Holding

The second dying declaration was deemed reliable and sufficient, along with other evidence, to uphold the conviction for murder under IPC s.302.

Summary

The deceased, Halimabi, was married into the appellant's family and allegedly suffered chronic ill‑treatment by her mother‑in‑law and husband. On 13 August 1998, the mother‑in‑law is said to have poured kerosene from a lamp on the deceased, causing severe burns. The victim gave two dying declarations: the first, recorded on the day of the incident, described the fire as accidental and exonerated the family; the second, recorded the next day after her parents arrived, implicated the mother‑in‑law as the assailant. The trial court, relying on the second declaration and corroborative testimony of the deceased’s parents, a medical officer, and the magistrate, convicted the mother‑in‑law under IPC s.302. The High Court affirmed. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the second dying declaration could be trusted despite its inconsistency with the first and whether the conviction was safe. It held that the second declaration was reliable, inspired confidence, and, together with other evidence of prior abuse, established the appellant’s guilt. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether a second dying declaration that contradicts an earlier one can be relied upon to convict the accused.
Whether the conviction under IPC s.302 is safe in view of the evidence, including prior ill‑treatment and the two dying declarations.

Legislation cited

Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 307

Subjects

dying declarationIPC 302murderdomestic violenceevidenceconviction

Judgment

A SAYARABANO@ SULTANABEGUM
v.
STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

FEBRUARY 8, 2007

B [C.K. THAKKER AND LOKESHWAR SINGH PANTA, JJ.]

Penal Code, 1860; ss. 302 and 307:

Torturing of wife by her husband and mother-in-law-Mother-in-law
C allegedly burnt her daughter-in-law by throwing burning lamp on her-She
suffered from burn injuries-Recording of dying declarations, one under the
influence of mother-in-law and another in her absence-Trial Court found
accused/mother-in-law guilty of committing the crime punishable u/s. 302
!PC and sentenced her accordingly-Affirmed by High Court-On appeal,
D Held: Courts below, on consideration of both dying declarations, came to
hold second dying declaration true and inspiring confidence, having disclosed
true facts so far as incident is concerned-Ill-treatment towards deceased
clearly established and proved in the light of evidence of parents of the
deceased, medical officer and Magistrate-Under such circumstances, it
cannot be said that Courts below committed any error.
E
According to the prosecution, deceased, daughter of PW 2 was being
ill-treated by her mother-in-law and at her instance, also by her husband who
used to beat her. When the deceased disclosed the fact about such harassment
to her parents, her mother, PW3, took her along with her. However, brother
F of deceased had brought the deceased back to her husband's place. On the
fateful day, mother-in-law of the deceased started a quarrel with her. She
+
allegedly poured kerosene oil from the lamp on her, due to which she caught
fire and suffered burn injuries. Her brother-in-law put out the fire by pouring
water. In the meantime, her husband had also come and the deceased was taken
to a hospital. Hospital record indicated that she was brought to the hospital
G with burn injuries on her body. Special Judicial Magistrate, PWS, was called
by the police and dying declaration of the deceased was recorded by him.
According to the dying declaration, she caught fire accidentally when came
into contact with the lamp and absolved all the inmates of her husband's family
of any wrong-doing. On the next day, however, Special Judicial Magistrate,

H 354
)....

SAYARABANO@SULTANABEGUM v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA 355

""I,
was again called up for the purpose of recording dying declaration of deceased A
second time. In the said dying declaration, she stated that her mother-in-law
had sprinkled kerosene oil on her and set her on fire with the result she
suffered burn injuries and also stated about her torturing by her mother-in-
law, and at her instance, by her husband. Later, she succumbed to the burn
injuries. On the basis of the second dying declaration recorded by the Special
Judicial Magistrate, a case was registered against the mother-in-law of the B
deceased. Initially, the case was registered for an offence punishable under
Section 307 IPC but after her death, it was converted into an offence
punishable under Section 302 IPC and mother-in-law of the deceased was
"" arrested. The matter was committed to the Court of Sessions and charges
were framed against the accused under Section 302 IPC. c
The Trial Court observed that it was true that in the first dying
declaration the deceased did not involve her mother-in-law, but it was because
of the fact that she was asked by her mother-in-law not to implicate any member
of the family of her in-laws. The Trial Court noted that after recording of the
first dying declaration, the parents and inmates of deceased had reached the D
hospital. The deceased could get courage to state true facts and again the
~ Special Judicial Magistrate was called and the second dying dec'laration was
~ recorded in which she disclosed true and correct facts. The Trial Court held
the conduct of deceased as natural and the second dying declaration reliable
which could be treated as basis for holding the appellant guilty for committing
E
the offence punishable under Section 302 IPC and sentenced her accordingly.
Appeal preferred against the order of the Trial Court was dismissed by the
High Court Hence the present appeal.

Accused-appellant contended that both the Courts below have committed
an error of law in relying upon the second dying declaration; that the first F
dying declaration was correct and the deceased had stated true facts in the
said declaration; that after parents of the deceased had come to the hospital,
they persuaded the deceased to involve and implicate the appellant and that is
how the second dying declaration was recorded which could not have been
relied upon; and that no motive was established by the prosecution.
G
Dismissing the appeal, the Court
~.
-t HELD: 1. The Trial Court as well as the High Court considered both
the dying declarations of the deceased and both the Courts held the second
dying declaration true and inspiring confidence ·having disclosed true facts
so far as the incident was concerned. Ill-treatment towards the deceased was H
356 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 2 S.C.R.

A clearly established and completely proved. The evidence of PW2-father as well ,...
as PW3-mother of the deceased was clinching on the point. Both the Courts
were right in holding that nothing could be elicited from the cross-examination
of those witnesses. rt, therefore, cannot successfully be contended that the
only cause of throwing burning lamp on the deceased by the appellant was
getting up late in the morning by the deceased and not performing Namaz.
B Even prior to that incident, the appellant used to beat the deceased and on the
fateful day, it was an excuse to kill the daughter-in-law by the mother-in-law.
[Para 14] [361-F-H; 362-A]
)

2. Criminal cases are decided on facts and on evidence rather than on
c case law and precedents. In the case on hand, there is ample evidence to show
that even prior to the incident in question, the appellant used to beat the
deceased and ill-treat her. It is in the light of the said fact that other evidencr
requires to be considered. Both the Courts were right in relying upon the
second dying declaration of the deceased treating it as true disclosure of facts
by the deceased. In the light of the evidence of parents of the deceased (PW2
D and PW3), Doctor (PW6) and Special Judicial Magistrate (PWS), it cannot
be said that the Courts below had committed any error and the conviction
;.
deserves to be set aside. [Para 16[ (362-C-D]
>-
Lella Srinivasa Rao v. State ofA.P., (2004] 9 SCC 713, referred to.

E CRlMINAL APPELLATE JURlSDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 141 of
2005.

From the Final Judgment and Order dated 17.10.2005 of the High Court
of Judicature at Bombay, Bench at Aurangabad in Crl. A. No. 348 of 2000.

F S.V. Deshpande for the Appellant.

Sushil Karanjkar and V.N. Raghupathy for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

G C.K. THAKKER, J. I. This appeal is filed by the appellant who was
convicted by the Sessions Judge, Beed in Sessions Case No. 17 of 1999
decided on July 25, 2000 and confirmed by the High Court of Judicature at .t ~

Bombay (Aurangabad Bench) on October 17, 2005 in Criminal Appeal No. 348
of 2000 for an offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code
('!PC' for short).
H
}

SAYARABANO@SULTANABEGUMv.STATEOFMAHARASHTRA[THAKKER,J.] 357
2. The prosecution case against the appellant was that Halimabi, daughter A

""· of PW 2-Shaikh Bademiyan, resident ofMandula, Taluka Georai was married
to one Shaikh Latif of Beed one year prior to the incident which took place
on August I3, I998. After the marriage, the deceased Halimabi came to reside
at her matrimonial home situated at Mominpura of village Beed. She was
residing in the said house with her husband Shaikh Latif, the appellant-
accused Sayarabano-her mother-in-Jaw, Shaikh Rafiq-her father-in-law, Shaikh
B
Shakil-her younger brother-in-law and his wife Taslim.

~ 3. According to the prosecution case, the deceased Halimabi was being
•
ill-treated by her mother-in-law-appellant herein. At the instance of the appellant,
husband of the deceased Halimabi used to beat her. About a month prior to
the incident, the accused had beaten the deceased on two occasions, once
c

- with a stick and again with a steel instrument. The deceased disclosed the
fact about the said beating to her parents as well as her uncle. Resultantly,
PW3-Bismillahbi-mother of the deceased Halimabi had come to Beed and had
taken deceased to her house at Mandula. About eight days prior to the
incident, the brother of deceased Halimabi had again brought the deceased D
back to her husband's place and had returned to the village.
~

...{ 4. On August 13, 1998, the appellant-accused started a quarrel with the
deceased Halimabi and abused her over the fact that she had not got up early
in the morning for Namaz. At that time, the deceased Halimabi was standing
at a place where a burning lamp was hung on the nail in the wall. The husband E
as well as father-in-law of the deceased had gone to the Masjid for Namaz.
In the house, apart from the deceased and the appellant-accused, brother-in-
law of the deceased-Shaikh Shakil and his wife Taslim were present. During
the course of quarrel, the appellant-accused poured kerosene from the lamp
on the deceased, due to which, the deceased caught fire and suffered burn F
injuries on her back, stomach and breast. She started screaming in pain. Her
brother-in-law Shaikh Shakil put out the fire by pouring water and removed
her clothes. Meanwhile, her husband had come and the deceased was taken
to hospital.

5. The record indicates that when Halimabi was brought to the hospital, G
.. ..
t
the history recorded accidental burns. She was taken to the hospital at I0.30
a.m. on August 13, 1998. Between 1.30 and 1.50 p.m. on the same day, Abdul
Rashid Special Judicial Magistrate. Beed (PW5) was called by the police and
dying declaration of deceased Halimabi was recorded by him. In that dying
declaration, deceased Halimabi stated that while opening the door, her hand
H
358 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 2 S.C.R.

A hit the kerosene lamp which was kept on the pillow and fell on her and she
sustained injuries. In other words, according to the said dying declaration, the
deceasc:d caught fire accidentally when she came into contact with the lamp.
She absolved all the inmates of her husband's family of any wrong-doing or
connecting with her catching fire. On the next day i.e., on August 14, 1998,
at about 1.45 p.m., however, again PW5-Special Judicial Magistrate was called
B for the purpose of recording dying declaration of deceased Halimabi. In the
said dying declaration, she stated that on the previous day i.e. on August
13, 1998, her mother-in-law (appellant) started abusing her for not going for
Namaz by getting up late. At that time, in the house, kerosene lamp was hung )
on the wall near which the deceased was standing. Her husband as well as
c her father-in-law had gone for Namaz and in the house, deceased Halimabi,
her mother-in-law (appellant), her sister- in- law Taslim and her brother- in- law
Shaikh Shakil were present. According to the deceased, her mother-in-law
(appellant) threw the kerosene lamp on her, with the result both of her hands,
entire back, stomach and both sides of her chest were burnt and she started
-
screaming and crying. Her brother-in-law Shaikh Shakil poured water on her
D and extinguished fire and removed her clothes. She was then taken to the
hospital. She also stated that her marriage took place before 8 to 10 months
and had no child. Her husband used to beat after listening to his mother. She >-
was asked to do entire household work. In case she did not do work, her >-
mother-in-law used to abuse her.
E 6. In the light of the fact that in the previous dying declaration, the
deceased had not involved her mother-in-law and had described the incident
as 'accidental', the Special Judicial Magistrate asked the deceased that when
he recorded her dying declaration on August 13, 1998, in the said statement,
the deceased had stated that she was hit by the kerosene lamp which fell on
F her and she was burnt. The Special Judicial Magistrate, therefore, asked her
as to why she was changing her statement. The deceased replied that her
mother-in-law (appellant) told her not to give any statement against the family
members of her in-laws and that was the reason why she had given the earlier
statement. But in fact, it was her mother-in-law who threw kerosene lamp on
her and thus she was burnt. She also stated that her mother-in-law was
G harassing her.
'
7. Ultimately, Halimabi died on August 20, 1998 at about 7.00 p.m. On ;t /IC

the basis of the second dying declaration recorded by the Special Judicial
Magistrate, a case was registered by PW7PSI Sampat Shinde under C.R.
H No.60 of 1998 at Peth-Beed Police Station. Initially, the case was registered
SA YARABANO@SULTANABEGUM v. STATEOFMAHARASHTRA[THAKKER,J.] 359
......"!., for an offence punishable under Section 307 IPC but after the death of A
Halimabi it was converted into an offence punishable under Section 302 IPC.
The appellant was arrested on August I 5, 1998. The matter was committed
to the Court of Session and a charge was framed against the accused under
Section 302 IPC.

8. To establish the case against the appellant, the prosecution inter alia B
examined PWl-Kisan Masruti Golhar, Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Beed,
PW2 -Bademiyafather of the deceased, PW3-Bismillabi-mother of the deceased,
·.... PW5-Abdul Rashid, Special Judicial Magistrate, Beed, PW6-Dr. Kirshore
Sirpurkar, PW7-PSI Sampat Shinde. The case of the appellant was of total
denial.
c
9. The Trial Court, on the basis of medical evidence held that death of
Halimabi was homicidal. As to the culpability of the accused for an offence
under Section 302, the Court held that in the light of the evidence of father
and mother of deceased Halirnabi, it was clearly established that the appellant-
mother-in-law of the deceased was harassing Halimabi. The Trial Court also D
observed that it was true that in the first dying declaration, on August 13,
.-(
1998, the deceased did not involve her mother-in-law but it was because of
-1. the fact that she was asked by her mother-in-law not to implicate any member
of the family of the appellant. The Trial Court noted that after the first dying
declaration was recorded, the parents and inmates of deceased Halimabi had
reached the hospital. The deceased could get courage to state true facts and E
again the Special Judicial Magistrate was called and the second dying
declaration was recorded on August 14, 1998 in which she disclosed true and
correct facts. The Trial Court also noted that the Special Judicial Magistrate
was conscious of the fact that in the first dying declaration, she had not
+ involved any family members of her in-laws. A specific question was, therefore, F
put by him as to the reason why she had done so and the deceased had
replied that it was because of her mother-in-law who asked the deceased to
do so. The Trial Court, therefore, held the conduct of deceased Halimabi as
natural and the second dying declaration reliable which could be treated as
basis for holding the appellant guilty. The Trial Court also observed that from
the evidence of PW2-father of the deceased and PW3-mother of the deceased, G
it was proved that Halimabi was ill-treated by her in-laws, and particularly the
--t,,
appellant-mother-in-law. The Court also observed that PW5-Abdul Rashid
(Special Judicial Magistrate) had no axe to grind against the appellant. PW5
stated that on being questioned, Halirnabi stated on August 14, 1998 that she
was burnt by her mother-in-law (appellant) by throwing burning kerosene H

l
360 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007) 2 S.C.R.

A lamp on her but she had not stated so in the previous dying declaration
because of the insistence of her mother-in-law. On the basis of evidence of
parents of deceased Halimabi and the second drying declaration, the Trial
Court convicted the appellant.

10. The appellant preferred an appeal and the High Court confirmed the
B ,decision of the Trial Court observing that on August 13, 1998, Halimabi could
not name her mother-in-law (appellant) as the deceased Halimabi was brought
to hospital by her in-laws; viz. the accused-mother-in-law and her sons. But,
on the next day, she was in a position to state correct fact and on being
satisfied about her physical condition as stated by PW6-Dr. Kishore, PW5-
C Abdul Rashid (Special Judicial Magistrate) again recorded the dying declaration
which inspired confidence. Accordingly, the High Court dismissed the appeal
filed by the appellant. The appellant has come to this Court against the said
order.

11. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties.
D
12. The learned counsel for the appellant contended that both the
Courts have committed an error of law in relying upon the second dying ~
declaration. It was contended that the first dying declaration was correct and
the deceased had stated true facts in the said declaration. It was also stated
that after parents of the deceased had come to the hospital, they had persuaded
E the deceased to involve and implicate the appellant and that is how the
second dying declaration was recorded which could not have been relied
upon. It was also submitted that no.motive was established by the prosecution
inasmuch as only thing stated by the deceased in her dying declaration was
that she had got up late. in the morning and could not go for Namaz. For such
F a trivial matter, no person would kill another person. It was, therefore, submitted
that the appeal deserves to be allowed by setting aside the order passed by
the Trial Court and confirmed by the High Court.

13. The Pubic Prosecutor for the State, on the other hand, supported
the order of conviction and sentence passed by the Trial Court and confirmed
G by the High Court. He submitted that the conduct of the deceased Halimabi
was natural. She was believed by both the Courts. It was obvious that on
August 13, 1998, she was pressurised by her mother-in-law for not giving ,t
name of her assailant. Moreover, she was surrounded by her in-laws and
nobody from her parental family was present. It was only after her family
members had come that she got courage to narrate true facts and that is how
H on August 14, 1998, second dying declaration was given by her which
SA YARABANO@SULTANABEGUM r. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA [THAKKER,J.] 361
inspired confidence and both the Courts believed it. It was also submitted A
'•\ that from the evidence of parents of the deceased, it was clearly proved that
she was ill-treated and was frequently beaten by the appellant. Instances were
also cited which went to show that the appellant was cruel to the deceased.
The counsel also stated that both the Courts were right in observing that
Special Judicial Magistrate was an independent witness and when on the
basis of his evidence, a finding of guilt of the appellant was recorded, no B
interference is called for. He, therefore, submitted that the appeal be dismissed.

14. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties, in our opinion, the
... Courts below were right in convicting the appellant. From the evidence, it is
proved that on August 13, 1998, after the incident took place, the family
members of the appellant took the deceased to the hospital. The record
c
revealed that before few days of the incident, the deceased had been brought
to her marital home. Before that, she was beaten by the appellant. She left
marital home and went to parental home. It is also in the evidence that the
deceased was beaten by her mother-in-law and two instances had been cite'd.
Obviously, therefore, on August 13, 1998, when the deceased was, taken to D
hospital by her mother-in-law-appellant, who insisted not to give the name of
any of the family members of the appellant, the deceased had no courage to
.-\
name her. In the circumstances, she stated that it was merely an accident. But,
__.
after her parents came, she could state true facts, the Special Judicial Magistrate
was called again and the second dying declaration was recorded. From the
E
evidence of PWl-Dr. Kishan-Medical Officer, it was clear that total bums were
about 57%. It is also in evidence of PW6-Dr. Kishore that the deceased was
"in a position to make statement". He, therefore, accompanied Special Judicial
Magistrate to the ward of Halimabi and her dying declaration was recorded.
He also stated that he was present throughout till the statement of Halimabi
was recorded by the Special Judicial Magistrate and when it was over, he put F
-+ endorsement on the paper given by Special Judicial Magistrate. The Trial
Court as well as the High Court considered both the dying declarations of
the deceased Halimabi and both the Courts held the second dying declaration
true and inspiring confidence having disclosed true facts so far as the incident
was concerned. Ill-treatment towards the deceased was clearly established
G
and completely proved. The evidence of PW2-father as well as PW3-mother
of the deceased was clinching on the point. Both the Courts were right in

I
-} holding that nothing could be elicited from the cross-examination of those
f<
witn.:sses. It, therefore, cannot successfully be contended that the only cause
of throwing burning lamp on the deceased by the appellant was getting up
late in the morning by the deceased and not performing Namaz. Even prior H

!
362 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 2 S.C.R.

A to that incident, the appellant used to beat the deceased and on the fateful
day, it was an excuse to kill the daughter-in-law by the mother-in-law.

15. The learned counsel for the appellant strongly relied upon a decision
of this Court in Lella Srinivasa Rao v. State ofA.P., [2004] 9 SCC 713. In that
case, the sole basis for recording the conviction was dying declarations. Two
B dying declarations were recorded which were inconsistent. In absence of any
other evidence, this Court held that it was not safe to act only on inconsistent
dying declarations and convict the accused.

16. In our opinion, criminal cases are decided on facts and on evidence
rather than on case law and precedents. In the case on hand, there is ample
C evidence to show that even prior to the incident in question, the appellant
used to beat the deceased and ill-treat her. It is in the light of the said fact
that other evidence requires to be considered. Jn our view, both the Courts
were right in relying upon the second dying declaration of the deceased
treating it as true disclosure of facts by the deceased Halimabi. In the light
D of the evidence of parents of the deceased (PW2 and PW3), Dr. Kishore
(PW6) and Special Judicial Magistrate (PWS), it cannot be said that the
Courts below had committed any error and the conviction deserves to be set
aside.

17. For the foregoing reasons, in our opinion, the appeal deserves to
E be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed.
S.K.S. Appeal dismissed.

,t