entire case rests upon the written dying declaration of the deceased which is at Exh.63. The said dying ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 10 declaration is recorded by PW8 Ku. Vaishali Pathare who was working as the Executive Magistrate in Tahsil Office at Amravati.
PW8 has stated that on 15.1.2005 she had received a requisition from the Police to record the dying declaration of Nargis who was admitted in Irvin Hospital in Ward No.4. The said requisition is at Exh.61. On perusal of Exh.61, it appears that the Executive Magistrate had received the said requisition at about 10.15 p.m. On 15.1.2005 at 10.15 p.m. , PW8 reached General Hospital, Amravati. PW8 had taken the printed proforma of the dying declaration along with her. At 10.15 p.m. the Medical Officer had opined that the patient is fit to give statement. PW8 had then recorded the statement of Nargis.
8. On perusal of Exh.63, it appears that in column no. 2 the deponent had given the detailed narration of the incident and has stated that her mother-in-law had exhorted her husband to eliminate Nargis. Nargis got enraged and doused herself with kerosene and when she was changing her clothes, her husband ignited the match-stick and because the neighbours had raised the cries, her husband attempted to extinguish the fire. In column no.5, it is stated that she had sustained burn injuries to her face, both hands, chest and back.
The reply to column no.7 is also stated. However, column no.8 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 11 pertains to the fact that the statement as recorded was read over to the deponent and proved to be correct as per the say of the deponent. The said column is left blank. To rule out any remote infirmity, it is necessary that there has to be an endorsement that the contents were read over and admitted to be true and correct. The said column cannot be treated as an empty formality since the deponent is not available for cross-
examination. Hence it is a material inherent infirmity in the dying declaration and, therefore, cannot inspire confidence of the Court. It, therefore, appears that the statement was never read over to the deceased and there is no endorsement to that effect. When the declaration was not read over to the deponent and hence not admitted by the deponent to be correct and recorded according to her say, then such a dying declaration cannot be a foundation for sustaining the conviction. Merely because it is mentioned in the printed proforma that the statement is read over to the deponent, it cannot be presumed that the actual exercise of reading over the statement and getting it endorsed to be correct, was actually followed. In fact the said column is blank and, therefore, the said fact cannot be assumed. The learned counsel for the appellant has relied upon the judgment of the Apex Court reported in (2008) 1 Supreme Court Cases (Cri) 679- Shaikh Bakshu and others .vs. ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 12 State of Maharashtra wherein it is held by the Apex court that "there was no mention in the dying declaration that it was read over and explained to the deceased. The trial Court and the High Court concluded that even though it is not so stated, it has to be presumed that it was read over and explained". The Apex Court has held that the said view is unacceptable. The learned counsel for the appellant has also relied upon the judgment reported in 2004 ALL MR (Cri) 3220 in the case of Shivaji Tukaram Potdukhe .vs. State of Maharashtra wherein it is held that "when the declaration was not read over to Durgabai and she had not admitted the contents thereof to be correct, according to us, the dying declaration cannot be made foundation for sustaining the conviction". We have observed that it is doubtful whether the signature on Exh.63 is that of deceased Nargis since the accused by taking recourse to Section 155 of the Indian Evidence Act has examined an independent witness who has deposed that the signature on the Nikahnama was made by Nargis in his presence and, therefore, in the present case we find that the written dying declaration at Exh.63 cannot be made the sole basis for recording the conviction. Notwithstanding the fact that it was recorded by the Magistrate, the discrepancies in the written dying declaration are such that they would not inspire the confidence of the Court.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 139. On Exh.63 it is noticed that the deponent had signed the dying declaration. In fact the deponent had sustained burn injuries to her hands. PW7 Dr. Vidya Wathodkar has admitted in the cross-examination that both hands were nearly completely burnt. The post mortem notes would show that all four limbs were extended and fingers were semi flexed. It cannot be believed that in such condition, the patient would be able to sign the document so assertively. The accused has examined defence witness Kazi Sayyad Fasihuddin who has produced the Nikahnama between the accused and the deceased. The Nikahnama is at Exh.82. On perusal of Exh.82, it appears that Nargis signed as "ujxhl ". However, on Exh.63 the signature is as "uxhZ l ". Therefore, it is clear that there is variance in the signature at Exh.82 and Exh.63 and the learned counsel has rightly argued that it is doubtful as to whether both the signatures are of one and the same person.
10. The requisition at Exh.61 was received by the Executive Magistrate at 10.15 p.m. PW8 has recorded the dying declaration from 10.15 p.m. to 10.25 p.m. on the same day. She has admitted in the cross-examination that the distance between her residence and the hospital can be ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 14 covered within 15 minutes on a vehicle. She has admitted that she took 40 minutes to complete the recording of the dying declaration. In the event that PW8 had received the requisition at 10.15 p.m. and had started recording the statement at 10.15 p.m., it appears doubtful to us as to whether the procedure as deposed by her before the Court was really followed. Moreover on Exh.61 it appears that the time mentioned is 10.15 to 10.25 p.m. That was the time during which the statement of Nargis was recorded in the hospital. PW9 Dr. Suresh Thorat has endorsed upon the dying declaration that the patient was in a fit condition to give the statement. The signature of PW9 is at Exh.
73. PW9 has not stated before the Court that the statement of patient was recorded in his presence. However, Exh.73 shows that the statement was recorded in the presence of the Doctor.
PW8, however, has stated that Medical Officer was present at the time of recording the statement. PW9 has categorically admitted in the cross-examination that Nargis was in serious condition. He has also admitted that he has not endorsed to the effect that the patient is conscious and well oriented. However, he has admitted that he has only stated that she was in a fit condition to give the declaration. PW9 has admitted in the cross-examination that he is unable to say who and at what time patient was admitted in the hospital. He has also admitted that ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 15 the Executive Magistrate has written the time of examination and the same was not written by him. The endorsement to the effect that the patient was examined is marked as Exh.72. It is in the handwriting of the Executive Magistrate.
11. The contents of the dying declaration would show that initially Nargis expressed her desire to commit suicide, thereafter the accused aided her by handing over to her the can of kerosene. On second thoughts, she wanted to change her clothes soaked with kerosene and at that time the accused set her ablaze. The desire to commit suicide is so intermingled with the act of aiding to commit suicide and thereafter an act which would render the said act to cause homicidal death are so intermingled that it is extremely difficult to decipher the truthfullness from the falsity of the case. A word uttered by the accused in a fit of anger or omission without intending the consequences to actually follow cannot be said to be instigation.
The charge framed against the accused was under Section 498- A read with 34 of I.P.C. The charge read as follows:-
"Firstly: That you accused no.1 being husband of deceased Sou. Nargisneesa w/o Ab. Riyaz, aged 20 yrs. r/o Brahmanwada Thadi and you accd. No.2 to 5 being relatives of accused no.1 from her marriage i.e. since two yrs. upto 15.1.05 till her death subjected ill-treatment and harassment to her on account of demand of money which was ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 16 sufficient her to commit suicide and that you all accused no. 1 to 5 abated for the commission of suicide and thereby committed an offence pun. u/s 498-A r/w sec. 34 of I.P.C.
within my cognizance."
The trial Court has acquitted all the accused including the present appellant of the aforesaid charge.
12. The prosecution has examined PW6 Gulamoddin Sayyed, PSI, who was at that time attached to Chandur Bazar Police Station.
According to him on 17.1.2005 the Head Constable had brought the dying declaration and statement of deceased. On the basis of those statements, he had registered the offence punishable under Sections 307, 498-A read with Section 34 of IPC and the investigation was set in motion.
According to him, he had recorded the statements of witnesses on 19.1.2005 and had arrested the accused on 20.1.2005. In the cross-examination, PW6 has categorically admitted that there are more than one dying declaration in the present case.
In these circumstances, it becomes clear that the prosecution has suppressed another dying declaration deliberately. It was neither produced on record and nor the witnesses have stated that the statement of the deceased was recorded on two occasions. The very fact that the investigating officer has proved the omissions elicited in the statement of the witnesses, ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 17 it is clear that till 19.1.2005 none of the witnesses had disclosed to the Police that the deceased had made an oral dying declaration before them implicating the accused for being responsible for her death.
13. In the cross-examination, PW6 has admitted that Sk.
Sharafat, the brother of the deceased, had not stated before him that "his sister told him that as she had brought less amount, her husband burnt her". According to PW6, Sk.
Sharafat had stated before him that his sister disclosed to him that she had poured kerosene on herself. PW6 has further admitted in the cross-examination that Naimunnisa i.e. the mother of the deceased had not stated before him that "instead of bearing ill-treatment, she would prefer to die and upon that accused no.1 told that if she wants to die, then she should do so and handed over the can containing kerosene". In these circumstances, then it appears to us that Nargis had only informed her parents and relatives that in a fit of rage she had poured kerosene on herself and had not disclosed that the accused had handed over a can of kerosene to her or had set her ablaze when she was changing clothes. The dying declaration is recorded after the arrival of the parents and relatives and, therefore, the subsequent part of dying ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 18 declaration could be a subject of tutoring by the relatives and hence the dying declaration as a whole does not appear to pass the test of voluntariness and truthfullness and, therefore, does not inspire the confidence of the Court. In Exh.63 there is an allegation that the mother-in-law had exhorted the other family members to eliminate Nargis and at that point of time, the accused/appellant had handed over the can of kerosene to her and she poured the contents of the can on her person. All the other accused are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them. In fact , there is positive evidence that the other accused were residing separately. The evidence of PW1 would show that soon after the incident, she has seen the appellant taking Nargis to the Hospital. The dying declaration will have to be read as a whole. It cannot be divided into two different parts. The integral part of the dying declaration is based upon the periphery of the statement and the contents are neither coherent nor cogent to inspire the confidence of the Court and hence we hold that the dying declaration of deceased Nargis recorded by PW8 which is at Exh.63 cannot be made the sole ground for convicting the accused for an offence punishable under Section 302 of I.P.C.
14. For the aforesaid reasons, the criminal appeal is ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 18:16:08 ::: apeal456.06 19 allowed and the conviction and sentence of the appellant for offence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code is hereby quashed and set aside and the appellant is acquitted of the offence with which he was charged and convicted. Fine, if paid by the appellant, be refunded to him. Since the appellant is in Jail, he be released forthwith, if not required in any other case.
(Smt. Sadhana S. Jadhav,J.) (P.V. Hardas, J.) .........
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