Holding

A presumption of dowry death under Section 113‑B is valid where cruelty or harassment for dowry is shown to have occurred "soon before" the death, and the deceased’s statements are admissible under Section 32, thus the husband’s conviction under Sections 304‑B, 306 and 498‑A IPC stands.

Summary

The Supreme Court examined the death of Sunita Kumari, who was found dead by asphyxiation three years after her marriage. The husband, Rakesh Kumar, and his relatives were initially convicted under Sections 304‑B, 306 and 498‑A IPC, but the High Court acquitted all of them. On appeal, the Court held that a presumption of dowry death under Section 113‑B of the Evidence Act arises when a woman dies within seven years of marriage under non‑normal circumstances and is shown to have been subjected to cruelty or harassment for dowry "soon before" her death. The Court ruled that the deceased’s statements to family members were admissible under Section 32(1) and that the prosecution had proved a continuous demand for dowry and related harassment by the husband, satisfying the proximity test. Consequently, the husband’s conviction was reinstated (sentence reduced) while the acquittals of the other relatives were upheld.

Issues considered

The applicability of the presumption of dowry death under Section 113‑B when the demand for dowry was not made immediately before the death.
The admissibility of the deceased’s statements under Section 32 of the Evidence Act to prove cruelty or harassment.
Whether relatives other than the husband can be held liable for a dowry death without specific evidence of their participation.
Whether the High Court erred in acquitting the husband on the basis of alleged contradictions and lack of direct evidence.

Legislation cited

Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 113-B, s. 32(1)
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 304-B, s. 306, s. 498-A

Subjects

dowry deathpresumption of lawSection 304-B IPCSection 113-B Evidence Actdying declarationSection 32 Evidence Actcruelty and harassmentasphyxiasuicideproximate cause

Judgment

A KANS RAJ
v.
STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

APRIL 26, 2000

B [G.B. PATTANAIK, R.P. S~TIIl AND SIIlVRAJ V. PATI~ JJ.]

Penal Code, 1860/lndian Evidence Act, 1972 : Sections 304-B, 498-
A and 3061113-B-Death of a woman in her matrimonial house after three
years of marriage-Death found to be not under ordinary circumstances but
c by asphyxia-Husband and other close relatives tried under Sections 304-B,
498-A and 306 1PC-Presumption of law under Section 113-B of the
Evidence Act drawn-All the accused convicted of all the offences charged-
Appeal filed by accused in the High Court against conviction and sentence-
Revision petition also filed by the appellant/father of the deceased for
enhancement of sentence-Appeal allowed and revision( dismissed-Accused
D acquitted of all the charges-On appeal, Held: In case of death of a womwi
within 7 years of marriage, by bums, bodily injwy or uitder abnonnal
circumstances, a presumption of dowry deathis drawn-However, such death
should "soon before" be preceded by cruelty or harassment by the husband/
relatives in connection with dowry demand-Proximate or live links must be
E shown to exist between the course of conduct relating to such cruelty/
harassment and consequential death-Mere lapse of time by itself does not
provide the accused a defence that the cruelty/harassment was not "soon
before"-Husband convictal of va1ious offences and sentenced to 7 years'
RI-Order of High Cou1t confinned regarding other accused.
Evidence Act, 1872 : Section 32( I )-Statement of a person regarding
F
any of the circumstances resulting in his death admissible in evidence after his
death-Exception to the general rule of hearsay-The circumstances resulting
in death must have some proximate relation to the actual occurrence-If such
statement is in writing then the scribe must be produced in the Court-If tlie .
statement is verbal then ·the person who had heard the deceased making
G statement must be examined.
The deceased, a young woman was married to Respondent No. 21
accused three years ago from the day of occurrence. On the day of occur-
rence, PW-5 (brother of the deceased) had gone to the matrimonial house
of the deceased to deliver some customary presents on the occasion of
H Karva Chauth, was shocked to see her dead body lying in the entrance room
662
KANS v. STATE 663
•
and respondents preparing for her cremation. Noticing ligature marks on A
the neck of the deceased, PW-5 telephonically informed his parents about
the death and himself lodged a complaint with the police. On PW-S's
statement a case under SectiQn 306 IPC was registered against the re-
spondents. On post mortem, death was found to have occurred due to
asphyxia and not under ordinary circumstances. Chargesheet was pre-
sented against the husband of the deceased, her mother-in-law, her brother- B
in-law and sister-in-law. A separate complaint under Sections 302 and 304-
B IPC was also filed by the father of the deceased PW-6 against all the
respondents. Both the complaint case and the police case were tried to-
gether. The Trial Court convicted the respondents under Sections 304-B,
306 and 498-A IPC and sentenced each of them to undergo 10 years, 7 c
years and 2 years RI respectively. A fine of Rs. 250 each was also imposed
for offence under Section 498-A IPC. The respondents filed an appeal
before the High Court against the conviction and sentence. The ~ppellant/
PW-6 also filed a Revision Petition for enhancement of sentence. High
Court allowed the appeal by acquitting all the respondents of all the
charges and dismissed the revision petition of the appellant on merits. D
Hence the present appeal.

The appellant, relying upon the provisions of Section 113-B of the
Evidence Act, 1872, contended that as the death of the deceased had
occurred within 7 years of marriage and the prosecution had established
E
her harassment on account of demand of dowry, a legal presumption was
to be drawn against the respondents for holding them guilty and sentenc-
ing them for the offences committed. The respondents contended that
there being no direct evidence regarding the cause of death or circum•
stances leading to death, particularly in the absence of demand of dowry
soon before the death, none of the respondents could be held guilty for the1 F
offences with which they were charged, convicted and sentenced by the
Trial Court. It was also contended that the statements made by the de-
ceased before her death were not admissible in evidence under Section
32(1) of the Act and in the absence of demand of dowry immediately
before the alleged occurrence no inference or presumption could be drawn G
against the respondents.

Disposing the appeals the Court

HELD : 1.1. The law as it exists today provides that where the death
of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise H
664 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000] 3 S.C.R.
A than under normal circumstances within 7 years of marriage and it is
shown that soon before her death she was subjected to cruelty or harass-
ment by her husband or any relatives for or in connection with any
demand of dowry, such death shall be punishable under Section 304-B
IPC. As and when the circumstances mentioned in the. aforesaid section
are established, a presumption of dowry death shall be drawn against the
B
accused under Section 113-B of the Evidence Act, 197i which is a pre-
sumption of law. [673-G, 674-C]

1.2. The contention of the respondents that the statements of the
deceased regarding the husband cannot be termed to be cruelty or harass-
c ment by him soon before her death cannot be accepted "Soon before" is a
relative term which is required to be considered under specific circum-
stances of each case and no straight jacket formula can be laid down by
fixing any time limit. This expression is pregnant with the idea of proxim-
ity test. The term "soon before'' is not synonymous with the term ''immedi-
ately before" and is opposite of the expression "soon after'' as used an •
D understood in Section 114 Illustration (a) of the Act. These words would'
imply that the interval should not be too long between the time of making
the statement and the death. It contemplates that the reasonable time has
to be understood and determined under the peculiar circumsta!lces of each
case. In relation to dowry deaths, the circumstances showing the existence
E of cruelty or harassment to the deceased are not restricted to a particular
instance but normally refer to a course of conduct. Such conduct may be
spread over a period of time. If the cruelty or harassment or demand for
dowry is shown to have persisted, it shall be deemed to be 'soon before
death' if any other intervening circumstance showing the non-existence of
such treatment is not brought on record, before the alleged treatment and
F the date of death. It does not, however, mean that such time can be
stretched to any period. Proximate and live link between the effect of
cruelty based on demand and the consequential death is required to be
proved by the prosecution. The demand of dowry, cruelty or harassment
based upon such demand and the date of death should not be to remote in
G time which, under the circumstances, be treated as having become stale
enough. No. presumption under Section 113-B of the Ad would be drawn
against the accused if it is shown that after the alleged demand, cruelty or
harassment the dispute stood resolved and there was no evidence of cruelty
and harassment thereafter. [680-B-F]

H Sham Lal v. State of Haryana, [1997) 9 SCC 579, distinguished.
KANS v. STATE 665

~
_,;. 1.3. The prosecution had proved the persistent demand of dowry and A
continuous cruelty and harassment to the deceased by her husband. The
contradictions pointed out were no major contradictions which could be
made basis of impeaching the credibility of the witnesses. Reference to
different sums of money demanded by the accused-husband, in the state-
ments of PW-5 and PW-6, cannot be termed to be contradictory to each
B
other. At the most some of the amounts referred by one witness and not

., mentioned by the other can be termed to be omission which in no case
amounts to a major contradiction entitling R-2 of any benefit. PW-5 had
categorically stated that R-2 had raised a demand of Rs. 15,000 for scooter
and refrigerator immediately after the marriage which was fulfilled by
giving him a sum of Rs. 20,000. His demand of a colour TV was also c
fulfilled. The continuous harassment connected with the demand of dowry
was shown to be in existence till 21st September, 1988 when the deceased
was reported to have come to her brother's house and met her parents.
I Thereafter she was not shown to have met anyone and no intervening
circumstances showing resolvement or settlement regarding demands of D
dowry is brought on record. She was admittedly found dead on 23rd
October, 1988. [683-D-G]

1.4. It is established that the death of the deceased by suicide had

""' ..
occurred within 7 years of her marriage and such death cannot be stated to
have occurred to normal circumstances. The term "normal circumstances" E
apparently means not the natural death. In other words, the expression
"otherwise than undc _ normal circumstances" would mean the death not
in usual course but apparently under suspicious circumstances, if not
caused by burns or bodily injury. [682-H; 683-C]
F
Smt. Shanti & Anr. v. State ofHaryana, AIR (1991) SC 1226, relied on.

2.1. Section 32 of the Act is an exception to the general rule of
exclusion to the hearsay evidence and the statements of a person, written
or verbal, of relevant facts, after his death are admissible in evidence if
they refer to the cause of his death or to any circumstances of the transac- G
tion which resulted in his death. To attract the provisions of Section 32, for
) the purposes of admissibility of the statement of a deceased the prosecution
is required to prove that the statement was made by a person who is dead
or who cannot be found and whose attendance cannot be procured without
an amount of delay or expense or he is incapable of giving evidence and H
666 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000) 3 S.C.R.
A that such statement had been made under any of the circumstances speci-
fied in sub-sections (1) to (8) of Section 32 of the Act. Section 32 does not
require that the statement sought to be admitted in evidence should have
been made in imminent expectation of death. [674-E-F]

2.2. The words "as to any of the circumstances of the transaction
B which resulted in his death" appearing in Section 32 must have some
proximate relation to the actual occurrence, In other words the statement
of the deceased relating to the cause of death or the circumstances of the ...,
transaction which resulted in his death must be sufficiently or closely
connected with the actual transaction. To make such statement as substan-
C tive evidence, the person or the agency relying upon it is under a legal
obligation to prove the making of such statement as a fact. H it is in
writing, the scribe must be produced in the Court and if it is verbal, it
should be proved by examining the person who heard the deceased making
the statement. (674-G-H] '°'
D Pakala Narayana Swami v. Emperor, AIR (1939) PC- 47; Sharad
Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra, [1984] 4 SCC 116 and Ratan
Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh, [1997) 4 SCC 161, relied on.
Hanumant v. State of Madhya Pradesh, [1952] SCR 1091; Dharambir
Singh v. State of Punjab, Criminal Appeal No. 98 of 1958, decided on
E November 4, 1958; Ratan Gond v. State of Bihar, [1959) SCR 1336; Shiv
Kumar v. State of Uttar of Pradesh, Criminal Appeal No. 55 of 1966 decided
on July 29, 1966 and Manohar Lal v. State of Punjab, (1981) Cr.L.J. 1373
(P&H), referred to.
3. In light of the evidence in the case it is found that Respondent Nos.
F 3, 4 and 5 were roped in the case only on the ground of being close
relations of R-2 i.e. husband of the deceased. For the fault of the husband,
the in-laws or the other relations cannot, in all cases, be held to be
involved in the demand of dowry. In cases where such accusations are
made, the overt acts attributed to persons other than husband are re-
G quired to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. By mere conjectures and
implications such relations cannot be held guilty for the offence relating
to dowry deaths. [670-G]
4. High Court appears to have adopted a casual approach in dealing
with a specified heinous crime considered to be a social crime. Relying
H upon minor discrepancies and some omissions, the court has wrongly
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 667
acquitted the accused-husband. The charges framed against the accused- A
husband have been proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt
and there was nojustification for interfering with the conviction recorded
and sentence passed against him by the Trial Court under circumstances
of the present appeals, the ,judgment of the Trial Court regarding convic-
tion of accused-husband under Section 304-B IPC is upheld and judgment
B
of the High Court is set aside but the sentence is reduced to 7 years RI. His
conviction under Section 306 IPC is also upheld but his sentence is reduced
~ to 5 years besides paying the fine as imposed by the Trial Court. -In default
of the fine he shall undergo RI for one month more. His conviction under
Section 498-A IPC is confirmed, he is sentenced to un~ergo 2 years RI and
pay a fine of Rs. 250. In default of fine he will further undergo RI for one c
month more. The judgment of the High Court regarding other respond-
ents is confirmed. [683-D-F]

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal Nos.
688-90 of 1993.
D
From the Judgment and Order dated 22.1.93 of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court in Crl.A. No. 378/90, 341190 and Crl.R. No. 833 of 1990.

"'.
Bhaskar Y. Kulkarni, (Ms. Anita Pandey) for Mahinder Singh Dahiya
J._ for the Appellant. E
Rajiv Dutta for the State of Punjab.

U.R. Lalit, V.B. Saharya for Mis. Saharya & Co. for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by F
,,. SETHI, J. Sunita Kumari married on 9th July, 1985 was found dead
on 23rd October, 1988 at the residence of her in-laws at Batala in Punjab.
The death was found to have occurred not under the ordinary circumstances
but was the result of the asphyxia. On post-mortem it was found that the
deceased had injuries on her person .including the ligature mark 20 cm x 2 G
cm on the front, right and left side of neck, reddish brown in colour starting
from left side of neck, 2 cm below the left angle of jaw passing just above
the thyroid cartil-age and going upto a point 2 cm below the right angle of
jaw. The parents of the deceased were allegedly not informed about her death.
~
It was a shocking occasion for Ram Kishan, PW5 when he came to deliver H
668 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] 3 S.C.R.
A some customary presents to her sister on the occasion of Karva Chauth, a fast
observed by married women for the safety and long life of their husbands,
when he found the dead body of his sister Sunita lying at the entrfili.ce room
and the respondents were making preparations for her cremation. Noticing
ligature marks on the neck of her sister, Ram Kishan PWS telephonically
informed his parents about the death and himself went to the police station
B
to lodge a report Exh.PF. On the basis of the statement of PWS a case under
Section 306 IPC was registered against the respondents. After investigation
the prosecution presented the charge-sheet against Rakesh Kumar, husband
of the deceased and Ram Piari, the mother-in-law of the deceased. Ramesh
Kumar, brother-in-law and Bharti, sister-in-law of the deceased were origi-
c nally shown in Column No.2 of the report under Section 173 of the Code
of Criminal Procedure. After recording some evidence, Ramesh Kumar and
Bharti were also summoned as accused. The appellant, the father of the
deceased, filed a separate complaint under Sections 302 and 304B of the
Indian Penal Code against all the respondents. The criminal case filed by the
D appellant was also committed to the Sessions Court and both the appellant's
complaint and the police case were heard and decided together by the
Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur who, vide his judgment dated 2'8th
August, 1990, convicted the respondents under Section 304B IPC and sen-
tenced each of them to undergo 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment. He also
found them guilty for the commission of offence under Section 306 and
E
sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 7 years besides paying
a fine of Rs.250 each. The respondents were also found guilty for the
commission of offence punishable under Section 498A IPC and were sen-
tenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years and to
pay a fine of Rs.250 each. All these sentences were to run concurrently. The
F respondents herein filed an appeal in the High Court against the judgment
of conviction and sentence passed against them by the Trial Court and the
appellant, father of the deceased, filed a revision petition against the said
judgment praying for enhancement of the sentence to imprisonment for life
on proof of the charge under Section 304B of the IPC. Both the appeals and
G the revision were heard together by a leained Single Judge of the High Court
who vide her judgment impugned in this appeal acquitted the respondents of
all the charges. The revision petition filed by the father of the deceased was
dismissed holding that the same had no merits.

Ms. Anita Pandey, learned Advocate appearing for the appellant has
H vehemently argued that the judgment of the High Court suffers from legal
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 669
infirmities which requires to be set aside and the respondents are liable to A
be convicted and sentenced for the commission of heinous offence of dowry
death, a social evil allegedly commonly prevalent in the society'. She has
contended that the judgment of the High Court is based upon conjectures and
hypothesis which are devoid of any legal sanction. The High Court is alleged
to have not properly appreciated the evidence led by the prosecution in the
B
case which, according to the learned counsel, had proved beyond doubt that
the respondents were guilty of the commission of the offences with which
they were charged and convicted by the Trial Court. Relying upon the
provisions of Section 113B of the Evidence Act, the learned counsel has
contended that as the death of Ms.Sunita Kumari had occurred within 7 years
of marriage and the prosecution had established her harassment on account c
of demand of dowry, a legal presumption was to be drawn against the
respondents for holding them guilty and sentencing them for the offences
committed.

Supporting the case of the respondents Shri U.R. Lalit, Senior Advocate D
appearing for them has submitted that there being no direct evidence regard-
ing the cause of the death or circumstances leading to death, particularly in
the absence of demand of dowry soon before the death, none of the respond-
ents could be held guilty for the offences with which they were charged,
convicted and sentenced by the Trial Court. According to the learned counsel
the statements made by the deceased before her death were not admissible E
in evidence even under Section 32(1) of the Evidence Act and in the absence
of demand of dowry immediately before the alleged occurrence no inference
or presumption could be drawn against the respondents.

We have heard the learned counsel for the parties at length and perused F
the record. We have also minutely examined the original record of the Trial
Court and critically analysed the statements of the witnesses produced by the
prosecution.

We agree with the learned counsel for the respondents 3 to 5 that his
clients, namely, Ramesh Kumar, brother of the husband, Ram Pyari, mother G
of the husband and Bharti sister-in-law of the husband-accused cannot be
alleged to be involved in the commission of the crime and were rightly
}
acquitted by the High Court. There is no evidence produced by the appellant
worth the name against the aforesaid respondents. Even PW Nos.5 and 6 have
not brought on record any incriminating circumstance attributable to the H
670 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000] 3 S.C.R.
A aforesaid accused which could be made the basis for their conviction. Ram
Kishan, PW5 in his deposition before the Court had stated that "after the
marriage Rakesh Ku.mar, accused raised a demand of Rs.15,000 for a scooter
and refrigerator. We fulfilled that demand by giving Rs.20,000 to him for
scooter and refrigerator..... Rakesh Kumar used to threaten Sunita that she
would be done to death because of having inadequate dowry. On 21st
B
September, 1988 Sunita had come to my younger brother Tarsem in connec-
tion with a ceremony concerning his son. She also visited us as the house
of Tarsem Kumar is close to our ho~se. She stayed with us for the night. We
gave her customary present i.e. clothes etc. and cash amount of Rs.500. She
apprehended danger to her life in the house of her in-laws and was not willing
c to go there". He has not referred to any demand of dowry or harassment by
the respondents except Rakesh Ku.mar. Tarsem Kumar, the other brother of
the deceased at whose residence she had gone on 21st September, 1988 has
not been produced as a witness in the case. Kans Raj PW6, the father of the
deceased stated before the Trial Court that Sunit Kumari had told him that
D she was being taunted by her mother-in-law Ram Piari, accused Ramesh
Chander and his wife Bharti accused besides her husband Rakesh Ku.mar. The
details of the alleged taunting have not been spelt out. The only thing stated
is that the accused used to tell the deceased that she being the daughter of
BJP leader, who used to boast about his financial position had brought
E inadequate dowry. He further stated that various sums of money and the
colour TV was given to Rakesh Kumar on his demand. Amar Nath and Janak
Raj, President and General Secretary of Mahajan Sabha respecively and one
Kundan Lal Gaba were taken by him to the residence of the accused persons.
The deceased was alleged to have been taunted again in presence of the
aforesaid witnesses. However, none of the aforesaid witnesses supported the
F case of the prosecution. In the light of the evidence in the case we find
substance in the submission of the learned counsel for the defence that
respondents 3 to 5 were roped in the case only on the ground of being close
relations of respondent No.2, the husband of the deceased. For the fault of
the husband, the in-laws or the other relations cannot, in all cases, be held
G to be involved in the demand of dowry. In cases where such accusations are
made, the overt acts attributed to persons other than husband are required to
be proved beyond reasonable doubt. By mere conjectures and implications
such relations cannot be held guilty for the offence relating to dowry deaths.
A tendency has, however, developed for roping in all relations of the in-laws
H of the deceased wives in th~ matters of dowry deaths which, if not discour-
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 671
aged, is likely to affect the case of the prosecution even against the real A
culprits. In their over enthusiasm and anxiety to seek conviction for maximum
people, the parents of the deceased have been found to be making efforts for
involving other relations which ultimately weaken the case of the prosecution
even against the real accused as appears to have happened in the instant case.

We, however, find that there is reliable legal and cogent evidence on B
record to connect Rakesh Kumar, respondent No.2 with the commission of
the crime. There is evidence showing that immediately after his marriage with
the deceased the respondent-husband started harassing her for the demand of
dowry. We do not find substance in the submission of the learned defence
counsel that the statements made before her death by the deceased were not c
admissible in evidence under Section 32(1) of the Evidence Act and even if
such statements were admissible, there does not allegedly exist any circum-
stance which' could be shown to prove that the deceased was subjected to
cruelty or harassment by her husband for or in connection with any demand
of dowry soon before her death. It is contended that the words "soon before D
her death" appearing in Section 304B has a relation of time between the
demand or harassment and the date of actual death. It is contended that the
demand and harassment must be proximately close for the purposes of
drawing inference against the accused persons .

.l The offence of "dowry death" was incorporated in the Indian Penal E
Code and corresponding amendment made in the Evidence Act by way of
insertion of Section 113B vide Act No. 43 of 1986. In fact the Dowry
Prohibition Act, 1961 being Act No.28 of 1961 was enacted on 20th May,
1961 with an object to prohibit to giving or taking the dowry. The insertion
of Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code and Section l 13B in the Evidence p
Act besides other circumstances was also referable to the 9lst Report dated
10th August, 1983 of the Law Commission. In the Statement of Objects and
Reasons to Act No.28 of 1961 it was stated:

"The object of this Bill is to prohibit the evil practice of giving and
taking of dowry. This question has been engaging the attention of the G
Government for some time past, and one of the methods by which this
problem, which is essentially a social one, was sought to be tackled
~-
was by the conferment of improved property rights on women by the
Hindu Succession Act, 1956. It is, however, felt that a law which
makes the practice punishable and at the same time enures that any H
672 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] 3 S.C.R.
A dowry, if given does enure for the benefit of the wife will go a long
way to educating public opinion and to the eradication of this evil.
There has also been a persistent demand for such a law both in and
outside Parliament, Hence, the present Bill."

Realising the ever increasing and disturbing proportions of the evil of dowry
B system, the Act was again amended by Act No.63 of 1984 taking note of the
observations of the Committee on Status of Women in India and with a view
to making of thorough and compulsory investigations into cases of dowry
deaths and stepping up anti-dowry publicity, the Government referred the
whole matter for consideration by a Joint Committee of both the Houses of
;C Parliament. Tue Committee went into the whole matter in great depth in its
proceedings and after noting the observations of Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru, recom-
mended to examine the working of Act No.28 of 1961 and after considering
the comments received on the Report from the State Governments, Union
Territories, Administrations and different administrative Ministries of the
Union concerned with the matter, decided to modify the original definition
D of "cjowry" with consequential amendment in the Act. Again finding that the
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 has not been so deterrent, as it was expected
to be, the Parliament made amendments in the Act vide Act No.43 of 1986.
In the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the said Act it was stated:
"The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 was recently amended by the
E
Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Act 1984 to give effect to certain
recommendations of the Joint Committee of the House of Parliament
to examine the question of the working of the Dowry Prohibition Act,
1961 and to make the provisions of the Act more stringent and
effective. Although the Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 1984
F was an improvement on the existing legislation, opinions have been
expressed by representatives from women's voluntary organisations
and others to the effect that the amendments made are still inadequate
and the Act needs to be further amended.

2. It is, therefore, proposed to further amend the Dowry Prohibition
G Act, 1961 to make provisions therein further stringent and effective.
Tue salient features of the Bill are:

(a) Tue minimum punishment for taking or abetting the taking of
dowry under Section 3 of the Act has been raised to five years
and a fine of rupees fifteen thousand.
H
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 673
(b) The burden of proving that there was no demand for dowry A
will be on the person who takes or abets the taking of dowry.

(c) The statement made by the person aggrieved by the offence
shall not subject him to prosecution Wlder the Act.

(d) Any advertisement in any newspaper, periodical journal or B
any other media by any person offering any share in his property
or any money in coliideration of the marriage of his son or daugh-
ter is proposed to be banned and the person giving such adver-
tisement and the printer or publisher of such advertisement will
be liable for punishment with imprisonment of six months to five c
years or with fine up to fifteen thousand rupees.

(e) Offences under the Act are proposed to be made non-bailable.

(t) Provisions has also beenmade for appointment of Dowry Pro-
hibition Officers by the State Governments for the effective im- D
plementation of the Act. The Dowry Prohibition Officers will be
assisted by the Advisory Boards consisting of not more than five
social welfare workers (out of whom at least two shall be women).

(g) A new offence of "dowry death'' is proposed to be included in E
the Indian Penal Code and the necessary consequential ah1end-
ments in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and in the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872 have also been proposed.

3. The Bill seeks to achieve the aforesaid objects."
F
The law as it exists now provides that where the death of a woman
is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs otherwise than Wlder normal
circumstances within 7 years of marriage and it is shown that soon before
her death she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or
any relative for or in connection with any demand of dowry such death shall G
be pWlishable Wlder Section 304B. In order to seek a conviction against
a person for the offence of dowry death, the prosecution is obliged to
prove that:

(a) the death of a woman was caused by burns or bodily injury or had
occurred otherwise than Wlder normal circumstances; H
674 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] 3 S.C.R.

A (b) such death should ha~e· occurred within 7 years of her marriage;

(c) the deceased was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her
husband or by any relative of her husband;

(d) such cruelty or harassment should be for or in connection with the
B demand of dowry; and

(e) to such cruelty or harassment the deceased should have been
subjected to soon before her death~

As and when the aforesaid circumstances are established, a presumption
C of dowry death shall be drawn against the accused under Section 113B of
the Evidence Act. It has to be kept in mind that presumption under Section
113B is a presumption of law. We do not agree with the submissions made
by Mr.Lalit, learned Senior Counsel for the accused that the statement made
by the deceased to her relations before her death were not admissible in
evidence on account of intervening period between the date of making the
D
statement and her death.

Section 32 of the Evidence Act is admittedly an exception to the
general rule of exclusion to the hearsay evidence and the statements of a
person, written or verbal, of relevant facts, after his death are admissible in
E evidence if they refer to the cause of his death or to any circumstances of
the transaction which resulted in his death. To attract the provisions of Section
32, for the purposes of admissibility of the statement of a deceased the
prosecution is required to prove that the statement was made by a person who
is dead or who cannot be found or whose attendance cannot be procured
F without an amount of delay or expense or he is incapable of giving evidence
and that such statement had been made under any of the circumstances
specified in sub-sections (1) to (8) of Section 32 of the Act. Section 32 does
not require that the statement sought to be admitted in evidence should ·have
been made in imminent expectation of death. The words "as to any of the
circumstances of the transaction which resulted in his death" appearing
G in Section 32 must have some proximate relations to the actual occurrence.
In other words the statement of the deceased relating to the cause of death
or the circumstances of the transaction which resulted in his death must
be sufficiently or closely connected with the actual transaction. To make such 1
statement as substantive evidence, the person or the agency relying
H upon it is under a legal obligation to prove the making of such statement as
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 675
a fact. If it is in writing, the scribe must be produced in the Court and if A
it is verbal, it should be proved by examining the person who heard
the deceased making the statement. The phrase "circumstances of the trans-
action" were considered and explained in Pakala Narayana Swami v. Em-
peror, AIR (1939) PC 47:

"The circumstances must be circumstances of the transaction: general
B
expressions indicating fear or suspicion whether of a particular
individual or otherwise and not directly related to the occasion of the
death will not be admissible. But statements made by the deceased
that he was proceeding to the spot where he was in fact killed, or as
to his reasons for so proceeding, or that he was going to meet a c
particular person, or that he had been invited by such person to meet
him would each of them be circumstances of the transaction, and
would be so whether the person was unknown, or was not the person
accused. Such a statement might indeed be exculpatory of the person
accused. "Circumstances of the transaction" is a phrase no doubt that
D
conveys some limitations. It is not as broad as the analogous use in
"circumstantial evidence" which includes evidence of all relevant
facts. It is on the other hand narrower than "res gestae". Circum-
stances must have some proximate relation to the actual occurrence:
though, as for instance, in a case of prolonged poisoning they may
be related to dates at a considerable distance from the date of the E
actual fatal dose. It will be observed that "tl1e circumstances" are of
the transaction which resulted in the death of the declarant. It is not
necessary that there should be a known transaction other than that the
death of the declarant has ultimately been caused, for the condition
of the admissibility of the evidence is that "the cause of (the p
declarant's) death comes into question".

The death referred to in Section 32(1) of the Evidence Act includes
suicidal besides homicidal death. Fazal Ali, J. in Sharad Birdhichand Sarda
V. State of Maharashtra [1984 (4) sec 116] after referrhg to the decisions

of this Court in Hanumant v. State of Madhya Pradesh, [1952] SCR 1091, G
Dharambir Singh v. State of Punjab [Criminal Appeal No. 98 of 1958,
decided on November 4, 1958], Ratan Gond v. State of Bihar, [1959] SCR
1336, Pakala Narayana Swami (supra), Shiv Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh
[Criminal Appeal No. 55 of 1966, decided on July 29, 1966], Mahnohar Lal
v. State of Punjab, [1981 Crl.LJ 1373 (P&H)] and other cases held: H
676 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000) 3 S.C.R.
A "We fully agree with the above observations made by the learned
Judges. In Protima Dutta v. State, [1977] 81 Cal WN 713) while
relying on Hanumant Case the Calcutta High Court has clearly
pointed out the nature and limits of the doctrine of proximity and has
observed that in some cases where there is a sustained cruelty, the
proximate may extend even to a period of three years. In this
B
connection, the high Court observed thus:

"The 'transaction' in this case is systematic ill-treatment for years
since the marriage of Sumana and incitement to end her life. Cir-
cumstances of the transaction include evidence of cruelty which
c produces a state of mind favourable to suicide. Although that
would not by itself be sufficient unless there was evidence of
incitement to end her life it would be relevant a~ evidence."

This observation taken as a whole would, in my view, imply that the
time factor is not always a criterion in dete1mining whether the piece
D of evidence is properly included within 'circumstances of
transaction' ... 'In that case the allegation was that there was sustained
cruelty extending over a period of three years interspersed with
exhortation to the victim to end her life'. His Lordship further
observed and held that the evidence of cruelty was one continuous
E chain, several links of which were touched up by the exhortations to
die. 'Thus evidence of cruelty, ill- treatment and exhortation to end
her life adduced in the case must be held admissible, together with
the statement ofNilima (who committed suicide) in that regard which
related to circumstances terminating in suicide'.

F Similarly, in Onkar v. State of Madhya Pradesh, (1974) Crl.LJ 1200
while following the decision of the Privy Council in Pakala Narayana
Swami case, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has explained the nature
of the circumstances contemplated by Section 32 of the Evidence Act
thus:
G "The circumstances must have some proximate relation to the
actual occurrence and they can only include the acts done when
and where the death was caused .... Thus a statement merely sug-
gesting motive for a crime cannot be admitted in evidence unless
it is so intimately connected with the transaction itself as to be a
H circumstance of the transaction. In the instant case evidence has
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 677
been led about statements made by the deceased long before this A
incident which may suggest motive for the crime."

In Allijan Munshi v. State, AIR (1960) Born 290 the Bombay High
Court has taken a similar view.

In Chinnavalayan v. State of Madras, [1959 Mad LJ. 246] two B
eminent Judges of the Madras High Court while dealing with the
connotation of the word 'circumstances' observed thus:

"The special circumstances permitted to transgress the time fac-
tor is, for example, a case of prolonged poisoning, while the spe-
cial circumstances permitted to transgress the distance factor is,
c
for example, a case of decoying with intent to murder. This is
because the natural meaning of the words, according to their Lord-
ships, do not convey any of the limitations such as (1) that the
statement must be made after the transaction has taken place, (2)
that the person making it must be at any rate near death, (3) that D
the circumstances can only include acts done when and where
the death was caused. But the circumstances must be circumstances
of the transaction and they must have some proximate relation to
the actual occurrence.

Before closing this chapft!r we might state that the Indian law on E
the question of the nature and scope of dying declaration has made
a distinct departure from the English Law where only the state-
ments which directly relate to the cause of death are admissible.
The second part of clause (1) of Section 32, viz., "the circum-
stances of the transaction which resulted in his death, in cases in F
which the cause of that person's death comes into question" is
not to be found in the English Law. This distinction has been
clearly pointed out in thY'case of Rajindra Kumar v. State, AIR
(1960) Punj 310 where the following observations were made:

"Clause (1) of Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act provides that G
statements, written or verbal, of relevant facts made by a person
who is dead, .... are themselves relevant facts when the statement
is made by a person as to the cause of his death, or as to any of the
circumstances of the transaction which resulted in his death in
cases in which the cause of that person's death comes into ques~ H
678 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000) 3 S.C.R.
A tion... It is well settled by now that there is difference between the
Indian Rule and the English Rule with regard to the necessity of
the declaration having been made under expectation of death.

In the English Law the declaration should have been made under
the sense of impending death whereas under the Indian Law it is
B not necessary for the admissibility of a dying declaration that the
deceased at the time of making it should have been under the
expectation of death."

Thus, from a review of the authorities mentioned above and the
clear language of Section 32(1) of the Evidence Act, the follow-
c ing propositions emerge:

(1) Section 32 is an exception of the rule of hearsay and makes
admissible the statement of a person who dies, whether the death
is a homicide or a suicide, provided the statement relates to the
D cause of death, or exhibits circumstances leading to the death.
In this respect, as indicated above, the Indian Evidence Act, in
view of the peculiar conditions of our society and the diverse
nature and character of our people, has thought it necessary to
widen the sphere of Section 32 to avoid i~justice.

E (2) The test of proximitf cannot be too literally construed and
practically reduced to a cut-and- dried formula of universal
application so as to be confined in a strai~jacket. Distance of
time would depend or vary with the circumstances of each case.
For instance, where death is a logical culmination of a continu-
F ous drama long in process and is, as it were, a finale of the story,
the statement regarding each step directly connected with the
end of the drama would be admissible because the entire
statement would have to be read as an organic whole and not
torn from the context. Sometimes statements relevant to or
furnishing an immediate motive may also be admissible as being
G a part of the transaction of death. It is manifest that all these
statements come to light only after the death of the deceased
who speaks from death. For instance, where the death takes
place within a very short time of the marriage or the distance
of time is not spread over more than 3- 4 months the statement
H may be admissible tinder Section 32.
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 679
(3) The second part of clause (1) of Section 32 is yet another A
exception to the rule that in criminal law the evidence of a
person who was not being subjected to or given an opportunity
of being cross-examined by the accused, would be valueless
because the place of cross-examination is taken by the solemnity
and sanctity of oath for the simple reason that a person on the
B
verge of death is not likely to make a false statement unless there
is strong evidence to show that the statement was secured either
by prompting or tutoring.

(4) It may be important to note that Section 32 does not speak of
homicide alone but includes suicide also, hence all the circum- C
stances which may be relevant to prove a case of homicide
would be equally relevant to prove a case of suicide.

(5) Where the main evidence consists of statements and letters
written by the deceased which are directly connected with or
related to her death and which reveal a tell-tale story, the said D
statement would clearly fall within the four comers of Section
32 and, therefore, admissible. The distance of time alone in such
cases would not make the statement irrelevant."

In Raton Singh v. State of Himachal Pradesh, (1997] 4 SCC 161] this
E
Court held that the expression "circumstances of transaction which resulted
.. in his death" mean that there need not necessarily be a direct nexus between
the circumstances and death. Even distant circumstance can become admis-
sible if it has nexus with the transaction which resulted in death. Relying upon
Sharad Birdhichand Sarda's case (supra) the Court held that:
F
"It is enough if the words spoken by the deceased have reference to
any circumstance which has connection with any of the transactions
which ended up in the death of the deceased. Such statement would
also fall within the purview of Section 32(1) of the Evidence Act. m
other words, it is not necessary that such circumstance should be
G
proximate, for, even distant circumstances can also become admissi-
ble under the sub-section, provided it has nexus with the transaction
which resulted in the death."

In view of this legal position statements of Ms. Sunita made to her
parents, brother and other acquaintances, before her death are admissible in H
680 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2000] 3 S.C.R.
A evidence under Section 32 of the Evidence Act.

It is further contended on behalf of the respondents that the statements
of the deceased referred to the instances could not be termed to be cruelty
or harassment by the husband soon before her death. "Soon before" is a
relative term which is required to be considered under specific circumstances
B of each case and no straight jacket formula can be laid down by fixing any
time limit. This expression is pregnant with the idea of proximity.. test. The
term "soon before" is not synonymous with the term "immediately before" -+
and is opposite of the expression "soon after'' as used and understood in
Section 1.14, IIJustration (a) of the Evidence Act. These WO(ds would impiy
c that the interval should not be too long between the time of making the
statement and the death. It contemplates the reasonable time which, as earlier
noticed, has to be understood and determined under -the peculiar circum-
stances of each case. In relation to dowry deaths, the circumstances showing
the existence of cruelty or harassment to the deceased are not restricted to
D a particular instance but normally refer to a course of conduct. Such conduct
may be spread over a period of time. If the cruelty or harassment or demand
for dowry is shown to have persisted, it shall be deemed to be 'soon before
death' if any pther intervening circumstance showing the non-existence of
such treatment is not brought on record, before the alleged such treatment
and the date of death. It does not, however, mean that such time can be
E stretched to any period. Proximate and live link between the effect of cruelty
based on dowry demand and the consequential death is required to be proved
by the prosecution. The demand of dowry, cruelty or harassment based upon
such demand and the date of death should not be too remote in time which,
under the circumstances, be treateci as having become stale enough ..
-
F
No presumption under Section 113B of the Evidence Act would be _,,.
drawn against the accused if it is shown that after the alleged demand, cruelty
or harassment the dispute stood resolved and there was no evidence of cruelty,
and harassment thereafter. Mere lapse of some time by itself would not
provide to an accused a defence, if the course of conduct relating to cruelty
or harassment in connection with the dowry demand is shown to have existed
earlier in time not too late and not too stale before the date of death of the
woman. The reliance placed by the learned counsel for the respondents on
Sham Lal v. State of Haryana, [1997] 9 SCC 579 is of no help to them, as
in that case the evidence was brought on record to show that attempt had been
H made to patch up between the two sides for which Panchayat was held in
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 681

..... which it was resolved that the deceased would go back to the nuptial home A
pursuant to which she was taken by the husband to his house. Such a
Panchayat was shown to have held about 10 to 15 days prior to the occurrence
of the case. There was nothing on record to show that the deceased was either
treated with cruelty or harassed with the demand of dowry during the period
between her having taken to the nuptial home and her tragic end. Such is not B
the position in the instant case as the continuous harassment to the deceased
is never shown to have settled or resolved.

Mr. Lalit, learned Senior Counsel has further contended that as the
prosecution had failed to prove the cruelty or harassment for or in connection
with the demand of dow1y, the High Court was justified in acquitting the C
accused persons including Rakesh Kumar, respondent No.2. He also pointed
out to some alleged contradictions in the statements of PW s 5 and 6. Having
critically examined tl1e statements of ·witnesses, we are of the opinion that
the prosecution has proved the persistent demand of dowry and continuous
cruelty and harassment to the deceased by her husband. The contradictions D
pointed out are no major contradictions which could be made the basis of
impeaching the credibility of the witnesses. Reference to different sums of
money demanded by Rakesh Kumar in the statements of PWs5 and 6 cannot,
in any way, be termed to be contradictory to each other. At the most some
4 of the amounts refeITed by one witness and not mentioned by the other can E
be termed to be an omission which in no case amounts to a major contra-
diction entitling the respondent No.2 of any benefit. Ram Kishan, PW5 has
categorically stated that R.J.kesh Kumar accused had raised a demand of
Rs.15,000 for scooter and refrigerator immediately after the mamage which
was fulfilled by giving him a sum of Rs.20,000. His demand of a colour TV
was also fulfilled. The continuous harassment connected with the demand of F
dowry is shown to be in existence till 21st September, 1988 when the
deceased is reported to have come to her brother's house and met her parents.
Thereafter she is not shown to have met anyone and no intervening circum-
stances showing the resolvement or settlement regarding demands of dowry
is brought on record. She was admittedly found dead on 23rd October, 1988. G
Kans Raj, PW6 has stated that a colour TV, clothes and jewellery were given
to the accused husband as dowry. He has deposed that his daughter had told
him that the accused wanted her to bring further cash amount. The deceased,
on persistent demands of the accused, had withdrawn the total sum of
Rs.26,000 from the accounts which was opened by the father in her name. H
682 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2000] 3 S.C.R.
A He was also given a new Colour TV in lieu of the TV set given to him at · Ji.· •

the time of marriage as the same had allegedly gone out of order. It is
contended that as there was no Karva Chauth on 23rd October, 1988, the
whole of the statement of PW6 should not be believed because he is alleged
to have stated that his son had gone to the house of accused on 23rd October,
B 1988 which was the day of Karva Chauth. The submission is based upon the
wrong assumption of fact. It appears that the statement of PW6 has wrongly
been translated in English wherein it is mentioned:

"On 23. I 0.1988 on the day of Karva Chauth my son Ram kishan went
to the house of the accused with custoinary presents. He telephoned
c me to inform that Sunita Kumari has died in the house of the accused.
I and my wife went to Batala.. The police came to the spot and I was
examined inquest proceedings also. My separate statement was also
recorded.'"

D We have examined the original record and found that the statement of the
witness which were recorded in Punjabi/ ·Gurmukhi script states that Ram
Kishan had gone to the residence of the accused at the occasion of Karva
Chauth (Mauke Te) and not on the date of Karva Chauth. Relying upon th~
evidence in the case, the Trial Court had rightly concluded:

E "The sum and substance of the above discussion is that the prosecu-
tion has adduced best available evidence to prove the charge against
the accused. The statement of Kans Raj (PW6) and Ram Kishan
(PWS) inspire confidence. It is not disputed that Sunita Kumari
committed suicide about 3-1/2 years after the marriage. The accused
F have not given any satisfactory account of even high probability as
to how Sunita Kumari died. There is a presumption under Section
113A of the Evidence Act that the suicide has been abetted by the
husband or other relatives of the husband of the deceased. The
accused have not been able to rebut that presumption. It is also proved
that Sunita Kumari was treated with cruelty on account of dowry."
G
It is established that the death of Sunita Kumari by suicide had occurred
within 7 years of her marriage and such death cannot be stated to have
occurred in normal circumstances. The term "normal circumstances" appar-
ently means not the natural death. This Court in Smt. Shanti & Am: v. State
H of Haryana, AIR (1991) SC 1226 held that:
KANS v. STATE [SETHI, J.] 683
" .... where the death of a woman is caused by any bums or bodily A
injury or occurs otherwise than under normal circumstances within
seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before the death
of the woman she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her
pusband or his relations for or in connection with any demand for
dowry, such death shall be called 'dowry death' and the husband or
B
relatives shall be deemed to have caused her death and shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a minimum of seven years but
which may extend to life imprisonment."

In other words the expression 'otherwise than under normal circum-
stances' would mean the death not in usual course but apparently under c
suspicious circumstances, if not caused by burns or bodily injury.

The High Court appears to have adopted a casual approach in dealing
with a specified heinous crime considered to be a social crimf?. Relying upon .
minor discrepancies and some omissions, the court has wrongly acquitted the
accused-husband, namely, Rakesh Kumar. The charges framed against re- D
spondent No.2 bad been proved by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt
and there was no justification for interferring with the conviction recorded
and sentence passed against him by the Trial Court.

Under the circumstances t4e present appeal is partly allowed by setting E
aside the judgment of the High Court·insofar as it relates to respondent No.2,
namely, Rakesh Kumar, the husband of the deceased and confinned so far
as it relates to other a .. cused persons. The judgment of the Trial Court
regarding conviction of Shri Rakesb Kumar under Section 304B is upheld but
the sentence is reduced to seven years Rigorous Imprisonment. His conviction
under Section 306 is also upheld but his sentence is reduced to five years F
besides paying a fme as imposed by the Trial Court. In default of payment
of fine the respondent No.2 shall suffer Rigorous Imprisonment for one month
more. Confirming his conviction under Section 498A IPC, the respondent
No.2 is sentenced to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment for two years and to
pay a fme of Rs.250, in default of payment of fme he -wil) fyrther undergo G
Rigorous Imprisonment for one month. All the sentences are dh-ected to run
concurrently. The bail bonds of respondent No.2, who is on bail, are ca'ncelled
and he is directed to surrender to serve out the sentence passed on him.'' I I 1

R.C.K. Appeal partly allowed.
H