Holding

The conviction of the appellant under Sections 302 and 498A IPC cannot be sustained as the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Summary

The case involved the death of Minta Devi, who was allegedly burnt to death by her husband Arvind Singh and his in‑laws. The trial court convicted all four accused under Sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (cruelty) and sentenced them to life imprisonment; the High Court set aside the conviction of three relatives under 304B but converted the husband’s charge to murder under Section 302 while retaining his 498A conviction. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined the reliability of the dying declaration made to the mother, the alleged interpolation of a dowry demand in the FIR, and the lack of any corroborative or circumstantial evidence linking the husband to the burning. The Court held that the dying declaration was uncorroborated, the FIR had been tampered with, and no material evidence established the husband’s participation or cruelty, rendering the conversion to Section 302 untenable. Consequently, the Court set aside the husband’s convictions under both Sections 302 and 498A, acquitted him, and ordered his release.

Issues considered

The prosecution failed to prove the husband’s participation in the burning beyond reasonable doubt.
Whether the dying declaration made to the mother is admissible and reliable without medical corroboration.
Whether the alleged interpolation of dowry demand in the FIR defeats the charge under Section 304B.
Whether the High Court could lawfully convert a conviction under Section 304B to Section 302.
Whether the elements of Section 498A (cruelty) were proved against the husband.
Whether the investigating officer’s testimony was required for a fair trial.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 216, s. 313, s. 385
Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 32
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 120B, s. 302, s. 304B, s. 34, s. 498A

Subjects

dowry deathSection 304B IPCSection 498A IPCmurderSection 302 IPCdying declarationFIR interpolationcircumstantial evidencecriminal jurisprudenceevidence law

Judgment

A ARVIND SINGH
v.
STATE OF BIHAR

APRIL 26, 200 I

B [UMESH C. BANERJEE AND K.G. BALAKRISHNAN, JJ.]

Indian Penal Code, 1860 Sections 302, 304-B and 498-A.

Dowry death-Husband and o(her family members accused-Conviction
C by trial court-Appeal-Charge of husband converted by High Court from
Section 304-B to 302-No substantial evidence. to implicate the accused
husband-Conviction set aside.

Dowry death-Bride burning-Finding of High Court that FIR was
interpolated with regard to demand of dowry-Acquittal of accused-Held
D calls for no interference.

Cruelty-Acts of husband and relatives-Charge of cruelty-Need for
evidence.

Evidence Act, 1872: Section 32.
E
Dying declaration-'-Veracity-Ascertainment of-Bride burning-
Dec/aration of deceased wife-Made few minutes before death-Declaration
made by deceased to her mother inculpating husband and in-laws-No
medical evidence suggesting that deceased was fit to make statement-
F Testimony of mother not corroborated-Held dying declaration was not
worthy of credence. ·

The Appellant along with other three ~embers of his family was
prosecuted under Sections 304B, 498A/34 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code,
18()0; The prosecution case was that the accused persons tortured the wife of
G appellant by making demands of dowry. Since demands could not be fulfilled
the accused persons conspired together and ultimately killed the wife of
appellant by burning her. The evidence in the case was that the mother of the
deceased was informed about the daughter's burn injury at night The parents
arrived in the morning and found the daughter in bed room with excessive
H bum injuries. The deceased made a dying declaration to the mother that the
218
ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR 219
in-laws and the husband on a conjoint move poured kerosene on her and threw A
a lighted match stick so as to cause burn inJuries. Immediately after this
lliatement the deceased passed away without any medical assistance. Tlie trial
court convicted and sentenced the accused persons of the offences charged.
On apJ>eal High Court set aside the conviction and sentience of three accused
viz. father-in-law, the mother-in-law and brother-in-law under Section 304B B
read with Section 34 as also under Section 120B but maintained their
conviction under Section 498A. While setting aside the conviction of these
three accused persons the High Court acceJ>ted the contention of the accused
persons that from a bare reference to the FIR it would appear that the
Investigating Officer by making interpolation has added the allegation with
regard to demand of dowry. The High Court came to the conclusion that there C
was no evidence that prior to the date of occurrence, there was any demand
for dowry by accused 1•ersons. So far as the a1•1•ellant husband is concerned
the High Court came to the conclusion that his conviction ought to be
converted from Section 304B to Section 302 and sentenced him to
imprisonment for life besides the conviction and sentence of 3 years under
Section 498A. D
In appeal to this Court it was contended on behalf of the appellant that
(i) the High Court committed not only a grave error of law in converting the
charge under Section 304B to 302 but also proceeded totally against even
the entire tone of the evidence on record; (ii) having recorded a finding that E
the demand for dowry was interpolated and inserted in the FIR, it was unsafe
to rely on the testimony of the mother of the deceased.

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: 1. The conviction and sentence imposed on the husband-apflellant
cannot be sustained. The evidence,is not sufficient enough to reach an F
irresistible conclusion of the involvement of the husband as the murderer
or even being charged with an offer.ce under Section 304B IPC. (233-F]

2. It is undoubtedly a social and heinous crime to have the wife burnt
to death but without any proper and reliable evidence, the law court can not G
by itself also Justify its conclusion in the matter of involVement of the
husband~ Direct evidence may not be available but circumstantial evidence
/
with reasonable probity and without a snap in the chain of events would
certainly tantamount to a definite evidence about the involvement but not
otherwise. No evidence is available in the matter. The defence story of early
morning stove burst by reason of warming up of milk from the kitchen has H
220 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A not been accepted as true and plausible explanation for the in.jury by either
of the courts. But that does not mean and imply that necessarily the refore
the husband was guilty of murder. As a matter of fact no special role was
even ascribed to the a11pellant herein for apart leading any evidence thereon.
Significantly, even the dying declaration whatever it is wmih, has implicated
all the four accused in similar manner. There is no additional piece of
B evidence implicating the husband which would permit the High Court to ·
conve1i the charge under 304B to S302. [234-A; 233-B; 232-E]

3. Presumptions and assumptions are not available in criminal
jurisprudence. The High Court converted the charge of the appellant husband
C from S.304B to S. 302 on the ground that the only motive or'the murder
could be attributed to the husband who must be interested in committing
such ·offence so that he can perform another marriage. This is rather a far-
fetched assumption without any cogent evidence anilable on record. The
assum11tion is faulty and is wholly devoid of any substance.[231-B; 232-A]

D 4. A dying declaration shall be dealt with care and caution and
corroboration thereof though not essential as such, but is othenvise expedient
to have the same in 01·der to strengthen the evidentiary value of the declaration.
lnde11endent witnesses may not be available but there should be pro11er care
and caution in the matter of acceptance of such a statement as trustworthy
E evidence. [231-F]

5. Dying declaration in the instant matter raises certain amount of
eyebrows. It has not been effected before any Doctor or any independent
witness. The evidence of dying declaration depicts that just before a few
minutes of her death, the deceased would make a declaration quietly to the
F mother naming therein all the three relations along with the husband who
poured kerosene to burn her alive. This is not acceptable, more so having
regard to the declaration being made to the ~other only. Reliance on such
a vaJ,,'lle statement would be opposed to the basic tenets of law. The declaration
of the deceased was made only to the mother but before the arrival of the
G mother, the incident was made known to the Police authorities and, in fact,
the Police was present when the mother and the brother arrived. It is highly
unlikely that the Police will not make any attempt to record a statement of
the deceased rather than wait for the mother to arrive. The mother admittedly
is an interested witness. '.fhough that by itself would not discredit the evidence
tendered in Court but the fact remains the Doctor's evidence considering the
H nature of the bum posed a considerable doubt as to whether such a statement
r.

ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR 221

could be made had an hour before the death of the deceased. The deceased A
had extensive hum including her mouth, nose and lips. The doctor had stated
,,,, ;.
that the death may take lliace at once and within ten seconds by reason of
the extensive nature of the burn and the deceased cannot have sunrived
beyond 10 minutes. [228-E-H]

Ram Nath Madhoprasad & Ors. v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR B
(1953) SC 420; Tarachand Damu Su tar v. State ofMaharashtra, AIR (1962)
SC 130; Mum1U Raja and Anr. v. State of Madhya Pradesh, AIR (1976) SC
2199; K. Ramachandra Reddy & Anr. v. The Public Prosecutor, AIR (1976)
SC 1994; Paparambaka Rosamma aJ~d Ors. v. State of A.P., [1999] 7 SCC
'..(

695 and Kofi Chunilal Savji andAnr. v. State of Gujarat, [1999] 9 SCC 562,
referred to.
c
.. Maniram v. State of MP., [1994] Su1•1•. 2 SCC 539; Ravi Chander v.
State ofPunjab, [1998] 9 SCC 303 and HaJjit Kaur v. State ofPunjab, [1999]
6 sec 545, cited.
6. The requirement of Section 498-A IPC is act of cruelty by the D
husband of a woman or by any relative of the husband. The word 'cruelty'
--.(..
denotes a state of conduct which is 1•ainful and distressing to anothe1: The
legislative intent thus is clear enough to indicate that in the eve~t of there
being a state of conduct by the husband to the wife or by any relative of the
husband which can be attributed to 11e painful -or distressing the same would
be within the meaning of the Section. In the instant case there is no evidence
E
whatsoever. No outside person has been called to give evidence and even the
witnesses being in the category of interested witnesses also restricted their
version to sufferings of burn injury and the purported dying declaration.
Apart therefrom nothing more is available on record to attribute any act or
- _,,1,

acts of cruelty on the l>art of the husband or on the part of husband's F
relatives. The evidence is not sufficient to bring home the charge under
Sccti.on 498A. [234-D-F]

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No.
887 of 1998.

From the Judgment and Order dated 1.5.98 of the Patna High Court in
G
Crl. A. No. 187/93.

4 M.P. Varma, M.D. Pandey, Anita Pandey and Prem Sunder Jha for the
' Appellant.

H.L. Aggarwal, Kumar Rajesh Singh and B.B. Singh for the Respondent. .H
222 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001) 3 S.C.R.

A The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

BANERJEE, J. The appeal in question tell the tale of a young girl dying
out of bum injuries. Whereas the learned Sessions Judge convicted each of
the accused being the husband, the father-in-law, the mother-in-law and the
.brother-in-law under Section 304 B of the Indian Penal Code and 498N34
B together with 120B of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced each of them to
undergo imprisonment for life under 304B IPC and a further sentence of 3
years to each of the accused for an offence under 498A IPC and in view of
the sentences passed, no need was felt to pass any sentence under Section ,.-.,
120 B IPC. The appeal taken to the High Court stands allowed so far as the '(
·C appellant Nos. 1, 2 and 4 are concerned upon taking into consideration of the
facts under Section 304 B read with Section 34 of the Indian Penai Code as
also under Section 120B of the Code though, however, the conviction under ...
Section 498A read with Section 34 of the Code was confirmed. Arvind Singh,
the husband was however, found guilty for murder of the wife Minta Devi and
his conviction under 304 B was converted to Section 302 IPC and was
D sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life besides maintaining the conviction
under Section 498A IPC. It is this conviction and sentence which stands
challenged in this appeal.

Before adverting to the contentions as raised by the appellant the case
E of the prosecution can be briefly stated to be as below: On the basis of the
fardbeyan of the informant Phulamati the mother of the deceased, that the
appellant alongwith other members of the family on the night of 6/7 March,
1991 had set her daughter on fire and on having such information the informant
alongwith PWs 3,4 and 7 reached the Muhalla and found that the daughter
was lying injured due to bum injuries. The First Information Report recorded
F that the daughter of the informant disclosed that her husband, father-in-law,
mcther-in-law and other family members forcibly poured kerosene oil on her
body and lighted, on account of which her entire body was burnt. The FIR
discloses that all the persuasions for removal to a hospital by reason of the
severe bum injuries were negatived by the in-laws and having failed to
G persuade the in-laws, the parents family themselves wanted to take her back
to the hospital but the attempt was not successful since the deceased
succumbed to her injuries.

Incidentally, it may be noted that two specific cases have been made
out in the FIR, firstly, the girl was ugly looking (though some of the witnesses
H have stated that she has been a really good looking girl) and secondly this
ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [BANERJEE, J.] 223

is a case of bride torture and demand of dowry to the extent of Rs.10,000 and A
a gold ring and since demands could not be fulfilled the accused persons
·--' ~ conspired together and committed the offence which has resulted in the death
of the girl.

The factual disputes there are not many since the factum of the death
and the cause of death being bum injuries are admitted. As regards the dowry B
death a specific submission was made before the High Court to the effect as
below:-

"Mr. Verma, learned counsel appearing for the appellants firstly
contended that from a bare reference to the FIR it would appear that
the Investigating Officer by making interpolation has added the C

.. allegation with regard to demand of dowry. Because the main reason
for such an occurrence was tliat Minta Devi was an ugly lady and,
therefore, accused persons used to torture her and ultimately committed
her murder. The allegation with regard to demand of dowry etc. was
virtually inserted in different hand writing at the end of the fact from D
which interpolation is apparent. Learned counsel appearing for the
State contended that true it is that the allegation with regard to
demand of dowry was inserted subsequently, but it cannot be alleged
that such an allegation was made after interpolation."

The High Court also in no uncertain terms recorded that the statement E
of Mr. Vem1a stands justified by reason of interpolation on the First Information
Report. The High Court also came to the conclusion that there is no evidence
whatsoever that prior to the date of occurrence, there was any demand for
dowry by the accused persons and it is on the basis of the aforesaid the High
Court set aside the conviction and sentence of Janardan Singh, Lilawati Devi
and Navin Kumar Singh under Section 304 B read with 34 of the Indian Penal F
Code as also under l20B of the Indian Penal Code. The conviction of 498A
however, read with Section 34 was confirmed and the bail bonds granted in
favour of the three accused noticed above were directed to be cancelled and
they were ordered to be taken into custody forthwith for serving out the
remaining sentences. As regards Arvind Singh the husband, the High Court G
came to the conclusion that his conviction ought to be converted from
Section 304B to 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to undergo
imprisonment for life besides the conviction and sentence of 3 years under
Section 4 98A of the IPC. In the result the criminal appeal was partly allowed
so far as the appellant Nos. 1, 2 and 4 were concerned but appellant No.3
being the husband (Arvind Singh) subject to the modification of conviction H
224 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001) 3 S.C.R.

A was dismissed and hence the appeal before this Court by the grant of special
leave.

Burn injuries are normally classified into three degrees. The first being
reddening and blistering of the skin only; second being charring and
destruction of the full thickness of the skin; third being charring of the tissues
B beneath the skin; e.g. fat, muscle and bone.

Be it noted here that if the burn is of a distinctive shape a corresponding
hot object may be identified being applied to the skin and thus abrasions will
have distinctive patterns but in the event burn injury is a cause of death 60%
C . cases of septicaemia and 34% cases are ofbronchopneumonia. Where infection
was by Pseudomonas pyocyanea, spread to unburnt skin with ulceration may
occur, and internal infection by this organism is especially liable to damage
the walls of blood vessels. Gram-negative shock may also occur. The external
examination in the normal cases are found in the body being removed from
a burnt building and in the event of so removal the cause of death would be
D inhalation of fumes rather than septicaemia as noticed above. In the event the
body is not removed from the room and the same remains in situ an examination
of the scene must be attempted, as with any other scene of suspicious death,
note being taken as regards the position of the body, clothes remaining if any
and identifiable objects in the room and so on. The examination of the burns
E is also directed to ascertain their position and depth, as to whether they were
sustained in life or not, and whether their situation gives any indication of
the path taken by the flames or the position of the body when the fire started
if the body is very severely burnt then all the skin surface may be destroyed,
even sometimes make it rather difficult for identification of the body. A body
that is badly burnt assume the appearance known as 'pulgilistic 'attitude' and
F this is due to heat stiffening and contraction of the muscles, causing the arms
to become flexed at the elbows and the hands clen2hed, the head slightly
extended and the knees bent. The appearance resembles the position adopted
by a person engaged in a fight and has led on occasion to suspicion that
d~ath has occurred during some violent crime. In fact, of course, the body
G will assume this position when the fire started. The other aspect of the bum
'injury is the. heat ruptures may be produced. These are splits of the·skin,
caused by contraction of the heated and coagulated tissues, and the resultant
breaches look like lacerated wounds, They are usually only a few inches, but
may be upto 1 or 2 ft in length. Normally they lead to no difficulty in
·; interpretation, since they only occur in areas of severe burning, and normally
H over fleshy areas of the body, like calves and thighs, where lacerations are
ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [BANERJEE, J.] 225

uncommon. Howe,-er, when they occur in the scalp they may cause greater A
difficulties. They can usually be distinguished from wounds inflicted before
the body was burnt, by their appearance, position in areas of maximum
burning and on fleshy areas, and by the associated findings on internal
examination. (See in this context Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence)

Although shock due to extensive burns is the usual cause of death, B
delayed death may be due to inflammation of the respiratory tract caused by
the inhalation of smoke. Severe damage, at least to the extent of blistering of
the tongue and upper respiratory tract, can follow the inhalation of smoke.

Prosecution's definite case in· the matter under reference is kerosene
was poured in all round and thereafter with lighted match stick the girl was C
burnt to death alive. The FIR depicts the case of torture in order to attract
Section 498A together with ingredients of charge under Section 304B which
stands disbelieved by the High Court and we in the contextual facts accept
the observations of the High Court pertaining thereto having regard to the
fact that the High Court itself has looked into the original FIR and found it D
to be so interpolated as contended and it is on this score that the High Court
acquitted the accused persons under Section 304B: No exception thus can be
+. taken to the order of acquittal of the charge above and we also record our
concurrence therewith.

The High Court however, has not delved into the issue of non- E
examination oflnvestigating Officer. We are at a loss to find such an omission
on the part of the High Court on such a vital issue.

Mr. Verma, the learned senior counsel appearing in support of the
appeal contended that conversion of charge under Section 304B to 302,
cannot by stretch be maintained. It has been contended that the Court having F
recorded a finding that the "demand for dowry" was interpolated and inserted
in the FIR, virtually in a different handwriting, which was done subsequently
- it is submitted that, it is unsafe to rely on the informant PW5 and the
Prosecution case is fit to be rejected outright, more so, when the Investigating
Officer has been kept out of court. G
Mr. Verma contended that since the prosecution failed to prove the
charges against any of the accused and that the conviction and sentence
under the aforesaid charges including that of the appellant having been set
aside, the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 IPC is bad in law and
untenable. The charge under Section 302 IPC is a major charge and it entails H
226 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A more severe and greater sentence, being death or imprisonment for life and
fine, whereas in a charge under Section 304B, there is imprisonment for 7
years which may exiend upto life imprisonment and in that case the court
having set aside the conviction under Section 304B read with 34 and l 20B
IPC, it is neither open nor permissible to punish the accused under Section
302 IPC which in all material particular amounts to enhancement of sentence
B and inflicting greater punishment unless the petitioner is given an opportunity
to show cause without which the court shall not inflict greater punishment
[refer to Section 385 Cr.P.C.].

Mr. Verma, contended here again when a distinct offence under Section r
C 302 IPC is made out, charge should have been framed and read out to the '
accused appellant [refer Section 216 Cr.P.C.] to avoid prejudice and in that
case the circumstances brought in evidence should be put to accused in his
examination under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. which has not been done causing
serious prejudice in defence. In any event Mr. Verma contended that the
evidence on record does not justify such a conversion of charge - There is
D therefore neither any legal nor even any evidentiary support to such a
conversion. The High Court in -introducing Section 302 in place of Section
304B, it has been submitted not only committed a grave error of law but
· proceeded totally against even the entire tenor of the evidence on record.
Criminal jurisprudence does not warrant such a conversion on facts of the
E matter under consideration.
Turning attention on to the dying declaration be it noticed at this
juncture that the deceased was supposed to have spoken to the mother that
there was a conjoint effort of all the accused to pour kerosene on all her body
and lit the fire - The burn injury resulting therefrom has caused her life to
F death. Prosecution thus treated the same as a dying declaration.
Though the earlier view of this Court in Ramnath's case Ram Nath
Madhoprasad & Ors. v. State ofMadhya Pradesh, AIR (1953) SC 420 stands
overruled by a five-Judges judgment in the case of Tarachand Damu Sutar
v. State ofMaharashtra, AIR (1962) SC 130 but there is no denial of the fact
G that dying declaration ought to be treated with care and caution since the
maker of the statement cannot be subjected to any cross-examination. The
same is the view taken in a case reported in AIR (1976) SC 2199 Munnu Raja
and Another v. State of Madhya Pradesh, wherein this Court stated:

"It is well settled that though a dying declaration must be approached
H with caution for the reason that the maker of the statement cannot be
ARVlND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [BANERJEE , J.] 227'

subjected to cross-examination, there is neither a rule oflaw nor a rule. A
of prudence which has hardened into a rule of law that a dying.
..... -4 declaration cannot be acted upon unless it is corroborated. Thus
Court must not look out for corroboration unless it comes to the
conclusion that the dying declaration suffered from any infirmity by
reason of which it was necessary to look out for corroboration."
B
In the same year this Court in the case of K. Ramachandra Reddy &
Am: v. The Public Prosecutor, AIR (1976) SC 1994, observed:

"The dying declaration is undoubtedly admissible under Section 32
"I
and not being a statement on oath so that its truth could be tested
by cross- examination, the Courts have to apply the strictest scrutiny c
and the closest circumspection to the statement before acting upon
it. While great solemnity and sanctity is attached to the words of a
dying man because a person on the verge of death is not likely to tell
lies or to concoct a case so as to implicate an innocent person, yet
the Court has to be on guard against the statement of the deceased
being a result of either tutoring prompting or a product of his
D
imagination. The Court must be satisfied that the deceased was in a
fit state of mind to make the statement after the deceased had a clear
1""
opportunity to observe and identify his assailants and that he was
making the statement without any influence or rancour. Once the
Court is satisfied that the dying declaration is true and voluntary it E
can be sufficient to found the conviction even without any further
corroboration.

A dying declaration which has been recorded by a competent
_....._ Magistrate in the proper manner, that is to say, in the form of question
_.,,,, and answer and, as far as practicable, in the words of the maker of F
the declaration, stands on a much higher footing than a dying
declaration which depends upon oral testimony which may suffer from
all the infirmities of human memory and human character. In order to
test the reliability of a dying declaration, the Court has to keep in view
the circumstances like the opportunity of the dying man for
observation, for example, whether there was sufficient light if the
G
crime was committed at night; whether the capacity of the man to
remember the facts stated had not been impaired at the time he was
" making the statement, by circumstances beyond his control; the
...-....;:
statement has been consistent throughout if he had several
opportunities of making a dying declaration apart from the official H
228 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A record of it; and the statement had been made at the earliest opportunity
and was not the result of tutoring by interested parties AIR 1958 SC
22: Rel. on."

Be it noted that the dying declaration herein has not been effected
before any Doctor or any independent witness but to the mother who is said
B to have arrived at the place only in the morning - the mother admittedly is
an interested witness: though that by itself would not discredit the evidence
tendered in Court but the fact remains the Doctor's evidence considering the
miture of the burn posed a considerable doubt as to Whether such a statement
could be made half an hour before the death of the accused. It is not that 'r
I
C the statement of the unfortunate girl was otherwise not clear or there was
existing sc:ime doubt as to the exact words on the contrary the definite
evidence tendered is that there is clear unequivocal statement from the daughter
of the family that the conjoint efforts pf putting kerosene thereafter with
lighted match stick has resulted the burn injury. The severity of the burn
injury and its impact on the body speaks volume by reason of the death of
D the deceased. It is the reliance' on such a dying declaration by the High Court
shall thus have to be scrutinised with certain degree of caution.

Dying declaration in the instant matter thus we must confess raised
certain amount of eyebrows and Mr. Verma also with his usual eloquence did
E put a strong protest in regard thereto. The evidence of this declaration
depicts that just before a few minutes of her death, the deceased would make
a deelaration quietly to the mother naming therein all the three relations along
with the husband who poured kerosene to burn her alive. This is not
. acceptable, more so having regard to the declaration being made to the
mother only. In any event, is it conceivable that the husband along with the
F father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law would start pouring kerosene
together on to the girl - as if each was prepared with a can of kerosene to
pour simultaneously· - This not only would lead to an absurdity but reliance
on such a vague statement would be opposed to the basic tenets of law.
Further it is in evidence that the deceased had an extensive burn including
G her mouth, nose and lips - if any credence is to be allowed to the same, then
and in that event, the evidence of the mother about the confession stands
belied by itself. Significantly, the doctor's evidence as is available on record
would also go a long way in the unacceptability of the evidence of the mother
as regards confession. In no uncertain terms the doctor, P.W.8 stated that the
death may take place ·at once and within ten seconds by reason of the
H extensive nature of the burn and the deceased cannot have survived beyond
ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR (BANERJEE , J.] 229

IO minutes. Another redeeming feature that the declaration of the deceased A
was made only to the mother but before the arrival of the mother, the incident
was made known to the Police authorities and, in fact, the Police was present
when the mother and the brothe~ arrived. It is highly unlikely that the Police
will not make any attempt to have a statement by the deceased but if it was
otherwise possible immediately on its arrival rather than wait for the mother B
to arrive. Two recent decisions of this Court may be of some assistance - the
first in point of time is the decision of a three judge Bench of this Court in
the case of Paparambaka Rosamma and Others v. State ofA.P., [1999] 7 SCC
695 wherein this Court in no uncertain terms observed that there ought not
to be any hesitancy in the mind of the Court in regard to the truthfulness and
voluntary nature of disclosure of the incident. In Rosamma's case one Dr. K. C
Vishnupriya Devi has stated in the Court that the injured was conscious but
she has not deposed that the injured was in a fit state of mind to make a
statement. It did come on record that the girl has sustained 90% burn injuries
and it is in that perspective, this Court held that "in the absence of a medical
certification that the injured was in a fit state of mind at the time of making
the declaration, it would be very much risky to accept the subjective D
satisfaction of a Magistrate who opined that the injured was in a fit state of
mind at the time of making a declaration" - the medical certification, therefore,
was felt to be a primary element in the matter of dying declaration -
unfortunately we do not have any certification of whatsoever nature, it is only
the uncorroborated testimony of the mother to whom the deceased was E
supposed to have made the declaration as noticed above. In paragraph 9 of
the Report in Rosamma s case (supra) however, this Court had the following
to state:

"9. It is true that the medical officer Dr. K. Vishnupriya Devi (PW 10)
at the end of the dying declaration had certified "patient is conscious F
while recording the statement". It has come on record that the injured ,
Smt. Venkata Ramana had sustained extensive burn injuries on her
person. Dr. P. Koteswara Rao (PW 9) who performed the post-mortem
stated that the injured had sustained 90% burn injuries. In this case
as stated earlier, the prosecution case solely rested on the dying
declaration. It was, therefore, necessary for the prosecution to prove G
the dying declaration as being genuine, true and free from all doubts
and it was recorded when the injured was in a fit state of mind. In our
opinion, the certificate appended to the dying declaration at the end
by Dr. Smt. K. Vishnupriya Devi (PW 10) did not comply with the
H
requirement in as much as she has failed to certify that the injured was
230 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A in a fit state of mind at the time of recording the dying declaration.
The certificate of the said expert at the end only says that "patient
is conscious while recording the statement". In view of these material
omissions, it would not be safe to a~cept the dying declaration (Ex.
P-14) as true and genuine and as made when the injured was in a fit
state of mind. From the judgments of the courts below, it appears that
B this aspect was not kept in mind and resultantly they erred in accepting
the said dying declaration (Ex. P-14) as true, genuine and as made
when the injured was in a fit state of mind. In medical science two
stages namely conscious and a fit state of mind are distinct and are
not synonymous. One may be conscious but not necessarily in a fit
c state of mind. This distinction was overlooked by the courts below."

In the similar vein, another three judge Bench of this Court in Kofi
Chun ii al Savji and another v. State of Gujarat, [1999] 9 SCC 562 observed
that in the absence of the Doctor while recording a dying declaration, the
same loses its value and cannot be accepted. In paragraphs 6 and 7 of the
D Report, this Court observed:

"6. In view of the rival submissions made at the Bar, two questions
really arise for our consideration:

(1) Whether the two dying declarations can be held to be true and
E voluntary and can be relied upon or can be excluded from
consideration for the infirmities pointed out by Mr. Keswani,
appearing for the appellants.
(2) Whether the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction in interfering
with the order of acquittal, recorded by the learned Sessions
Judge.
F
7. Coming to the first question, the answer to the same would depend
upon the correctness of the submission of Mr. Keswani, that in the
absence of the doctor while recording the dying declaration, the said
declaration loses its value and cannot be accepted. Mr. Keswani in
this connection relies upon the decision of this Court in the case of
G
Maniram v. State of MP., [1994] Supp. 2 SCC 539. In the aforesaid
case, no doubt this Court has held that when the declarant was in the
hospital itself, it was the duty of the person who recorded the dying
declaration to do so in the presence of the doctor and after being duly
certified by the doctor that the declarant was conscious and in his
H senses and was in a fit condition to make the declaration. In the said
ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [BANERJEE, J.] 231
case the Court also thought it unsafe to rely upon the dying declaration A
--{_
on account of the aforesaid infirmity and interfered with the judgm~mt
of the High Court. But the aforesaid requirements are a mere rule of
prudence and the ultimate test is whether the dying declaration qm
be held to be a truthful one and voluntarily given. It is no doubt true
that before recording the declaration, the officer concerned must find
that the declarant was in a fit condition to make the statement in
B
question. In Ravi Chander v. State of Punjab, [1998] 9 SCC 303 thjs
Court has held that for not examining the doctor, the dying declaration
--.(
recorded by the Executive Magistrate and the dying declaration orally
made need not be doubted. The Court further observed that that the
Executive Magistrate is a disinterested witness and is a responsible c
officer and there is no circumstance or material on record to suspect
that the Executive Magistrate had any animus against the accused or
was in any way interested in fabricating the dying declaration and~
therefore, the question of genuineness of t!1e dying declaration
recorded by the Executive Magistrate to be doubted does not arise:.
In the case of Harjit Kaur v. State of Punjab, [1999] 6 SCC 545 this D
Court has examined the same question and held: (SCC p. 547, para 5)
...., - +.
"As regards the condition of Parminder Kaur, the witness has stated
<I
r that he had first ascertained from the doctor whether she was in a fit.
condition to make a statement and obtained an endorsement to that· E
effect. Merely because that endorsement was made not on the dying
declaration itself but on the application, that would not render the
dying declaration suspicious in any manner."

- ,_.J. Dying declarations shall have to be dealt with care and caution and
corroboration thereof though not essential as such, but is otherwise ex'}>edient F
to have the same in order to strengthen the evidentiary value of the declaration.
Independent witnesses may not be available but there should be proper care
and caution in the matter of acceptance of such a statement as trustworthy
evidence. In our view question of the dying declaration to the mother is not
worth acceptance and the High Court thus clearly fell into an error in such
an acceptance. Significantly, the High Court has set aside the conviction and
G
sentence under Section 304 B read with Section 34 and 120 B of the Indian
Penal Code so far as the father-in-law, the mother-in-law and the brother-in-
""-c: law are concerned though maintained the conviction under 498A. So far as
the husband is concerned the High Court converted the charge from 304 B
to 302 on the ground that the only motive of the murder could be attributed H
232 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A to the husband "who must be interested in committing such offence so that
he can perform another marriage" - This is rather a far-fetched assumption
without any cogent evidence available on record. Needless to record here that
excepting one of the very keenly interested witness, the episode of the
applicant being married again does not come from any other witness and the
factum of marriage also though stated but devoid of any particulars even as
B regards the name, the date of marriage etc. It is on record that on arrival of
the mother and the brother of the deceased, they found an assembly of large
number of mahalla people - but none of them were called to even have a
corroboration to this part of the evidence of the accused marrying after the >-- .
death of the deceased: No independent witness was thought of, though the
C factum of marriage could have been corroborated by an outside agency. The
FIR and the other oral evidence available if read together and full credence
is attributed to the same but that itself does·not and cannot permit the High
Court to come to such an assumption. The assumption is faulty and is wholly
devoid of any subs!ance. As a matter of fact no special role was even
ascribed to the appellant herein for apart leading any evidence thereon.
D Presumptions and assumptions are not available in criminal jurisprudence and
on the wake of the aforesaid we are unable to lend concurrence to the
assumptions of the High Court as recorded herein before in this judgment.
Significantly, even the dying declaration whatever it is worth, has implicated
all the four accused in the manner similar. There is no additional piece of
E evidence implicating the husband which would permit the High Court to
convert the charge of 304 B to 302 - True punishment of life imprisonment
is available under 304 B but that -is the maximum available under the Section
and for Section 302 the same is the minimum available under the Section.
Though discretion to a further award minimum cannot be taken away from the
Court. Section 302 is a much more heinous offepce· and unfortunately there
F ·is no evidence of such heinous activities attributable to the husband. The
factum of the husband, if interested i.n committing such offence so that he
can perform another marriage has not been put to the witnesses and in the
absence of which, assumption to that effect, cannot be said to be an aq:;eptable
assumption since without any evidentiary support. The assumption by itself
G in our view is untenable.
Mr. H.L. Agrawal, learned senior Advocate , however, emphatically
contended that considering the hour of the day and the factum of the wife
being burnt and no other explanation coming forth, question of the husband
escaping the liability of murder does not and cannot arise. We are however
H unable to lend our concurrence to the aforesaid. While it is true that husband
ARVIND SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [BANERJEE , J.) 233

being the companion in the bedroom ought to be able to explain as to the A
circumstances but there exist an obligation on the part of the prosecution to
.,...,~
prove the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. Criminal
jurisprudential system of the country has been to that effect and there is
neither any departure nor any escape therefrom.

The defence story of early morning/burst by reason of warming up of B
milk from the kitchen has not been accepted as true and plausible explanation
for the injury by either of the courts but does that mean and imply that
-......;
necessarily therefore the husband was guilty of murder - The answer cannot
be in the affirmative. As the experience goes this unfortunate trend has turned
out to be a growing menace in the society and does iiot warrant any sympathy
whatsoever but that does not however mean noij. adherence to even th¢·
c
basics of the law. When the parents arrived the girl was lying on the bed and
without there "being any evidence as the state of the linen, the cot and the
surroundings. Is this an omission Without having any impact on the entire
prosecution case?
D
Let us, however, scrutinise the evidence in little more greater detail: the
mother was informed about the daughter's burn injury at night - the parents'
~ arrived in the morning finds the daughter in the bed room with excessive burn
injuries without however any mention of the impact on the surroundings - the
deceased supposed to have made a statement to the mother that the in-laws
E
and the husband on a conjoint move poured kerosene on to her and threw
a lighted match stick so as to cause burn injuries - last of the evidence is that
the deceased immediately after such communicatjon passed away without any
· medical assistance -would this evidence be sufficient to prove the- charges

- ~ .... · even under Section 304B and 498A for apart the conversion thereof to 302
by the High Court? We are afr~d the evidence is not sufficient enough to
reach an irresistible conclusion of the involvement of the husband as the
F

murderer or even being charged with an offence under Section 304B IPC.

We do feel it expedient. to record that the conviction and sentence as
imposed against the husband-appellant cannot be sustained. The sentence of
imprisonment for life thus under Section 302 stands set aside. There is no
G
evidence, convincing, so as to even render the accused appellant suffer such
a conviction. There is no challenge by the State as against the order of
acquittal of <?ther three accused persons under Section 304B as such we are
"""" not inclined to delve into the matter as regards the involvement of the other
·three persons but the appellant's explanation of stove- burst being the cause H
234 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A of the event cannot be brushed aside. It is undoubtedly a social and heinous
crime to have the wife burnt to death but without any proper and reliable
evidence, the law court can not by itself also justify its conclusion in the
matter of involvement of the husband~ Direct evidence may not be available
but circumstantial evidence with reasonable probity and witho.ut a snap in the
chain of events would certainly tantamount to a definite evidence about the
B involvement but not otherwise. What is the evidence available in the matter
-To put it shortly, there is none! The facturn of burn injury cannot be doubted
and the subsequent unfortunate death but that is about all. Why was the
Investigating Officer not examined -No answers are forthcoming even at this
y· I
stage - but why not? Is it a lacuna? We need not dilate thereon but the fact
.C remains there is not a whisper in regard thereto!

Coming back to Section 498A the requirement of the statute is acts of
cruelty by the husband of a woman or any relative of the husband. The word
'cruelty' in common English acceptation denotes a state of conduct which is
painful and distressing to another. The legislative intent thus is clear enough
D to indicate that in the event of there being a state of conduct by the husband
to the wife or by any relative of the husband which can be attributed to be
painful or distressing. The same would be within the meaning of the Section.
In the instant case there is no evidence whatsoever. It is on this score Mr.
Verma contended that there is no sufficient evidence for even the dowry
.E demand far less the evidence of cruelty available on record. No outside
person has been called to give evidence and even the witnesses being in the
category of interested witnesses also restricted their version to sufferings of
burn injury and the purported dying declarations to the matter as noticed
herein before - apart therefrom nothing more is available on record to attnbute
any act or acts on the part of the husband or on the part of husband's
F relatives - is that evidence suffieient to bring home the charge under Section
498A? The answer obviously cannot be in the affirmative having regard to
the non-availability of any evidence in the matter.

Significantly however, upon recording of the fact of no dowry demand
· G prior to the date of occurrence the High Court thought it fit to record that
charge under Section 498A stands proved and as such passed the sentence.
We are however, unable to record our concurrence therewith - torture is a
question of fact - there must be proper effort to prove that aspect of the
matter, but unfortunately not even an attempt has been made nor any evidence
tendered to suggest the same excepting the bold interpolated allegations
H which stand disbelieved and ignored by the High Court, and in our view
ARV~D SINGH v. STATE OF BIHAR [BANERJEE , J.] 235
rightly. A
On the wake of the aforesaid, charge under Section 498A also cannot
be sustained! Both the learned Trial Judge and the High Court are clearly
wrong in not considering this aspect of the matter and thus fell into a serious
and clear error. In that view of the matter the conviction and sentence stand
set aside. The appeal stands allowed,accordingly. The appellant is acquitted. B·
The appellant be set at liberty forth~th unless required in any other case.

TN.A. Appeal allowed.

_,,, -+