Madras High Court
Rajesh vs The State on 26 June, 2012
Bench: K.N.Basha, P.Devadass
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 26.06.2012 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE K.N.BASHA and THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE P.DEVADASS Criminal Appeal No.108 of 2011 Rajesh ... Appellant Vs The State rep. by Inspector of Police Erode South Police Station, Erode. ... Respondent Prayer: Appeal filed under Section 374 of Criminal Procedure Code to set aside the Judgment and conviction dated 29.06.2010 made in S.C.No.9 of 2010 on the file of the Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court-I, Erode. For Appellant : Mr.R.Ganesh For Respondent : Mr.V.M.R.Rajendran, Additional Public Prosecutor - - - - - - J U D G M E N T
P.DEVADASS,J., The appellant is accused in S.C.No.9 of 2010 before the learned Additional Sessions Judge,(Fast Track Court-I), Erode. For convenience sake, in this Judgment, let us call him the accused.
2. The accused stood charged under Sections 498-A and 302 IPC. He was found guilty of both the charges. Under Section 498-A IPC., he was sentenced to one year R.I. and fined Rs.500/-, in default, to undergo three months R.I. and under Section 302 IPC., he was sentenced to life and fined Rs.500/-, in default, to undergo one year R.I. Both the substantive sentences were directed to run concurrently.
3. The case of the prosecution, in brief, runs as under:-
(i) Deceased Parveen Banu is daughter of P.W.1 Rasia Begum. The accused loved the deceased. Both have married. They were blessed with a son and a daughter. Their love did not long last. The accused suspected her to have illegal intimacy with one Senthil. There were frequent quarrels between the spouses. The accused used to beat and harass her. In the circumstances, on 07.07.2008, she gave Ex.P.18 complaint to PW.17-Gomathi, Sub-Inspector, All Women Police Station, Erode. P.W.17 enquired her, the accused and Senthil. The matter was compromised. She agreed to live with the accused. Again, quarrel arose between the spouses.
(ii) In the circumstances, the deceased and her children stayed in the house of P.W.3-Doulath, sister of P.W.1. Thereafter, the deceased with her children came to reside in the house of P.W.5 Palaniammal, situate in Indira Nagar, Surampatti, Erode. P.W.1 was also residing in another house in Surampatti. The accused used to come to his wife's house and beat her. The deceased told about his harassment to P.W.4-Dasthagir, her brother, P.W.6 Ponnu @ Ponnusamy, her neighbour and to P.Ws.1 and 3. The accused took the children from the deceased and put them in a hostel in Tuticorin District. The deceased pressurised him to hand over her children. The accused was apprehensive of loosing his children also.
(iii) In the circumstances, on 03.08.2009, at about 5.30 p.m., in front of P.W.2 Meenambal's Provisions Stores, in Surampatti, the accused seen the deceased. Wordy altercation took place between both. The accused took out M.O.1 Iron rod and assaulted on her head. She fell down. P.Ws.1 and 2 witnessed the occurrence. In the Ambulance driven by P.W.8 Nallasivam, the injured was taken to the Government Head Quarters Hospital, Erode. P.W.12, Dr.Ravichandran examined her and pronounced her dead already. He sent Ex.P6 death intimation to the Police Station.
(iv) At about 9 p.m., at the Erode South Police Station, P.W.1 gave Ex.P1 complaint to P.W.18 Natarajan, Sub Inspector of Police. He registered a case in Crime No.663 of 2009 under Section 302 I.P.C. He sent Ex.P19 Express F.I.R. through P.W.14, Velusamy, Head Constable, to the Court and copies of the same to P.W.19 Sivakumar, Inspector and to superior police officers.
(v) At about 10 p.m., P.W.19 commenced his investigation. Immediately he visited the scene place. On his instructions, P.W.11 Babu, photographed the scene place. In the presence of P.W.9 Ramesh and Sahadevan, P.W.19 prepared Ex.P2 Observation Mahazar. Drew Ex.P20 rough sketch of the scene place. Recovered blood stained-sand(M.O.4) and plain-sand(M.O.5) under Ex.P3 Mahazer. Examined certain witnesses and recorded their statements. At the Mortuary, in the presence of Panchayatars, he held inquest over the dead body of Parveen Banu. Ex.P21 is his Inquest Report. He examined P.Ws.1,2,4 and other material witnesses and recorded their statements. He gave Ex.P7 requisition to the hospital authorities through P.W.15 Chinnappan, Head Constable, to conduct autopsy on the dead body of the deceased.
(vi) At about 5.30 p.m., P.W.13 Dr.Vaishnavi, conducted post-mortem on the dead body and noticed the following injuries:-
(1) 5 x 3 x 5 cm laceration over the left eyebrow. underlying frontal bone.
(2) Laceration 2.5 x 2 x 4 cm in the lateral margin of left eye.
(3) Laceration 1.5 x 1 x 3 cm in front of the left ear.
(4) Laceration 2 x 1.5 x 3 cm in front of previous laceration.
(5) 1 x 1 x 3 cm sized laceration in the left cheek in front of the previous wound.
(6) 2.5 x 1.5 x 2 cm sized laceration in the left frontal region.
(7) Laceration 3 x 1 x 1 cm in the left cheek.
(8) Abrasion 4 x 2.5 cm in the right wrist.
(9) Star shaped laceration 10 x 8 x 1.5 cm in the left parietal region. Underlying bone fractured. Brain matter protruding out through the fracture site.
(10) Commuted fracture on the left and right parietal frontal bone. Base of skull fractured.
(vii) P.W.13 opined that she died of shock and hemorrhage due to the injury sustained 14 to 18 hours prior to the autopsy.(See Ex.P9 Final Opinion).
(viii) In the course of his investigation, on 04.08.2009, at about 5.30 p.m., near Erode Bus Stand, in the presence of P.W.10 Arumugam, V.A.O., and Sakthivel, P.W.19 arrested the accused. In their presence, he had recorded the confession of the accused. In pursuance of its admissible portion Ex.P4, the accused produced an Iron rod(M.O.1) and a blood-stained shirt (M.O.6) from a bush, near the Devi Paradise Theatre, in Surampatti Valasai, Erode. P.W.19 seized them under Ex.P.5 Mahazar. He returned to his station with the accused and the seized properties. He sent the accused to Court for judicial custody. He produced the properties to the Court to send them to Lab for chemical analysis. P.W.19 examined P.W.13. Obtained Ex.P.8 Post-mortem certificate. Concluding his investigation, P.W.19 filed the Final Report for offences under Sections 498-A and 302 I.P.C.
4. To substantiate the charges, prosecution examined P.Ws.1 to 19, marked Exs.P1 to P21 and exhibited M.Os.1 to 7.
5. On the incriminating aspects appearing in the prosecution evidence, the Trial Court examined the accused. He denied his complicity in this case. He did not examine any witness, mark any document nor exhibit any material object.
6. Considering the above evidence, the Trial Court found him guilty under Sections 498-A and 302 IPC and sentenced him as already stated.
7. Mr.R.Ganesh, learned counsel for the appellant contended that the charges levelled against the accused are not established beyond all reasonable doubts. Elaborating his contentions, he had submitted as under:-
(i) P.Ws.1, 3 and 4 are close relatives of the deceased. As such they are highly interested witnesses. It is unsafe to act upon their testimony.
(ii) There are lot of inconsistencies in the evidence of the eye witness P.W.2. So, credence cannot be given to her testimony.
(iii) Even the evidence of P.W.2 is that one Sundaram also came there. But, he has not been examined.
(iv) The evidence of P.W.8 is that in the Ambulance along with the injured one more person has travelled to the hospital. But, he has not been examined.
(v) The evidence of P.W.1 is that one Sardar has scribed the F.I.R. and he also accompanied her to the police station. But, he has also not been examined.
(vi) The recovery of M.O.1 weapon, on 04.08.2009, on the confession of the accused has been spoken to by P.W.10 Arumugam V.A.O. and P.W.19 I.O. stood falsified by the evidence of P.W.1 that she had seen the accused in the custody of police on 03.08.2008 itself. Thus, the recovery of M.O.1 is stage managed.
8. Without prejudice to his above contentions, the learned counsel for the appellant also contended that the deceased was having illegal intimacy with one Senthil and that led to continued domestic quarrel between the spouses, the accused was aggrieved over her behavior, he was also apprehensive of loosing his children also and this was lingering in his mind for quite some time and tormented him mentally very much and on the occurrence day, wordy altercation took place between both, in the circumstances, the occurrence had taken place. Thus, it would not be murder, at the most it would be culpable homicide not amounting to murder. So, sentencing him under Section 302 I.P.C. is not warranted.
9. On the other hand, Mr.V.M.R.Rajendran, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit as under:-
(i) Merely because certain witnesses are closely related to the deceased, their testimony cannot be discarded, unless they are speaking falsehood.
(ii) P.Ws.1 and 4 have clearly spoken to about the harassment of the accused.
(iii) The defence is trying to make a mountain out of a mole. Certain minor discrepancies in the evidence of P.W.2 are not sufficient to brush aside her cogent evidence.
(iv) It is not in evidence that neither Sundaram, nor Sardar, nor the person, who had travelled in the Ambulance along with the injured have witnessed the occurrence proper. It is not the law or rule that all the witnesses in a case have to be examined. Proof of a fact is not depend on the number of witnesses examined, but the quality of the evidence of the witnesses examined.
(v) The two eye witness, namely, P.Ws.1 and 2 have clearly spoken about the accused having assaulted the deceased with an iron rod.
(vi) Something snatched from the mouth of P.W.1 during her cross-examination will not weaken the recovery evidence of P.Ws.10 and 19.
(vii) The accused intended, wished that she should die and assaulted her. It will not be less of murder.
10. We have given our careful consideration to the arguments of either side and carefully perused the entire evidence on record and also gone through the findings of the Trial Court.
11. It is love marriage between Parvin Banu and the accused. The couples were blessed with a son and a daughter. But, not with a happy married life. It is because of the illegal intimacy of his wife with one Senthil suspected by the accused. In the circumstances, Parveen Banu with her children resided in a rented house in Soorapatti Valasai in Erode.
12. On 03.08.2009, before P.W.2 Meenambal's shop, in Surampatti, Parveen Banu was found with serious head injury and she was taken to the Govt. Head Quarters Hospital, Erode. P.W.12 Dr.Ravichandran pronounced her already dead. The medical evidence of P.W.13 Dr.Vaishnavi, who performed autopsy on the dead body clearly revealed that it is a case of homicide.
13. The accused is accused of having killed his wife. This case is mainly based on the evidence of eye witnesses. P.W.1 Rasia Begum is the mother of the deceased. She is an eye witness to the occurrence. She is also complainant in this case. P.W.4 Dasthagir, brother of the deceased has been examined to speak about the harassment meted out to his sister by the accused.
14. In BALRAJE V STATE OF MAHARASHTRA [2010 (6) SCC 673], the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that the mere fact that the witnesses were related to the deceased cannot be a ground to discard their evidence. It was further held that when the eyewitnesses are stated to be interested and inimically disposed towards the accused, it has to be noted that it would not be proper to conclude that they would shield the real culprit and rope in innocent persons. The truth or otherwise of the evidence has to be weighed pragmatically and the Court would be required to analyse the evidence of related witnesses and those witnesses who are inimically disposed towards the accused and the Hon'ble Apex Court also held as under:-
30. .... if after careful analysis and scrutiny of their evidence, the version given by the witnesses appears to be clear, cogent and credible, there is no reason to discard the same.
15. The above dictum has been reiterated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in its recent decision in PRAHALAD PATEL v STATE OF M.P. [AIR 2011 SC 961].
16. Recently, this Court in JEYARAJ v STATE REPRESENTED BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, THALAVAIPURAM POLICE STATION, VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT [2012(2)MLJ (Crl) 312] held that merely because the witnesses are closely related to the victims of crimes, their evidence cannot be discarded and upon careful scrutiny when their evidence is cogent and clear it can be acted upon.
17. One of the cardinal principle of the Adjective Law of Evidence is that proof of a disputed fact depends not on the number of witnesses examined, but the quality of the witnesses examined. A single witness may establish the truth of the matter by his qualitative evidence, whereas number of witnesses examined to prove that fact may turn out to be liars. The said cardinal principle of law has been incorporated in Section 134 of the Indian Evidence Act,1872, wherein it is stated that no particular number of witnesses shall be required for the proof of any fact.
18. It is not in evidence that, Sundaram, who came to P.W.2's shop, Sardar, who accompanied P.W.1 to the police station to lodge the complaint nor the person, who accompanied the injured in the Ambulance driven by P.W.8 have witnessed the occurrence. So, they are not material witnesses in this case. Their non-examination do not affect the prosecution case.
19. The deceased used to work as a construction Coolie. The accused suspected her having intimacy with her colleague Senthil. Due to that there were frequent quarrel arose between the spouses. P.W.1 Rasia Begum, the mother of the deceased stated that suspecting her daughter, the accused beaten her. It is also the evidence of P.W.4 Dasthagir, the brother of the deceased. It is also the evidence of P.W.3 Dowlath, sister of P.W.1 that unable to bear the harassment of her husband, the deceased stayed with her children in her house in Erode for some time. Subsequently, the deceased took up her residence in a house in Indira Nagar in Soorampatti Valasai. Her landlady P.W.5 Palaniammal stated that the accused came there also and beaten his wife. P.W.6 Ponnusamy, a neighbour of the deceased also spoken about the quarrel between the spouses.
20. The deceased while alive gave Ex.P18 complaint to P.W.17, Gomathi, Sub-Inspector, All Women Police Station, Erode, against her husband. The accused also gave a counter petition wherein he had stated that his wife is having illegal intimacy with Senthil. P.W.17 deposed that she had enquired the spouses, her alleged paramour Senthil and he had promised that hereafter he will not interfere in their family life.
21. Thus, from the above, we can easily infer the reason for the quarrel between the spouses. The evidence on record shows that the accused suspecting Senthil as paramour of his wife continuously beaten and harassed her. Further, the evidence of P.Ws.1, 3, 5 and 6 shows that the accused took away the children from her house and put them in a hostel in Tuticorin District and the deceased was aggrieved over this and she wanted her children and in view of that also there were frequent quarrel arose between the spouses.
22. The offence of matrimonial cruelty defined in Section 498-A IPC is originally not in Lord Macaulay's Penal Code. It is an insertion to the Penal Code through Chapter XX-A by way of an amendment in 1983. As per Section 498-A cruelty does not consist of physical harm alone, it also comprehend mental agony or harassment caused to a woman.
23. In the case before us, by ample evidence, it is established that the accused used to beat and harass his wife suspecting her to be having illegal intimacy with one Senthil. The accused had also forcibly took away her children from her. He deprived her of her children. It would be a worst form of mental agony caused to a mother. Thus, by clear and cogent evidence it is established that the accused had harassed and subjected his wife to cruelty.
24. Parveen Banu, lost her life in homicidal violence. On 03.08.2009, at about 5.30 p.m., the occurrence had taken place. It was before P.W.2 Meenambal's shop in Surampatti Valasai in Erode. Prosecution relies on the evidence of two eye-witnesses, namely, P.Ws.1 and 2 and the recovery of M.O.1 iron rod.
25. P.W.19 Sivakumar, Inspector, the Investigation Officer of the case stated that on 04.08.2009 at about 5.30 p.m., at the Erode Bus Stand, he had arrested the accused and in the presence of P.W.10, Arumugam, V.A.O., and one Sakthivel, he gave Ex.P4 confession and in pursuance of that from behind a bush, near the Devi Paradise Theatre, in Surampatti Valasai, the accused produced him M.O.1 iron rod and M.O.6 blood stained shirt in their presence and he seized them under Ex.P3 Mahazar. P.W.10 corroborated him .
26. On 03.08.2009, at about 9 p.m., at the Erode South Police Station, P.W.1 gave Ex.P1 complaint. Her cross-examination revealed that at about that time, the accused was brought from the police lock-up and shown to her. Thus, as rightly contended by the learned counsel for the accused the recovery evidence pressed into service in this case has to be eschewed from our zone of consideration. Now, what remains is the evidence of the eye-witnesses, namely, P.Ws.1 and 2.
27. P.W.1 had stated that at about that time, she had seen her daughter and the accused engaged in a wordy duel and the accused suddenly took out an iron rod and beaten her daughter on her head. She had mentioned this fact in her Ex.P1 complaint also.
28. The other eye-witness is P.W.2 Meenambal. She is not related to the deceased. She is a stranger. She knows the deceased. The deceased was residing few houses after her house. P.W.2 had stated in her evidence about the quarrel took place between Parveen Banu and her husband before her shop and she had clearly stated that the accused had assaulted the deceased on her head with an iron rod and the deceased fell down. In her complaint, P.W.1 mentioned that the occurrence had taken place before her shop and then P.W.2 was also present. The evidence of P.W.1 is clear and cogent. P.W.2 is an independent witness. She has no axe to grind as against the accused. She has no need to rope in the accused in a serious charge. Her evidence is crystal clear and cogent. Nothing significant has been obtained from them in their cross-examination to discredit their evidence. Their evidence could be safely relied on.
29. Thus, from the evidence of the eye-witnesses, it is clearly established that on the occurrence day, the accused had beaten his wife to death.
30. Now, let us proceed to see what offences made out as against the accused.
31. As we have already seen that the evidence on record would clearly established that the accused has committed cruelty as against his wife. Thus, he has been rightly found guilty under Section 498-A I.P.C.
32. With regard to the death of the deceased it has been contended by the learned counsel for the accused that in the facts and circumstances, at the most the accused would be guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. However, the learned Additional Public prosecutor contended that it is nothing less of murder. So, as regards her death the nature of offence committed by the accused has to be determined. Question is whether it would fall under Section 302 IPC (murder) or the lesser offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 IPC. We have carefully considered this aspect of the matter.
33. It would be necessary to note Exception 1 to Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code, which runs as under:-
Exception 1 When culpable homicide is not murder Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, whilst deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation, causes the death of the person who gave the provocation or causes the death of any other person by mistake or accident.
The above exception is subject to the following provisos:-
First That the provocation is not sought or voluntarily provoked by the offender as an excuse for killing or doing harm to any person.
Secondly That the provocation is not given by anything done in obedience to the law, or by a public servant in the lawful exercise of the powers of such public servant.
Thirdly That the provocation is not given by anything done in the lawful exercise of the right of private defence.
Explanation Whether the provocation was grave and sudden enough to prevent the offence from amounting to murder is a question of fact."
34. Ex.P4 confessional statement of the accused has been given to P.W.19 Sivakumar, Inspector. For the reasons already stated, we have rejected the recovery evidence based on the said admissible portion in Ex.P4. We have not used the said confessional statement as against the accused. Question arises whether the confessional statement can be used in favour of the accused.
35. Confession to police is inadmissable, it cannot be used against the accused except to the extent provided in Section 27 of the Indian Evidence Act is a basic rule incorporated in Sections 25 and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act. So, the total bar for using the confessional statement is only as against the accused. In the confessional statement, there may be information about his family particulars, the circumstances under which the offence was committed. There may be some information which would be in his favour.
36. In HASIL v. EMPEROR [AIR 1942 Lahore 37], it was held that the prohibition contained in Section 25 applied only to confessions which are to be proved against the accused, but not when the same is to be considered for the accused. In that case, the Sessions Judge had refused to rely on the confessional statement made by the accused before the Police, which the accused wanted to use in his favour for showing what offence had been committed. The Lahore High Court held that such confessional statement could be taken into consideration for the accused and the prohibition contained in Section 25 of the Evidence Act would not apply to such use of the confessional statement.
37. In LALKHAN v. EMPEROR [AIR 1948 Lahore 43], though the confession made by the accused to the Police was not taken into consideration against the accused, it was taken into consideration for ascertaining the version of the accused and based on his version, the offence committed by him was held to be of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
38. In re MOTTAI THEVAR [AIR 1952 Madras 586], Somasundaram.J., while agreeing with the conclusions arrived at by Mack.J. in his separate judgment, observed as follows:-
(10). Section 25, Indian Evidence Act says that no confession made to a police officer shall be proved as 'against ' a person accused, of any offence. I underline the word 'against'. The confession does not therefore prohibit the use of it in favour of the accused.
39. In MOTTAI THEVAR [supra], the Division Bench referred to a part of the information in the confessional statement of the accused that due to grave and sudden provocation, he had killed his wife, and reduced his life sentence to 7 years Rigorous Imprisonment.
40. In re RAYAPPA ASARI [1972 CRL.L.J. 1226], MOTTAI THEVAR [supra] has been followed by another Division Bench of this Court. Such a view also has been taken in re GANESAN [1972 L.W. (Crl.) 42].
41. Subsequently, in re THANDAVAN [1973 CRL.LJ.1041], a Division Bench of this Court referred to the statement of the accused in his confessional statement to police that his wife told him that it is not possible for him to check her from indulging in adultery he had killed her and the Division Bench commuted his death sentence to life sentence.
42. Recently, in MANICKAM Vs. STATE [2011(3)Crimes 509(Mad.)], in Ex.P10 confessional statement recorded by the Investigation Officer, the accused had stated that the deceased was having illegal intimacy with his wife and under these circumstances, he had killed him. The Court noted this and held that the accused cannot be held to have committed murder and brought the offence under Section 304-I IPC and reduced his life sentence to 7 years rigorous imprisonment.
43. Recently, in ROHIDAS MANIK KASRALE v STATE OF MAHARASHTRA [2012 CRL L.J.917], a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court referred to MOTTAI THEVER (supra) and held that Section 25 of the Evidence Act is not a bar to use a statement in the confession of the accused in his favour and noting from the confession that the accused had killed his wife because of her wayward behavior held that the offence would not be murder but culpable homicide not amounting to murder and set aside the life sentence and awarded 10 years imprisonment.
44. Thus, from the above survey of the case laws, it is seen that what the law prohibits is using of the confession of the accused given to a police officer as against the accused, except to the extent provided, namely, so much of information leading to the discovery of a fact(see Sections 25,26 and 27 of Indian Evidence Act). But, there is no bar to use such disclosure statement in favour of the accused.
45. Under certain circumstances, the information in the confessional statement may throw much light to find out the nature of the offence committed. It may contain information to decide issues relating to the return of the case-properties. In such cases, such information in the confessional statement can be used. Those informations can also be considered at the time of question of sentence.
46. Now, in the case before us, the accused had given Ex.P4 confessional statement to P.W.19 Sivakumar, Inspector. In this, the accused had disclosed about the conduct of his wife, it is such that it had created doubt in her faithfulness to him, she was having illegal intimacy with Senthil, her colleague at the works spot. He was her paramour and her such behavior continuously affected the accused mentally. Further, to safeguard the future of his children, to protect them from their wayward mother, he took them away from her and put them in a hostel at a remote place in Tuticorin District and this was resented by her and she continuously pressurised him to hand over her children and the accused was apprehensive of loosing his children also, he had stated in Ex.P4 that in these circumstances, on the occurrence day, he had committed the offence, namely, beaten her to death. The evidence of P.Ws.1,5 and 17 and Ex-P18 also throws much light on this aspect.
47. The cross-examination of P.W.1 disclosed that at the time of occurrence wordy altercation took place between the deceased and the accused and thereafter only the accused had beaten her on her head with an iron rod. Thus, the above shows that the accused was dissatisfied with the behavior of his wife, her unfaithfulness to him. And the accused was nurturing this in his mind, it was lingering in his mind for quite some time. This got sustained in his mind for quite some time. In these circumstances, on the occurrence day, he had committed the said offence.
48. In R Vs. DUFFY [(1949) 1 ALL ER 932], the English Court of Appeal, put the common law defence of provocation as under:-
Provocation is some act, or series of acts, done by the dead man to the accused, which would cause in any reasonable person, and actually causes in the accused, a sudden and temporary loss of self-control, rendering the accused so subject to passion as to make him or her for the moment not master of his mind.
49. Under certain circumstances, the offence of murder defined in Section 299 IPC. will not be murder. Those circumstances are stated in Section 300 I.P.C. in the form of Exceptions. In those exceptional circumstances, the killing of a person will be culpable homicide not amounting to murder. One such circumstance/exception is provided in Exception 1 to Section 300 IPC. It is, if the offence is committed, when the offender has lost his power of self-control due to the grave and sudden provocation, it will not be murder but culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It will be punishable under Section 304 IPC part-I, (if it is an intentional act), Part-II, if it is committed with sufficient knowledge as to its ensuing consequence).
50. The 'provocation' stated in Exception 1 to Section 300 IPC gives the impression that it must be sudden, it must be on the spot, it must be on the spur of moment, a provocative act erupted at the moment. When it was nurtured, sustained in the mind of the offender for a reasonable period and got exploded at a later point of time the problem arises. Such a situation is not explicitly expressed in Lord Macaulay's Section 300 IPC.
51. In K.M.NANAVATI Vs. STATE of MAHARASHTRA (1962)1 MLJ (CrL.)531(SC), the leading case on provocation, the Hon'ble Supreme Court read into the Exception the following propositions:-
1. The test of 'grave and sudden' provocation is whether a reasonable man, belonging to the same class of society to which the accused belongs, and placed in the situation in which the accused was placed, would be so provoked as to lose his self-control.
2. In India, words gestures may also, under certain circumstances, cause grave and sudden provocation to an accused so as to bring his act within the first Exception to Section 300 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. The mental background created by the previous act of the victim may be taken into consideration in ascertaining whether the subsequent act caused grave and sudden provocation for committing the offence.
4. The fatal blow should be clearly traced to the influence of passion arising from that provocation and not after the passion had cooled down by lapse of time, or otherwise giving room and scope for premeditation and calculation.
52. It is pertinent to note that some of the concepts in these propositions were culled from English common law, most notably the reasonable person test, which does not appear on the face of Exception 1 to Section 300 IPC. On the other hand, several of these propositions were not part of the English common law at the time NANAVATI (supra) was decided by the Supreme Court.
53. Proposition 3 in NANAVATHI (supra) is relevant for our purpose. The Hon'ble Apex Court held that the previous conduct of the victim may be taken into account in ascertaining whether the subsequent act caused grave and sudden provocation for committing the offence. Thus, the mental background created by the previous act of the victim may be taken into consideration in ascertaining whether subsequent act caused grave and sudden provocation for committing the offence. Even the subsequent act may be trifling in nature. But, it is the triggering point to the already lingering mind of the accused.
54. In re SUYAMBUKKANI [1989 L.W.(Crl) 86], this Court has occasion to consider this proposition as to provocation in the Indian Criminal Law. Dr.Justice David Annousamy while referring to the eloquent submission of Mr.N.T.Vanamamalai, Senior Advocate, who appeared for the appellant/accused that in the facts and circumstances of the case, the act of the accused did not amount to murder within the meaning of I.P.C., the learned Judge observed as under:-
21. It is clear from the opinion of the important architects of the Indian codification that Anglo Indian Codes, which were the first experiments in English language in the art of codification, inspite of their immense value, are far from being perfect and were intended to be overhauled from time to time. Therefore, though technically the Exceptions to Section 300 I.P.C. appear to be limitative they can no longer be considered so, after the efflux of time. In fact, Courts have added one more exception known as 'sustained provocation'. The leading decision in that field is the well known Nanavati's case. AIR 1962 S.C.605. That decision is not the first one to take into consideration trie situation of sustained provocation. There are previous decisions, which are reviewed in that case are: The Empress V. Khagayi, I.L.R. 2 Mad. 122 Boya Munigadu v. The Queen, I.L.R. 3 Mad, 33, Murugien. In re. (1957)2 MLJ.9: 1957 M.L.J.(Crl) 271: 1957 Crl.L.J. 970: ILR 1957 Mad 908: AIR 1957 Mad, 541, Chervirala Narayan. In re.,(1958)1 An.W.R., 149: AIR 1958 Mad, 235, Balku v. Emperor, AIR 1938 All, 532 and Babu Lal V. State, AIR 1960 All.223. Thereafter, several decisions have been pronounced and recently by this Court dealt with the same subject in the following unreported cased C.A.No.70 of 1981, dated 15.12.1982, Lakshmi J. State, C.A.No.417 of 1985, dated 10.02.1986, Dhaman V. State, C.A.No.184 of 1983, dated 06.2.1983, Dsvanthan @ Mani v. State, C.A.No.301 of 1984, dated 04.08.1988, Gopal V. State. Though there has seen here and there attempts, in those decisions to bring the sustained provocation under Exception 1 to Section 300 I.P.C., there is a cardinal difference between provocation as defined under Exception 1 and sustained provocation. The only word which is common is 'Provocation'. What exception I contemplates is a grave and sudden provocation whereas the ingredient of sustained provocation is a series of acts more or less grave spread over a certain period of time, the last of which acting as the last straw breaking the camel's back may even be a very trifling one. We are therefore far from grave and sudden provocation contemplated under Exception 1 to Section 300 I.P.C. Sustained provocation is undoubtedly an addition by Courts as anticipated by the architects of the I.P.C.
55. English Criminal Law considered provocative act must be just prior to, immediate to the commission of the offence so that it will be manslaughter", Indian equivalent of "culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It had refused to take into account the previous act, which had subsequently formed the nucleus, cause or base for committing the offence.
56. After several years only in R v. AHLUWALIA [1992 (4) All ER 889]: [(1993)96 Cr. APP. R 133] , when a battered women of Indian origin, who had killed her husband after years of physical violence at his hands, came to the Court of Appeal, the English Court had the occasion to overhaul its perspective of the law relating to provocation with respect to manslaughter and homicide.
57. In AHLUWALIA (supra), the appellant pleaded for substitution of her conviction for manslaughter for that of murder. The English Court started looking at the past provocative incidents as relevant provocation. Lord Justice Talyor of Gosforth, C.J. addressing the appellant's submission that expert evidence showed that women who have been subjected frequently over a period to violent treatment may react to the final act or words by slow burn reaction rather than by an immediate loss of self-control held that we accept that the subjective element in the defence of provocation would not as a matter of law be negatived simply because of the delayed reaction in such cases, provided that there was at the time of the killing a 'sudden and temporary loss of self-control' caused by the alleged provocation. The English Court do accepted the Indian innovative principle of sustained provocation as cumulative provocation in their criminal jurisprudence.
58. Professor Stanley Yeo of School of Law and Justice, Southern Cross University, Australia made a comparative study of law relating to provocation and self-defence in India, England and Australia and in his admirable book Unrestrained Killings and the Law (Oxford University Press),(2002) at page 27 concluded:-
This comparative survey shows that, while cumulative provocation is now recognized in all three jurisdictions, the Indian Courts were the earliest to adopt it, followed by the Australian courts with a few exceptions, and only lately by the English Courts. Accordingly, an appraisal of Indian law on the matter by English and Australian lawmakers might well have persuaded them to sooner embrace the concept of cumulative provocation.
59. Recently, in POOVAMMAL vs. STATE, REPRESENTED BY INSPECTOR OF POLICE, V.K.PURAM POLICE STATION, TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT [2012(2)MLJ (Crl)482], this Court referred to the offence of manslaughter in English Law, an offence committed during provocation and observed as under:-
30. Under the English Criminal Law, the provocation must be grave and also sudden. But, by way of judicial thinking, the Indian Criminal Law has gone ahead.(K.M.Nanavati v. State of Maharastra(supra). In our system, there is the concept of sustained provocation. It is concerned with the duration of the provocation. There may be incidents/occurrences, which are such that they may not make the offender suddenly to make his outburst by his overt Act. However, it may be lingering in his mind for quite sometime, torment continuously and at one point of time erupt, make him to loss his self control, make his mind to go astray, the mind may not be under his control/command and results in the offender committing the offence. The sustained provocation /frustration nurtured in the mind of the accused reached the the end of breaking point, under that accused causes the murder of the deceased.
60. In VASHRAM NARSHIBHAI RAJPARA vs. STATE OF GUJARAT [2009 (9) SCC 168], the house purchased by the accused was not to the liking of his wife and daughter and they continuously rebuked him, unable to bear this at one point of time he has killed them. The Hon'ble Apex Court held that though they were all living together, the continuous harassment and constant nagging could have very well affected his mental balance and as such sustained provocation could have reached a boiling point resulting in the dastardly act and ultimately set aside the death sentence and awarded him life sentence.
61. Subsequently, in SANTOSH SATISH BHUSAN vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA [2009(6)SCC 498] faced with kindred situation the Hon'ble Supreme Court followed VASHRAM (supra).
62. Thus, in the backdrop of the law relating to provocation, particularly sustained provocation, when we look at the facts of the present case it comes to light that as between the accused and the deceased there was continued strained relationship. The reason being the illegal intimacy of wife of the accused with her colleague Senthil. Besides that in order to safeguard the future of his children the accused kept the children away from her and because of her persistent demand for her children, the accused was apprehensive of loosing the children also. On the occurrence day, prior to the commission of the offence, there was wordy altercation between the accused and the deceased. At about that time, the accused remarked about her behavior and in these circumstances, he had beaten her to death.
63. The accused fairly for a long time nurtured in his mind, the behavior and conduct of his wife and he was upset with that for a long time. In this circumstances, the 'triggering incident', namely, quarrel before P.W.2's shop took place and in view of her previous provocative conduct, the accused lost his power of self control, then he was not master of his mind and beaten on her head with an iron rod. Thus, the accused had killed her actuated by her past provocative conduct. He has committed the offence due to the sustained/cumulative provocation. It will fall under Exception 1 to Section 300 IPC. What he has committed is culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Considering the weapon, the injury inflicted on her vital part, it is an intentional act falling under Part-I of Section 304 IPC.
64. In the result, this Criminal Appeal is allowed in part. The conviction under Section 498-A IPC of the appellant is confirmed and the sentence imposed upon him for the said offence is maintained. The conviction under Section 302 IPC and the life sentence imposed upon him are set aside. Instead, he is convicted under Section 304-I IPC. He is sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment and the fine amount imposed on him is maintained.
(K.N.B.J.) (P.D.S.J.)
26.06.2012
Index :Yes
Internet :Yes
rrg/smn
To
1.The Principal Sessions Judge,
Erode.
2.The Additional Sessions Judge,
[Fast Track Court No.I]
Erode.
3.The Chief Judicial Magistrate,
Erode.
4.Judicial Magistrate No.III,
Erode.
5.The District Collector,
Erode.
6.The Superintendent of Police,
Erode.
7.The Superintendent,
Central Prison, Coimbatore.
8.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
High Court, Madras.
9.The Inspector,
Erode South Police Station,
Erode.
10.The Section Officer,
Criminal Section,
High Court, Madras.
K.N.BASHA.J., and
P.DEVADASS.J.,
rrg
Pre-Delivery Judgment in CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.108 of 2011
26.06.2012